The Scriptures
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely
inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of
divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and
truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture
is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges
us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world the true center
of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct,
creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to
Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
God
There is one and only one living and true God. God reveals Himself to us as
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without
division of nature, essence, or being.
God the Father
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures,
and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His
grace. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through
faith in Jesus Christ.
God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His
incarnation as Jesus Christ, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of
the virgin Mary. He lived a perfect human existence free of sin. In
His substitutionary death on the cross, He made provision for the redemption of
men from sin.
God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He exalts Christ. He
convicts men of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He enlightens and
empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Man
Man is the special creation of God, in His own image. He created them male and
female as the crowning work of His creation. By his free choice man sinned
against God and brought sin into the human race. The sacredness of human
personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that
Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses dignity
and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Salvation
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man and is offered freely to all
who submit to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained
eternal redemption for the believer. Salvation happens in a moment, continues
throughout the life of the Christian in the process of sanctification (becoming
holy and growing in righteousness), and will ultimately be completed in the
gift of perfect, resurrected bodies in the Christian’s eternal existence with
God.
The Church
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local
congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and
fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by
His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His
Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each
congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ and each member is
responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are
pastors and deacons.
Baptism & the Lord's Supper
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water. It is an act
of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen
Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the
resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. The Lord's Supper is a
symbolic act of obedience whereby members memorialize the death of the Redeemer
and anticipate His second coming.
Evangelism & Missions
It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and every church of
the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations and to seek
constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a
Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.
Last Things
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its
appropriate end. Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly. The
dead will be raised, and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The
unrighteous will be consigned to Hell. The righteous will receive their
reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
Stewardship
God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have
and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual responsibility to the whole
world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their
possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time,
talents, and material possessions.
Family
God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society.
It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or
adoption.
These statements are condensed versions of the Baptist Faith and Message, 2000. For a more detailed explanation, including Scripture references, please visit
