Our fourteen basic beliefs are listed below, along with a Bible reference and an explanation for each one.
1. The Holy Scriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit and, therefore, are inerrant and fully authoritative in all matters relating to faith and conduct.
2 Timothy 3:15-16 …from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness …
Although all people should see God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – in creation (Romans 1:20) and should therefore worship Him, He has given us the Scriptures to teach us what we should believe about him, what he expects of us, and to reveal His plan of salvation.
We believe that the Holy Spirit illuminated the minds of the human writers of the Bible, repressed the influence of sin and guided them in the expression of their thoughts. They were free to write in their own style and language and of their own experiences. The Old Testament writers are repeatedly instructed to write what the Lord commands them (Exodus 17:14, Isaiah 8:1), and Paul claims that his words are Spirit-taught (I Corinthians 2:13).
Because the whole Bible is inspired, we believe it is in errant, i.e. without error as a rule of faith and practice, and contains all we need to know to be saved – see 2 Timothy 3:15 above.
Why is this important? The Bible is the main way God speaks to us, and the main way we discover who God is and what He is like. So, we need to be confident that it is inspired, true, accurate and complete.
2. The Trinity of the Godhead
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …
We believe in one God, the sovereign creator and sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Although the word ‘Trinity’ is not found in the Bible, the idea can be seen in many passages, such as the Great Commission above, that God is one being in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus said he and the Father are one (John 10:30) and refers to God as three persons in John chapters 14 and 15. There are some passages in which the Messiah speaks and mentions two other Persons: Isaiah 48:16, 61:1 and 63:9-10. In the New Testament, there are several passages in which the three Persons are expressly mentioned; e.g., the apostolic blessing 2 Corinthians 13:14 and Luke 3:21-22, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, I Peter 1:2.
In the Triune God the three persons think as one, will as one, rule as one and act as one. Without a doctrine of the Trinity, we have three gods – three wills, three powers and that is not the God of the Bible.
It should not surprise us that we have difficulty understanding what God is like because He is so much greater and holier than we could imagine.
Why is this important? The God of the Bible is one being in three persons. If the God we worship is not Trinity, then we are worshipping a man-made idea of God, and that is an idol which, of course, has no power to rule or answer prayer.
3. The Deity and full humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ
John 1:1 and 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Here Jesus is the Word and the Word is God, so Jesus is God.
The Bible shows Jesus as a Person having two natures, one divine and one human 1 Timothy 3:16 refers to God manifested in the flesh. OT passages that point to the divine nature include Isaiah 9:6, Jeremiah 23:6, Micah 5:2, Malachi 3:1. New Testament passages include Matthew 11:27, 16:16, Romans 9:5, 1 Corinthians 2:8, Philippians 2:6.
Passages that point to his true humanity (i.e. that Jesus had a soul and a body) include Matthew 26:26, Luke 24:39, Hebrews 2:14. He developed as a normal person Luke 2:40, 52, had normal human wants and sufferings Matthew 4:2, Luke 22:44, John 11:35. Yet Jesus was without sin. He committed no sin and could not sin. John 8:46, Hebrews 4:15, I John 3:5. His sinless life was necessary so he could take the punishment for the sin of the whole world.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Why is this important? It was necessary for our salvation that Jesus be both God and man. Only as a man could he be our substitute and suffer and die in our place. Only as God could He give his sacrifice infinite value and bear the wrath of God so as to deliver others from it.
4. The Deity and true personality of the Holy Spirit
Acts 5:3-4 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit …You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” Here, the Holy Spirit is clearly God since lying to the Holy Spirit is seen as being the same as lying to God.
As God, the Holy Spirit indwells all believers (Romans 8:11), enabling them to understand and apply the Scriptures, and equipping them for godly living (Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 12:3-11).
The Bible shows that the Holy Spirit is truly a person, because he speaks (Acts 28:25), teaches (John 14:26), strives with sinners (Genesis 6:3), encourages (Acts 9:31), is grieved (Ephesians 4:30), convicts people (John 16:8-11) and regenerates believers (John 3:4-6).
Why is this important? Only God can do the things that the Bible attributes to the Holy Spirit. If he is not God, then there is no way that the work of Jesus in dying and rising again can be applied to believers now.
5. The sinfulness of people and their responsibility for their revolt against God’s law
Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 6:23 the wages of sin is death.
The Bible is clear that everyone has sinned because no one has perfectly obeyed God’s law which says, among other things, that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). All people are guilty, and deserve the punishment of death (Romans 3:19) because we are all born with a corrupt nature – we have polluted intellects (unbelief and pride), wills (our desire to be like God) and feelings (our satisfaction in doing wrong things). This is called original sin and is the reason that we all commit acts of sin such as pride, envy, deceit, theft, adultery. So both our sin (our corrupt nature) and our sins (wrong deeds etc) make us responsible for breaking God’s perfect law.
