Jump Ahead To: The Scriptures | God | Jesus Christ | The Holy Spirit | Man | Salvation | The Church | Baptism and the Lord’s Supper | Last Things | Evangelism and Missions
The Scriptures back to top
The Bible was written by men divinely inspired by God and is His revelation of Himself to man. A perfect treasure of divine instruction; it has God as its author, Jesus Christ as its grand subject, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter. It is the center of Christian union and supreme standard by which all human conduct is tried.
Ex. 24:4, Ps. 19:7-10, Isa. 40:8, Matt. 5:17-18, 2 Tim. 3:15-17, Heb. 1:1-2
God back to top
There is only one living and true God. He is eternal, spiritual, personal, creator, redeemer, preserver, and sovereign over the entire universe. He is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. He exists eternally as the trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three distinct persons yet without division of essence or being.
Gen. 1:1, Isa. 64:8, Ps. 19:1-3, Matt. 28:19, 1 Cor. 8:6, Heb. 11:6
Jesus Christ back to top
Christ is the eternal Son of God who became fully man, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly did the will of God and was without sin. In His death on the cross he provided for the redemption of men and women from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples. He ascended into heaven and is at the right hand of God. He will return in power and glory to judge the world.
Gen. 3:15, Ps. 2:7, Isa. 53:1-12, John 1:1-18, Col. 1:13-22, Heb. 9:12-15
The Holy Spirit back to top
The Spirit inspired the writing of the Scriptures and illuminates people to understand the truth. He convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He calls people to the Savior and transforms hearts. He spurs growth, grants comfort, and bestows spiritual gifts to the Christian for the church. He seals and assures the believer until the day of redemption.
Gen. 1:2, Ps. 139:7, Joel 2:28-32, John 16:7-14, Rom. 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27, 2 Pet. 1:21
Man back to top
Man was created by God in His own image and is the crown of creation. He was created free of sin and with free choice. He chose to sin against God and brought sin into creation, falling from his innocence and giving his posterity a nature and a world inclined toward sin and when they are capable of moral action they become transgressors under condemnation. Each human being is created in the image of God and is therefore worthy of dignity, respect, and love.
Gen. 1:26-30, Jer. 17:5, Ps. 139:1-16, Acts 17:26-31, Rom. 1:19-32, Eph. 2:1-22
Salvation back to top
Salvation is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His blood obtained eternal redemption of the whole person. This includes regeneration: the change of heart worked by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, repentance, and faith. It includes sanctification: being set apart for God’s purposes and becoming more like Christ by the power of the Spirit. It includes glorification: the culmination of salvation in the final blessed state of the redeemed.
John 3:3-21, Rom. 10:9-10, Eph. 2:8-22, 1 Pet. 1:2-23
The Church back to top
A church is a local body of baptized believers who covenant together for the fellowship of the gospel, to observe the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to commit themselves to the teachings of Christ, to exercise their gifts and abilities, and to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. It is an autonomous body with pastors and deacons that operates by democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Matt. 16:15-19, 18:15-20, Acts 2:41-42, 6:3-6, Eph. 1:22-23, 2:19-22
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper back to top
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing faith in Christ and the believer’s death to sin, burial of the old life, and resurrection to walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church membership and the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience in which members of the church partake of the bread and the fruit of the vine to memorialize the death of Christ and anticipate His second coming.
Matt. 3:13-17, 26:26-30, Acts 8:35-39, Rom. 6:3-5, 1 Cor. 11:23-29
Last Things back to top
God, in His time and in His way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth. The dead will be raised and Christ will judge all in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous, in their resurrected and glorified bodies, will receive their reward and dwell forever with their Lord.
Isa. 11:9, Matt. 24:44, 25:31-46, 1 Thess. 4:14-18, Rev. 20:1-22:13
Evangelism and Missions back to top
It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church to make disciples of all nations. Missionary effort rests upon the believer’s new birth in Christ and their following of the express commands of Jesus. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and all methods in harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Isa. 6:1-8, Matt. 9:37-38, 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Rom. 10:13-15, 2 Tim. 4:5
Not all statements of the 1963 Baptist Faith & Message are included in our statement of belief, however the church is in agreement with the 1963 Baptist Faith & Message understanding of major themes concerning the life and work of the church.