By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age. To avoid all forms of theft, misuse, or unauthorized possession of professional materials or information or the personal property or workspace of other employees. Baptist Deacon, there are some churches that have no statement of faith. C. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to Gods purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. The chief purpose for the existence of the New Testament Church is to evangelize the world and complete itself through the winning of lost souls to Christ. As terms of relationship at any level within our faith community, Boston Baptist College prohibits all members of the college community from public advocacy or promotion for any position that sex outside of a biblically defined marriage is morally acceptable. These are the core doctrinal beliefs of the church The Bible - We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, supernaturally inspired, so that it is inerrant in the original manuscripts and preserved by God in its verbal plenary inspiration, so that it is a divinely authoritative standard for every age and every life. He ascended into heaven and is exalted at the right hand of God the Father where He is our Advocate and High Priest, the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. An In-depth Study of Our Baptist Distinctives & Heritage. Christ, glorified in Heaven, is the Head of the Church. We believe that in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until Gods purpose is fulfilled. (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. We believe the Savior, by His atoning work and through His Gospel, gave hope to every member of the human family. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. 4. What is the Baptist Statement of Faith? 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 the appropriate ethical and Spiritual guidelines for personal interaction including the respect for the property of both the institution as well as the personal property of others. Our statement of faith also makes explicit what is foundational to our doctrinal commitmentsthe gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the primary . ; and Fern Creek . It is clearly commanded of God that all believers should live lives of separation from all worldly and sinful practices and to be holy as He is holy. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. Our Baptist forefathers have held to the above noted distinctives since the time of Christ creating an unbroken trail of Truth from that day till this one. The change was made over concerns that some groups were elevating the recorded words of Jesus[d] in Scripture over other Scriptural passages (or, in some cases, claiming that Jesus' silence on an issue held priority over other passages explicitly discussing a topic, an example being homosexuality). We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication . I have heard folk say, I am Baptist to the bone if you cut me bless God, Ill bleed Baptist! His righteousness is imputed unto us. (Genesis 13:14-17; Ezekiel 37; Romans 11:1-32), Section 22: The Rapture and Other Future Events, We believe in the imminent, pre-millennialreturn of Christ for His Church. The establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament . Be sure to look for the continuation of this article to find further discussion regarding the Baptist Distinctives! We further believe the wedding ceremony is an act of worship before God where one man and one woman are joined in holy matrimony. Russian The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. 12. He is the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth. Statement of Faith. To work for the betterment of the institution as a whole and to strive to personal excellence and development as a means to that end. He permanently indwells the Church and the body of each believer. The Holy Bible, God's Inspired Word, is the Absolute and Supreme Authority. Webelievein the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. As stated in Matthew 4:4 (ESV): But He answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. We are to observe and do all things Christ has commanded us (teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. . We do not believe in the reversal of the order. That is a good question. The Churchs purpose of existence is to evangelize the world and complete itself through the winning of lost souls to Christ. 1:2627). God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage. Statement of Faith This doctrinal statement reflects the broad, mainstream, conservative evangelical tradition which is consistent with the teachings of the Bible and which has stood the test of history and experience. It is a solemn and beautiful emblem that declares our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior as well . We believe that the New Testament church is a local assembly of baptized believers who have voluntarily joined themselves together to carry out the Great Commission. 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 more than just legal standing or even a change of nature. The new birth of mans spirit by Gods Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. STATEMENT OF FAITH. Therefore, we are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. 2. Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. 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. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. The text of the original assertion, which was the last sentence in the section, was: "The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ. The other four that were expelled are New Faith Mission Ministry in Griffin, Ga.; St. Timothy's Christian Baptist Church in Baltimore; Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Miss. ; 10:21; Luke 4:1821; 10:2737; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Romans 1214; 1Corinthians 5:910; 6:17; 7:2024; 10:2311:1; Galatians 3:2628; Ephesians 6:59; Colossians 3:1217; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord. President Baptist.org, Featuring : Statement of Faith 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. Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. Editorial changes, such as the use of gender-inclusive language, considered improvements of the form of the statement. 