Here you will find a brief survey of the core beliefs that we believe are essential to our faith and non-negotiable for our doctrine. 1
About the Bible
We believe in one God, the Creator, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is called the Trinity. Genesis 1:1, 26-27; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14
About Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary and was and remains true God and true man. Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13
About Human Beings
We believe that God created Adam and Eve in the divine image; that they sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death - which is separation from God; and that, as a result of Adam's sin, all human beings are now born with a sinful nature and stand guilty before God.
About Salvation
We believe that the Lord Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. We believe that all who by faith receive the Lord Jesus CHrist are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God. John 14:6; Romans 5:1; Romans 6:23; Galations 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5.
Click Here to know how you can be saved
About the Resurrection
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven, and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate. I Corinthians 15:2-8; Acts 1:9; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:15-16.
About Christ's Return
We believe in the blessed hope of the personal and imminent return of our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13; Acts 1:11.
About the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells and gives spiritual life to all believers, enables them to understand Biblical truth, empowers them for Godly living, gives them spiritual gifts and equips them for service and witness. John 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; II Corinthians 3:17; Galations 5:25; Ephesians 5:18.
About Eternity
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, everlasting life with God for the saved (heaven), and the everlasting separation from God of the lost (hell). John 3:16, 4:17; Romans 6:23, 8:17; I Corinthians 2:7-9; Revelation 20:15.
About the Church
We believe that the New Testament church is a local body of baptized believers with Christ as its head and the Holy Spirit as its guide. New Testament churches promote God's work by cooperating together for missions and many other joint efforts. The local church is autonomous and to be governed independent of outside persons, bodies, groups, or authorities.
About the Ordinances
We believe that the local church observes two ordinances - baptism2 and the Lord's Supper. We believe that all who have received Christ as Savior and Lord should be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that baptism is by immersion as a picture of death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; and that the Lord's Supper should be observed in remembrance of Him as a testimony to His death for our sins until He comes again. I Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 28:18-20.
1 For more detailed information about what we believe, the book What Baptists Believe is available in the Waterbrook Cafe.
2 For more information on our beliefs about Baptism, please see our Baptism page.