(Luke 24:36-42; John 20:24-29). [4], The BF&M includes 18 topics which are position statements of the SBC. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. We further believe that water baptism by immersion is to be observed once, and is a sign of identification and a testimony to the believers new life in Christ. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. The Church. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. To respect confidentiality and to refrain from divulging confidential information to any unauthorized party. Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. 10. This revision was particularly objectionable to the Baptist General Convention of Texas[citation needed], the largest SBC state convention, which had previously split between moderates and conservatives, with the latter forming the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. We believe that Gods design for the family is modeled in the leadership of the church. Jesus said He is the Door (singular), and any other path is . Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:3032; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:812; Matthew 6:14, 1921; 19:21; 23:23; 25:1429; Luke 12:1621, 42; 16:113; Acts 2:4447; 5:111; 17:2425; 20:35; Romans 6:622; 12:12; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 6:1920; 12; 16:14; 2 Corinthians 89; 12:15; Philippians 4:1019; 1 Peter 1:1819. To contribute to the protection of the physical property of the campus and the physical safety of all members of the campus community- including the safeguarding of all keys and forms of access to facilities. For every article of our statement of faith rests upon the foundation of Christ: We exalt Him as our only hope and source for the forgiveness of sin, and the grace of salvation. Thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy, at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior. ; Mark 2:2728; 16:17; Luke 24:13, 3336; John 4:2124; 20:1, 1928; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:510; I Corinthians 16:12; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10. (Genesis 1 and 2; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16.). Church and state should be separate. Each church, however, is to depend solely upon the Holy Bible for Faith and Practice. Engaging people authentically, as Jesus did, treating all as creations made in God's very image, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental ability, nationality, or economic class. Smith, James A., Sr. "A confession of faith worthy of support." Here are 10 things to know about Baptists and their beliefs. It is instantaneous and not a process. The first day of the week is the Lords Day. It is the glorious display of Gods sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. He regeneratesthe sinner by the Word of God. We believe the Bible to be the center of true Christian unity and the supreme and final authority against which all matters of doctrine, faith, human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tested. We believe that the Bible is clear that the next event on the prophetic timetable is the Rapture of the saved (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; Mark 12:29; 1 Peter 1:2). STATEMENT OF FAITH. Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 9:67; Jeremiah 23:56; Matthew 3:2; 4:810, 23; 12:2528; 13:152; 25:3146; 26:29; Mark 1:1415; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:3132; 17:2021; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:67; 17:2231; Romans 5:17; 8:19; 1 Corinthians 15:2428; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 11:10, 16; 12:28; 1 Peter 2:410; 4:13; Revelation 1:6, 9; 5:10; 11:15; 2122. "Throughout the process, the [Faith Statement Development] team sought the Lord's guidance and wisdom and has . (1) The Holy Scriptures We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. Matthew 16:1519; 18:1520; Acts 2:4142, 47; 5:1114; 6:36; 13:13; 14:23, 27; 15:130; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:45; 7:17; 9:1314; 12; Ephesians 1:2223; 2:1922; 3:811, 21; 5:2232; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:914; 3:115; 4:14; Hebrews 11:3940; 1 Peter 5:14; Revelation 23; 21:23. In this Statement of Faith, our Constitution, and all other documents, policies, and ministries of Baptist Christian Church, wherever the word man/men appears, it shall always mean a person who is born, according to Gods sovereign plan and design, male; and wherever the word woman/women appears, it shall always mean a person who is born, according to Gods sovereign plan and design, female. 1803, d. 1868), about 1833, and has been adopted by the New Hampshire Convention, and widely accepted by Baptists, especially in the Northern and Western States, as a clear and concise statement of their faith, in harmony with the . To display respect for Gods creation and His provisions and to specifically practice respect for and courtesy to all persons equally. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war. God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christs people. To pursue a balanced, disciplined approach to personal health. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. We believe that Jesus Christ eternally existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We believe the Lord's coming to be imminent. We believe that God rejects any attempt to alter ones gender by surgery or appearance. 11. The Churchs purpose of existence is to evangelize the world and complete itself through the winning of lost souls to Christ. