Doctrinal Statement
Because
we affirm our belief that the Scriptures are our only infallible guide
for our faith, we here express the basic doctrines and distinctive
principles for which Baptists have traditionally stood, namely:
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Section 1: |
We believe the Bible
is God's Word (John 14:25, 26); that it was written by men divinely
inspired and that it is the supreme, infallible authority in all
matters pertaining to faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2
Peter 1:20, 21).
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Section 2: |
We believe that God is
The Supreme Being of Creation (Gen. 1:1); He is one but revealed in
three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6;4,2; Cor. 13:14). He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men (John
14:18); He hears and answers prayers (Matthew 21:22); and He saves
from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (John
5:24).
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Section 3: |
We believe in Jesus
Christ, the eternal and only Son of God (John 1:1); He took upon
Himself our human nature (incarnation) (John 1:14); He was
conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Matthew
1:18). He lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15); He made atonement for
the sins of the world by His vicarious death on the cross (John
1:29); He rose bodily from the grave (Matthew 28:6); His ascension
into heaven (Acts 1:9); His visible, pre-millennial return (Acts 1:10-11, Revelation 20:4) to the earth according to His promise
(John 14:1-3).
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Section 4: |
We believe in the Holy
Spirit who came forth from God to convict the world of guilt in
regard to sin and righteousness and judgment (John 14:16, 26); He is
the Spirit of truth who teaches us all things relative to our
spiritual lives and guides and comforts all believers.
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Section 5: |
We believe that all
humans, by nature, and by choice are sinners (Romans 3:23); but that
God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to
die for mankind; and that whosoever believes in Him might have sins
forgiven and become the children of God and live forever with God
(John 3:16); We believe that those who reject Christ as Savior and
Lord of their lives will be eternally separated from God in hell
(Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:2-5).
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Section 6: |
We believe that the
Church is a living spiritual body, of which Christ is the Head, and
is composed of all those who have been redeemed by the blood of
Christ (Colossians 1:15-20). A local Church is composed of those who
have been baptized by immersion (Believers Baptism) as a public
confession of their faith in Christ, and have associated together
for worship, work and fellowship (Acts 2:40-47). We believe that the
Ordinances of the Church are Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and have
been committed to the Church for perpetual Observance (Matthew
28:19, I Corinthians 11:26); that God has given the task of
proclaiming the Gospel (the good news of salvation) to all peoples
until He comes (Matthew 28:19). We also believe as Baptists, that
each local congregation is autonomous (self-governing), and must be
free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority
(Acts 4:18-20, Acts 5:29); and that the Church must keep from all
theological teaching which does not conform to the basic doctrines
as taught by the Word of God (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
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Section 7: |
We believe that every
Christian is ultimately responsible to God in all matters of faith
and conduct (Colossians 3:17); and that each believer is a priest
before God (Revelation 1:6).
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Section 8: |
We believe that Satan
is a fallen angel, is the god of this age, the adversary of Christ
and His Church (2 Corinthians 4:4, 1 Peter 5:8); that he is the
accuser of the brethren, whose destiny is eternal punishment in the
lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
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