Core Beliefs

Below is an overview of our 7 core beliefs. For a full summary of our beliefs, see the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.

  • Scripture
    • God’s Word to humanity
    • Written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit
    • Supreme & sufficient source of truth and the basis for Christian belief & practice
    • Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error
    • Psalm 19:7-11, 119:105,160; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 3:16, 1:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21
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  • God
    • Creator and ruler of the universe who exists eternally
    • Co-equal with the Son and Holy Spirit, yet distinct from the Son and Holy Spirit
    • Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 45:6-7, 90:2, 110:1;
      Isaiah 45:5-6, 46:9-10; Matthew 3:13-17, 28:19; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6;
      2 Corinthians 13:14; I Peter 1:2 
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  • Jesus
    • Eternal Son of God
    • Fully God and fully human
    • Born of a virgin, lived a sinless human life, offered himself as perfect sacrifice for the sins of the people by dying on a cross
    • Physically rose from the dead after 3 days to show his power over sin and death
    • Ascended to heaven and will return again to reign as King
    • Matthew 1:20-23, 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 2:52, 24:1-53;
      John 1:1-14, 29, 10:1-18; 14: 3-6, 10-30; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4, 5:8;
      1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 12-34; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:3-14; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Timothy 6:14-16; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:1-3, 4:14-15, 9:28; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7
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  • Holy Spirit
    • Present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ
    • Lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation
    • Provides power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance for doing what is right
    • Gives every believer spiritual gifts when they are saved
    • John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18
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  • Humanity
    • All humanity is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character
    • Marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”
    • Separated from God by sin, making us liable to God’s final judgment
    • Genesis 1:27, 6:5; Psalm 8:3-6, 51:5; Isaiah 53:6, 59:1-2; Jeremiah 17:9;
      Romans 1:18-32, 3:23, 5:8, 12-21; 7:18, 8:22; Ephesians 2:1-3
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  • Salvation and Baptism
    • Only by trusting the work of Jesus Christ alone can a person be reconciled to God
    • God’s free gift offered by His grace to people through faith in Him
    • Available to anyone who will confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit
    • The saved will exhibit fruit in their lives consistent with repentance
    • We affirm the doctrine of eternal security of the believer, that salvation by grace through faith cannot be undone by our sin
    • We practice baptism by immersion as a symbolic representation of our decision to follow Christ. It is an outward expression of our inward transformation, being made dead to sin and raised to life with Jesus.
    • John 3:16-18, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26, 5:1, 6:23, 8:11, 10:9; Galatians 3:26;
      Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:5
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  • Eternity
    • Future physical resurrection of the dead
    • Those who have trusted Jesus Christ as Lord will be raised to eternal reward in heaven
    • Those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ will be raised to eternal punishment in hell
    • Matthew 25:31-46; John 3:16; 5:28-29; 14:17; Acts 24:15; Romans 6:23; 8:17-18;
      1 Corinthians 2:7-9; Revelation 20:15