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Christ, glorified in Heaven, is the Head of the Church. ", Those words are commonly referred to as the "red letter words", based on the. (A) The Holy Scriptures We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally and fully inspired Word of God. We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: first, to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church; third, to teach and instruct as He commanded. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. The Family. We believe that, by His finished work on the cross and His unceasing ministry of intercession in Glory, Jesus Christ has procured for every believer eternal redemption, eternal salvation, and everlasting life. Moreover, the cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence, and should receive along with these the liberal support of the churches. Autonomy and independence of the Local Church. (All matters of finance, of student or staff performance are to be discussed only with the appropriate parties within secured office space not in the hallways, cafeteria, or areas where confidential information could be overheard even inadvertently.). The Lord is doing His work in this world through local churches. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. He was active in the creation of all things. He was literally and physically raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the Person who was with them before His crucifixion. (Ezekiel 28:13-19; Matthew 25:41; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 2:13; Luke 9:26; Luke 10:18; Luke 15:10), We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society. [citation needed] Nothing in the BF&M prohibits or discourages the wife from holding outside employment, nor the husband from doing household duties traditionally considered those of the wife. We believe that God's method of financing His earthly work of spreading the Gospel to all nations the tithes and offerings of His people; that it is to be given to the Lord through the care of the churches; and the support of the ministry is by His local church or storehouse to be distributed as directed by the leadership of the Spirit as the need arises; that the time to tithe is the first day of the week; that everyone is accountable to the Lord for one-tenth of the income; and that timing was instituted long before the law was ever given and was practiced by the early church. A spokesman for Prestonwood Baptist Church, where Mr. Graham is pastor, said the church "categorically denies" the way the report characterizes an incident under his leadership in which it . It is God's revelation to man, inerrant as originally written by Spirit-controlled men. The new birth opens all human faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift from God. We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. Introduction. The 2000 BF&M has been criticized[citation needed] for including a specific list of contemporary sins, which could lead to endless additions. After one is saved, water baptism shows our faith and union in Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection to a new life that exalts and glorifies Christ. To maintain responsible standards of speech and action so as to avoid profanity, vulgarity, and harassment or acts of physical assault or violence. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. The local church is: under the leadership of officers, who are Elders (one of which is the Pastor) and Deacons, whose qualifications and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. All true believers endure to the end. God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. Each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. STATEMENT OF FAITH. We stand in the line of the historic Protestant tradition. The Holy Bible is absolutely inerrant, unadulterated, and authoritative in its . They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. B. Justification is Gods gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Bible, the only rule of faith and practice. Sexual relations, of any kind, outside the confines of biblically-modeled marriage, even when consensual, are inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture, as well as the preponderance of Christian teaching in the church throughout history. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. (Luke 13:1-3; Luke 15:7; Acts 8:22; Acts 20:21; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10), We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition for salvation. Throughout our history we have been a confessional people, adopting statements of faith as a witness to our beliefs and a pledge of our faithfulness to the doctrines revealed in Holy Scripture. God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. All who believe in Him are justifiedon the grounds of His shed blood. Genesis 12:13; Exodus 19:56; Isaiah 6:18; Matthew 9:3738; 10:515; 13:1830, 3743; 16:19; 22:910; 24:14; 28:1820; Luke 10:118; 24:4653; John 14:1112; 15:78,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:2640; 10:4248; 13:23; Romans 10:1315; Ephesians 3:111; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:13; 11:3912:2; 1 Peter 2:410; Revelation 22:17. These distinctives are easily remembered using the acrostic BRAPSISS and here is a breakdown for us to better understand: These distinctives in faith and practice have set those who have become known as Baptists (and their forefathers) as being distinct from all other forms of religion, including Catholics and Protestants. We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse, and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
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