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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
