What we Believe

The official statement of faith for our church is the Baptist Faith and Message (SBC 2000) - Read It >>>. 

However, the Baptist Faith and Message leaves room for interpretation of some doctrinal elements not fully agreed upon by SBC churches. So for clarity, our church further defines what we believe with two additional documents:

The London Baptist Confession of 1689 - Read It  >>>

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Abstract of Principles (with our modifications and additions)  - Printed Below

I. The Scriptures

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.

II. God

There is only one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience.

III. The Trinity

God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.

IV. Providence

From eternity God decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and He perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of sin, nor to destroy the obligation and responsibility of intelligent creatures.

V. Election

Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons to everlasting life, not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ. By His choice sinners are called out of the world to Christ and are justified, sanctified and glorified in Christ.

VI. The Fall of Man

God originally created Man in His own image, and free from sin; but through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness. As a result, his posterity inherits a corrupt nature, are wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.

VII. The Mediator

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, and suffered and died upon the cross as a substitute for sinners for their salvation. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.

VIII. Regeneration

Regeneration, or the new birth, is the quickening of those dead in trespasses and sins, making them alive in Christ and possessing eternal life. By their new life in Christ, their minds are enlightened to understand and respond rightly to the Word of God, and their whole nature is renewed so that they desire, love and seek to practice holiness. Regeneration is a work of God’s free and special grace alone.

IX. Repentance

Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being born again by the Holy Spirit, and being made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself with godly sorrow, detests and abhors his sin, and does purpose in his heart and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.

X. Faith

Saving faith is the belief of what God has revealed in His Word concerning Christ, and accepting and resting upon Christ and His Work alone for justification and eternal life. This faith is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.

XI. Justification

Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all their sin. The basis for God’s acquittal of them is not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but the satisfaction that Christ has made through His obedience, death and resurrection.

XII. Sanctification

Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is both full and progresses in the new life we live by faith in Christ. We participate with the process of sanctification, having full supply of divine strength by the Holy Spirit, pressing after a heavenly life in loving obedience to all Christ’s commands.

XIII. Perseverance of the Saints

Those whom God hath accepted in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end. Though they may stumble into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and discipline on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again to repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

XIV. The Church

The Lord Jesus is the head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to unite in fellowship as His church in local congregations; and to each of these congregations He hath given needful authority for administering the order, discipline and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a local church are Pastors or Elders, and Deacons.

XV. Baptism

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory for every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church fellowship, and to participation in the Lord’s Supper.

XVI. The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate the death of Jesus, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.

XVII. The Lord’s Day

The Lord’s Day is a Christian institution for regular observance, wherein the true church everywhere, as local congregations, joins for worship, pastoral instruction, teaching, fellowship and prayer. Participation with the Church on the Lord’s Day should be the highest priority for all the saints on that day.

XVIII. Liberty of Conscience

God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Civil authorities are ordained of God, and subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

XIX. Gender and Marriage

God created men and women, and it is the obligation of every person to gladly accept and live as God has made them in his wisdom and providence. Furthermore, God established the institution of marriage as an example of the relationship enjoyed between Christ and His Church, so that marriage is to be entered into as a life-long covenant between one man and one woman, honored by all.

XX. The Resurrection

After death the bodies of men return to dust, but their spirits remain alive and conscious - the spirits of the righteous rest with God; the spirits of the wicked are reserved under darkness and torment, awaiting final judgment. In the last days, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised - the righteous first to eternal glory and bliss; then the wicked to eternal torment and grief.

XXI. The Return of Christ

At a time certain and known to God the Father, Christ will return to deliver His church out of and from the perils and persecutions of this corrupt world. Following that deliverance of His people, He will establish His kingdom upon the earth with all creation being subject to Him, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

XXII. The Judgments

God has appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ. On that day sinners shall receive according to their deeds and go into everlasting punishment. Before the judgment of the world, the righteous will be judged according to the fruit of their works and rewarded accordingly.