Basic Beliefs
Our Basic Beliefs represent the most simple and foundational beliefs of the Christian faith. They capture the basic contours of Christian theology.
The Gospel is the good news that a holy God has compassion
Our Statement of Faith: The Baptist Faith and Message
God is sovereign over all things such that there is no aspect of reality outside of His ultimate control. Though God’s rule extends to all things, it is particularly His sovereignty over the work of salvation that is a theological distinctive. We believe that it is exceedingly good and glorious news that salvation is not dependent on the desires and deeds of man, but is grounded instead in God’s eternal decree of election. Though man is responsible for his sin, God is ultimately and entirely responsible for drawing those He would save unto Himself and overcoming their natural resistance to the gospel.
Men and women are absolutely equal in essence, dignity and value and are different by divine design. As part of God’s good created order, men and women are to have different yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the home and church, especially as it comes to teaching and authority. These role distinctions are God’s grace to man and woman and are to be protected, preserved and practiced for His glory and our joy.
Baptism is intended only for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and can give sufficient testimony to the basics of Christian beliefs. Also, we baptize by immersion because it is not only the original significance of the word, but also best symbolizes the reality to which baptism points—our death and resurrection in Christ.
We believe that local churches need to send people and resources throughout the world to reach groups of people who do not have an indigenous, self-propagating Christian church movement. Any ethnic or ethnolinguistic nation without enough Christians to evangelize the rest of the nation is an "unreached people group". Reaching these people is the primary focus of our Global Impact Ministry. We will actively seek to raise up and support people from our local body who will go and devote their lives to this task.
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