11. (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. 3. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. (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. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. We believe He arose bodily from the dead on the third day in the same body in which He suffered and died. 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. Christ, the Lord, bore our sin in His own body on the crossthe just dying for the unjust. We believe in one God, existing in three persons, known as the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit ( Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost"; Genesis 1:1, 26-27; John 10:30, 37-38 ). It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. We believe the true mission of the Church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men. Being one body unites believers to each other and to Christ. We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. We believe the Lord's coming to be imminent. Deuteronomy 4:1, 5, 9, 14; 6:110; 31:1213; Nehemiah 8:18; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:7ff. The canon of Scripture clearly declares that Gods design at Creation for sexual desire, orientation and identity is within the bounds of the marital union of one natural-born man and one natural-born woman (Gen. 1:2628; Gen. 2:2225; Rom. [citation needed][b]. Justification includes the pardon of sin and the imputationof Gods righteousness. There are several Baptist Associations that have been formulated for their volunteer member churches. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. There was both praise and criticism for the significant changes to the BF&M in the 2000 revision. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To be a model of biblical character in all aspects of deportment and interactions and so to avoid any offensive or inappropriate activity or appearance that could impugn the integrity of the institution. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. . What makes us different from the others can be easily discussed by considering the Baptist Distinctives. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior. He is the efficient power for godly living, Christian service, and spiritual worship. Those who have gone before us have been bloody martyrs, powerful prophets, fiery preachers, meek grandmothers, kindly gentlemen, and on and on. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of all mankind from sin. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. At that moment, the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies. ; 5:810; 6:123; 8:118, 2939; 10:910, 13; 13:1114; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 30; 6:1920; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:1720; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:2225; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:822; 4:1116; Philippians 2:1213; Colossians 1:922; 3:1ff. Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:1417; 6:28; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:2126; 27:2228:6; Luke 1:6869; 2:2832; John 1:1114, 29; 3:321, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 2829; 15:116; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:3031; 17:3031; 20:32; Romans 1:1618; 2:4; 3:2325; 4:3ff. Section 201 of the United States Copyright Act specifies that the employeris considered the author of a work made for hire, and owns all the rights comprised in the copyright except in cases where the employer and the employee have expressly agreed otherwise in a written instrument signed by them.. 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. A Statement of Faith is just a summary. We believe that justification is the judicial act of God declaring us to be righteous through faith in Christ Jesus. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament. Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. He regeneratesthe sinner by the Word of God. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the Kingdom may come and Gods will be done on earth. The 2000 BF&M has been criticized[citation needed] for including a specific list of contemporary sins, which could lead to endless additions. Baptist Faith and Message I. All members of the Boston Baptist College community are expected to treat one another with respect and Christ-like compassion. Jesus said He is the Door (singular), and any other path is . Our statement of faith stands firmly within historic Christian orthodoxy, confessing the great doctrines of the Trinity and the incarnation of Christ as set forth in the Nicene and Chalcedonian creeds. We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and . There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, and where there are no Christian works of obedience then faith is dead. 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. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-14; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8-9), We believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and as a substitutionary sacrifice. Directions. Adapted from the 1853 New Hampshire Confession of Faith . In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. The traditional SBC view is that all Scripture is equally inspired by God.[7]. To respect leadership and support harmony that is compatible with biblical truth, understanding that insubordination in any form incompatible with any professional relationship with Boston Baptist College. Confessions serve us due to their helpful summary of the essential teachings of Scripture so as to both . Addresses issues of contemporary concern soteriological inclusivism (Section IV), family (Section XVIII), gender (Section III), sexual immorality, adultery, homosexuality, pornography, and abortion (Section XV). Statement of Faith. ; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:34; 2:6869; 5:1415; Nehemiah 4; 8:15; Matthew 10:515; 20:116; 22:110; 28:1920; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff. [1], Although the Southern Baptist Convention was organized in 1845, no formal confession of faith was adopted until internationally known Baptist theologian Edgar Young Mullins led the denomination to adopt the original BF&M in 1925. The Confession of Faith, [1] [2] also called the Second London Baptist Confession, was written by Particular Baptists, who held to a Calvinistic soteriology in England to give a formal expression of their Christian faith from a Baptist perspective. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Office Hours: 9:00am - 3:00pm Phone: (518) 399-2220 Fax: (518) 399-2580
