1. The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without
error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith
and conduct.
2. The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in
three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that
they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation,
providence and redemption.
3. God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in
holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself
mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers
prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through
Jesus Christ.
4. Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the
Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and
teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily
resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His
people, and personal visible return to earth.
5. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who 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.
6. Regeneration
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are,
therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their
sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy
Spirit.
7. The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which
Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe
in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus
Christ, baptized on a credible confession of faith, and associated for
worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the
members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of
Jesus Christ to a lost world.
8. Christian Conduct
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the
well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the
world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and
that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full
stature of maturity in Christ.
9. The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to
the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name
of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by
Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two
ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
10. Religious Liberty
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is
responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is
independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or
political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept
separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free
from dictation or patronage of the other.
11. Church Cooperation
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus
Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization.
Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists
and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference
is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise
cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary basis.
12. The Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ
to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the
resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of
the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Adopted by the Baptist General Conference in 1951, reaffirmed in 1990
and amended in 1998. |