1. The Bible
We believe the Bible, preserved in 66 books from Genesis to Revelation, is the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. We believe that the Bible is the final authority for faith and practice of every believer and church. We believe that the Bible is the final and complete revelation of God’s will and love for mankind, and that contained therein is everything necessary for the salvation and edification of every person. At Community Baptist we use the Authorized Version in all preaching and teaching.
(Psalm 12:6-7, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Peter 1:23-25, 2 Peter 1:19-21)
2. God
We believe in one God Who is eternal, self-existent, infinite, and immutable. We believe He has one nature and one substance, but manifests Himself to man in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe God the Father is a spirit that resides in Heaven. We believe that He has many names and functions and that He wields a providential hand in the affairs of mankind.
(Genesis 1:26, Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, John 4:24, 2 Corinthians 13:14, James 1:17, 1 John 5:7)
3. Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal, pre-existent, only begotten Son of God. We believe that Christ is God incarnate, taking upon Himself the form of a man and coming to this earth, being 100% man and 100% God. We believe that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross for our atonement. We believe that after spending three days and three nights in the tomb, He was bodily resurrected. After His resurrection He ministered to and taught his Apostles here on earth, then ascended, and now sits on the right hand of the Father as our advocate and High Priest. We believe there is no other Saviour of mankind other than Jesus Christ.
(Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Matthew 12:40; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 1:14, 3:16, 14:6; Acts 1:9-10, 10:39-40; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 John 2:1-2)
4. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, with all the attributes and powers of Deity. We believe that Christ sent to Christians a Comforter in the person of the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells us at the moment of salvation and it is the responsibility and duty of every Christian to live a life filled and directed by the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, empowers us to serve God, seals us until our redemption, and restrains the evil one here on earth.
(John 3:5-6, 14:16-17, 16:7-11; Acts 1:5, 5:3-4; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30, 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7; 1 John 5:7)
5. Satan
We believe Satan is a real being. We believe he was a Heavenly being until pride led to his fall from Heaven. We believe that since that time Satan has worked to thwart the plan of God on Earth. We believe that Satan rules in the affairs of much of this world, but is restrained by the presence of the Holy Spirit. We believe that Satan will ultimately be defeated and cast into an everlasting Lake of Fire.
(Genesis 3:1-5; Job 1:6-7; Matthew 4:2-11; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 11:13-15; Ephesians 6:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:7-10, 20:7-10)
6. Sin
We believe that man was created in God’s image in the Garden of Eden, and that sin entered into the heart of mankind through the disobedience of Adam in the Garden. The sinfulness of mankind was encouraged by the deceitfulness of the serpent (Satan), but we believe that mankind must take full responsibility as Adam chose to freely partake of the forbidden fruit. One of the results of that act was the spiritual death of mankind that caused an immediate separation between God and man. Another result of that disobedience was the introduction of physical death to mankind as well. We believe that the only remedy for sin and the resulting spiritual death is faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that since that time sin has passed down to every person through the lineage of our common ancestor, Adam.
(Genesis 1:26-27, Ch 3; Psalm 51:5; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23, 5:12, 6:23, 10:9-13; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 2:13-15)
7. Salvation
We believe in salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. We believe that there is no other way to Heaven than through belief in Christ. We believe that Christ accomplished everything necessary for salvation through his substitutionary death on the cross and His resurrection. We believe that mankind partakes of salvation through belief (faith) in Christ by admitting sinfulness (repentance) and asking for forgiveness (confession). We believe that the evidence of salvation is the fruit of the Spirit.
(John 1:12, 1:29; Acts 4:12, 16:31; Romans 1:16-17, 3:21-31, 5:1-10, 10:9-13; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Timothy 4:10; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Peter 3:18)
8. The Church
We believe that the definition of the church is a called out body of believers, joined together for the carrying out of the Great Commission. We believe that Christ founded the church during his ministry upon the earth and is the head of the church today. We believe in the local, autonomous, New Testament church. We do not see an ecclesiastical hierarchy in the Bible and therefore do not subscribe to a belief in denominations. We believe the Bible is the final authority for all faith and practice of the New Testament church. We believe that the Bible teaches there are two offices in the local church: pastor and deacons.
(Matthew 16:16-18, 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-43, 13:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-15; Titus 1:5-9)
9. Eternal Security
We believe the Bible teaches the eternal security of the believer. Christ offered himself for our sins (past and future) once for all, and it is not necessary for him to do so again. Christians are kept by the power of God, not by their own works or obedience. We believe that salvation is a gift of God that, once received, cannot be lost.
(Psalm 31:23, 37:28; Matthew 25:46; John 3:16, 5:24, 10:27-29, 11:25-26; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 10:9-13; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 2:5, 5:11-13; Jude 24)
***This is a condensed version of our Statement of Faith. To view the full Statement of Faith, please download the file below.
| Community Baptist Church Statement of Faith |