[email protected]. We believe in the Genesis account of creation; that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God's own image and after His own likeness; that man's creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or developments through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animals and vegetable life were made directly; and that God's established law was that they should bring forth only "after their kind.". This is a family that we are not born intorather, the Father of this family willfully and purposefully brought us in. She will be re-gathered in the Holy Land and, after the completion of the Church, will be saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ. We hold him to be man's great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religion, the chief power behind the present apostasy, the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all powers of darkness-destined, however, to final defeat at the hands of God's own Son, and the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. To receive no substantial gifts from students, vendors, or others associated with the professional completion of job responsibilities so as to create any hint of conflict of interest. The Holy Bible is absolutely inerrant, unadulterated, and authoritative in its . ; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:13; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff. (John 3:15; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-9), Section 13: Separation and Sanctification, We believe that sanctificationis the divine setting apart of the believer unto God, and that the Scriptures clearly teach non-conformity to the world for every believer. The will of the local church is final on all matters of membership, policy, procedure, government, discipline, and benevolence. ; 4:3137; 13:23; 15:135; 1 Corinthians 1:1017; 3:515; 12; 2 Corinthians 89; Galatians 1:610; Ephesians 4:116; Philippians 1:1518. ; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:122:13. The Family. (Matthew 26:17-29; Acts 2:46; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-33), We believe that the Universal Church, which is Christs body, has been given a mandate by Christ Himself to be Gods missionary society to the entire world. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lords Supper. It is Gods unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. The full historicity and perspicuity of the biblical record of primeval history, including the literal existence of Adam and Eve as the progenitors of all people, the literal fall and resultant divine curse on the creation, the worldwide cataclysmic deluge and the origin of nations and languages at the tower of Babel. We believe that Gods design for the family is modeled in the leadership of the church. D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. B. Justification is Gods gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. 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 have multiple campuses serving the specific needs of the areas in which they are located, while receiving centralized teaching from the Blankenbaker Campus in Louisville, KY. ; 4:110; 8:17, 11; 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Matthew 5:2; 7:24ff. And with Mr . The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and His substitutionary atonementfor our sins. 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. The Kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Autonomy and independence of the Local Church. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. The one and only Head is Christ through the Holy Spirit. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service. Reaffirmation of most historical Baptist convictions. 5. Baptists are a people of deep beliefs and cherished doctrines. ; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:112; Matthew 1:1823; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27; 17:5; 27; 28:16, 19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:118, 29; 10:30, 38; 11:2527; 12:4450; 14:711; 16:1516, 28; 17:15, 2122; 20:120, 28; Acts 1:9; 2:2224; 7:5556; 9:45, 20; Romans 1:34; 3:2326; 5:621; 8:13, 34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:18, 2428; 2 Corinthians 5:1921; 8:9; Galatians 4:45; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:710; Philippians 2:511; Colossians 1:1322; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1418; 1 Timothy 2:56; 3:16; Titus 2:1314; Hebrews 1:13; 4:1415; 7:1428; 9:1215, 2428; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:2125; 3:22; 1 John 1:79; 3:2; 4:1415; 5:9; 2 John 79; Revelation 1:1316; 5:914; 12:1011; 13:8; 19:16. ; Acts 1:1314; 2:1ff. They are each worthy of precisely the same honor, confidence, and obedience. (Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-6; 3:24; John 3:1-21; Romans 1:18, 32; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 5:12, 19), We believe that the salvation of sinners is divinely initiated and wholly of grace through the intervention of the Son of God. 16. Christ, by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet was without sin. "[3], The BF&M was revised in 1963 (under the chairmanship of pastor-theologian Herschel H. Hobbs), amended in 1998 (with the addition of Section XVIII on The Family), and again revised in 2000 under the chairmanship of pastor-author and former three-time SBC President Adrian Rogers; the 2000 revisions incorporated sociological as well as theological changes and were considered the most controversial. All who join CHBC are required to affirm the CHBC Statement of Faith, the revised New Hampshire Confession of Faith from 1853. (I Corinthians 15:51-58; John 14:1-4; Titus 2:11-14). He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. We believe that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood.