WE BELIEVE IN ONE GOD
We believe in God who is eternally existent in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit—each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity. – Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
WE BELIEVE IN JESUS
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal second person of the trinity, who was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and is fully God, but became fully man to save a lost world. We believe that he was crucified and three days later rose from the grave. He ascended into heaven, and will one day return again. – John 1:1, Colossians 1:18, Luke 19:10, John 10:30; 14:9, Philippians 2:5-8
WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the eternal third person of the Trinity, who permanently indwells every believer upon his or her faith in Jesus Christ. – Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 3:5-7; John 14:16, 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 16:13; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 5:18
WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE
We believe the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and that men were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the very words of Scripture. Therefore, we believe the Bible is without error, and is the final authority of faith and practice. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Matthew 5:18; John 10:35, 17:17; 2 Timothy 2:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; Psalms 119:11; Acts 20:32; Ephesians 5:26, 6:17
WE BELIEVE IN GOD’S DESIGN FOR THE CHURCH
We believe the church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the head. The members of the church are those who have trusted by faith the finished work of Christ. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving Him and making Him known to a lost world. – Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 2:11-3:6, Acts 14:21-23, 27; 20:17, 28; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 11:18-20; Hebrews 10:25
WE BELIEVE WE ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
We believe humanity is made in the image of God. Although God designed us to have fellowship with Him, we became alienated from God through disobedience. As a result, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and choose to sin against God. We are incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own efforts. – Genesis 1:27: 2:7; 22, Matthew 12:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; I Peter 1:17, Isaiah 43:7; Revelation 4:11, Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-19; Romans 3:23; 5:12; 6:23
WE BELIEVE IN ETERNITY
We believe that forever is spent in one of two places: eternally separated from God because of sin or in union with God because of His forgiveness and salvation. When you die, you will either spend eternity in heaven or hell. Eternal separation from God happens in hell. Eternal union with God occurs in heaven. – Revelation 20:7-15, 2 Peter 3:10, Ephesians 5:5; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1, John 17:3; Revelation 21:1-4, Luke 16:22-24; 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 20:11-15, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
WE BELIEVE IN SALVATION
We believe that Salvation is God’s gift to you if you’ll accept it. We can never make up for our sin with self-improvement or good works. It is only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness that you can be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment you receive Jesus Christ into your life by faith. – Ephesians 1:7; 2:8, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Ephesians 2:9; Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:8
WE BELIEVE IN GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE
We believe marriage is a monogamous, heterosexual union instituted and ordained by God. As such, it is to be an exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman for the purpose of a lifetime of mutual commitment and companionship. – Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:22-33
WE BELIEVE IN GROWING IN HOLINESS & MATURITY
We believe that the Lord changes lives and accomplishes His purposes directly through reading and applying the Scriptures, meditating on the truths of the Scriptures, and prayer. The Lord also uses those who minister His Word as they encourage, exhort, admonish, edify, implore, reprove, rebuke, and console others toward godliness.
Each Christian’s passion should be to become more like Christ and to fulfill The Great Commandment to love the Lord with their entire heart, soul, mind, and strength – Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2; Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30; Matthew 22:37-38.
The Christian who learns and applies the Word becomes mature, and in turn can help others mature. – 2 Timothy 2:2
Mature disciples worship in church, grow in groups, serve in ministry, and abide in Christ. A person committed to such things will experience significant growth in personal sanctification, greater maturity, and a closer relationship with the Lord.
WE BELIEVE IN ETERNAL SECURITY
All glory for the salvation and security of every believer belongs to God alone. – Romans 3:21-31; Ephesians 1:7-9; Ephesians 2:8-9; Jude 1:24-25
We believe that everyone who is born again by the Spirit through Jesus Christ is eternally assured of salvation from the moment of conversion. This assurance relies on God’s decisive grace rather than on the works of the Christian. Obedience, good works, and fruit-bearing do not earn or retain the believer’s salvation, but indicate the reality of the person’s love of Christ and profession of faith. – Luke 6:46; John 14:21; James 2:17-18
Eternal security in salvation relies on the Lord’s guarantee of each believer’s adoption as His son or daughter (Galatians 4:4-7), His seal of the believer by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14), and His gift of the Holy Spirit to each believer as a down payment toward future bliss in heaven (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). A person who professes genuine faith in Christ immediately becomes His possession (Luke 23:42-43; Acts 2:40-41; Acts 16: 30-34), and nothing can snatch that person out of His hands (John 10:27-29). Having been bought with the price of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion as complete payment for sin, Christians are not their own. They are Christ’s possession (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This assurance is absolutely certain, reserved in heaven, and protected by God’s unlimited power (1 Peter 1:4-5).
WE BELIEVE IN BAPTISM & COMMUNION
Baptism and communion are the two ordinances required in the church. We believe that Christian baptism by immersion in water is a public identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Although baptism is not required for salvation, it is commanded of all believers and is for believers only. – Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38, 41; Acts 18:8
Scripture shows that a person was baptized after personally receiving forgiveness of sin through accepting Jesus Christ. The waters of baptism are a symbol of our death, burial, and resurrection to newness of life that happens when we become a new creation in Christ – Colossians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:1-4.
Communion is the commemoration by believers of Christ’s death, and a reminder through the bread and the cup of the Savior’s broken body and shed blood. Communion should be preceded by careful self-examination and confession of sin. – Acts 4:13; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 11:20-29
Baptist Faith & Message 2000
