What We Believe
THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is the completely and uniquely inspired Word of God, inerrant in its original writings. The Bible is our supreme and final authority in faith and life. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20,21)
GOD
The one true God has revealed Himself through His creation and the Bible as an intelligent, personal and spiritual Being. God is uncreated, self-existent, and all powerful. He has perfect knowledge of the past, present and future. The Godhead exists eternally as a Trinity, one God in three uncreated Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person is fully God and was involved in the creation of the world and is involved in God’s acts to redeem mankind. (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 19; Romans 1:18-20; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Galatians 4:6)
GOD THE FATHER
God the Father, working with the Son and the Holy Spirit, created the universe out of nothing, and sovereignly directs all things to bring about His will. (John 6:27; 1 Peter 1:2)
GOD THE SON
God the Son, in order to redeem mankind from its sins, remained fully God while becoming fully man, being conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, but He bore all our sins and was crucified, buried, rose bodily from the dead and ascended to Heaven. Jesus Christ is currently seated at the right hand of God the Father as the one Mediator between God and man. He will return to this world to judge the living and the dead. (John 1; Colossians 1:15-20; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1; Titus 2:13)
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is a fully divine and personal being who is equal with the Father and the Son. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgement, and calls the sinner to repent and believe in Jesus Christ. The Spirit works and lives in each believer to bring them to spiritual maturity in Christ. He gives spiritual gifts to every believer for the benefit of the church. (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16)
THE HUMAN CONDITION
We believe that man and woman were created in the image of God; that they sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and become guilty sinners in thought, word and deed. (Genesis 1:26,27; 3:1,24; Romans 3:25; 5:12-18; I John 1:8)
THE WORK OF CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus died for our sins as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; that He rose victorious from the grave on the third day; and that all who believe in Him are justified by His shed blood. (Isaiah 53; Matthew 20:28; John 3:16; Romans 3:24-26; 5:1; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; I John 2:2; Matthew 28:6; Romans 10:9; and I Corinthians 15:14)
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. (John 16:5-15; Romans 8:16, 23, 26, 27)
CHRIST’S RETURN
We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Matthew 24:42-51; Matthew 25:1-13)
SALVATION
We believe that all who come by grace through faith to accept the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God. (John 3:3, 5; 1:12, 13; James 1:18; I Peter 1:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9)
ETERNAL DESTINY
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting joy of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost. (John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15; II Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20: 4-6,11-15)
THE CHURCH
We believe that there is one true church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord. The Scriptures command believers together to devote themselves to worship; prayer; teaching of the Word; observance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper; fellowship; service to the body through the development and use of talents and gift; giving through tithes and offerings and outreach. (Romans 12:4-6; I Corinthians 12:4-6; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:12-16; Hebrews 10:24,25)
THE GREAT COMMISSION
We believe that all Christians are commanded to participate in spreading the Gospel to all people groups. (Matthew 28: 19-20; Acts 1:8)
We also affirm the Baptist Faith and Message (2001) of the SBC.