Why is this important? The Bible is clear that we must repent and believe in order to be forgiven by God and adopted into his family. Even people who seem to live good, unselfish lives, helping others and trying to do the right thing, will be found guilty by God because everyone has fallen short of God’s perfect standard. Everyone, even the very best of us, needs to confess his or her sin, and trust Jesus as Saviour.
6. God’s prior electing grace for faith and salvation, and people’s responsibility for their response to the Divine requirements of repentance and faith
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
We only come to faith because God works in us, enabling us to hear and respond to the good news of the Gospel. We cannot earn our salvation, or do anything towards achieving salvation, because of our sin.
However, the Bible also teaches that we are responsible for our response to the Gospel.
Acts 2:23 shows that Jesus was crucified according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, and yet the people who carried it out are called ‘wicked men’.
Philippians 2:12 brings both aspects of salvation together: people are responsible to ‘work out their own salvation’ and God is shown as ‘working in us’ to accomplish our salvation. 2 Peter 1:10 brings both the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man together when it urges us to make our election sure. God elects, and we respond in repentance and faith.
Why is this important? God’s sovereignty in election and man’s responsibility are both taught in the Bible.
7. Christ’s atonement for His Church
John 10:11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.
‘Atonement’ means covering. The atonement is the making of enemies into friends by covering the wrong doing that broke the relationship, and so turning away God’s wrath and the punishment that their sins would otherwise incur. In the Old Testament, animal sacrifices covered the person’s sin. This was a picture of what Jesus would do. His life of perfect obedience and his death and resurrection covered the sins of those who believe in him. Because we are sinners, the only way we can be reconciled with God is for a representative to offer an acceptable sacrifice on our behalf. Because Jesus was without sin, he was uniquely able to offer the sacrifice of his own death for those who repent and believe without needing atonement for himself. Those people who accept Jesus’ death on their behalf become members of the community of believers called the Church. John 10, shows that he died for the sheep, i.e. for those converted people who make up his church (For ‘conversion’, see 8 below).
Hebrews 7:27 and 9:12 point out that Jesus made atonement for us once for all. His sacrifice will never be repeated.
Why is this important? This is the central doctrine of the Christian faith. Our sin rightly earned God’s wrath, and only Jesus could make atonement for our sin and reconcile us to God.
8. Conversion, that work of the Holy Spirit by which He enables those who are dead in their trespasses and sins to repent, believe and receive eternal life
Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
The Holy Spirit is the divine agent of the whole process of conversion which is a person’s turning from a life of sin to eternal life. Jesus described the process in John 3:5-7 as being born again. The Holy Spirit awakes the sinner’s conscience, enabling him to see sin as an offence against a holy God, and leading him to repent.
Why is this important? Because our sin makes it impossible for us to approach a Holy God, we need the work of the Holy Spirit in us to enable us to ask for God’s forgiveness and live a life that honours God.
9. The Church as the body of regenerate believers in the Lord Jesus Christ expressed locally and universally
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.
The Church is the company of all believers who are regenerate or born again (John 3:7). The Greek word, ekklesia, which was used of the citizens summoned together, (e.g. Acts 19:41) is used of the assembly of God’s people rather than the building in which they met. This assembly is both local (i.e. those people within a geographic location at a particular time) and universal (i.e. those believers who have died – known as the church triumphant; and those believers who live in other parts of the world – known as the church militant). In 1 Corinthians 12:12-26, this assembly is described as the body of Christ, a metaphor which explains the unity and the diversity of the group of believers.
Why is this important? It isimportant to see the church, not as a building which needs to be maintained, but as an assembly of men, women and children who follow Jesus, who meet together for worship, mutual care and edification and who seek to witness in word and deed to unbelievers both locally and overseas.
10. The priesthood of all believers
1 Peter 2:9 ... You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Peter explains that it is God’s grace, not people’s choice, that brings some people to faith in Jesus. Initially, we are chosen, we do not choose. In the Old Testament, the priestly tribe of Levi and the family of Aaron, were given the privilege of overseeing worship and sacrifice in the temple. Most people were only able to worship God through the mediation of the priesthood. But now, because Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 7:24-28), all believers are the priesthood, able to approach the throne of God with confidence (Hebrews 4:16) not needing the intermediary work of priests. Further, the phrase ‘priesthood of all believers’ draws attention to the corporate nature of our faith – we together are a royal priesthood – we are meant to worship together.
Why is this important? The wonder that we have free access to Almighty God through the atonement of Jesus should colour all we think and say and do. Our lives should be an expression of gratitude for the grace of God in our lives both individually and corporately.
11. The baptism of believers by immersion
Romans 6:3-4 Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Paul here explains that baptism is a picture of leaving our old life of sin and being joined to Christ and his church. It is a step of obedience by believers whereby they publicly declare their faith and their intention to live a life honouring God. Baptism is not essential for salvation, and does not itself achieve salvation. Romans 10:9 explains that if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved’. The thief on the cross was assured of his salvation by Jesus. But baptism shows publicly that we choose to identify ourselves with Jesus and his church.
Why is this important? Baptists see baptism as an act of obedience by believers and in many Baptist churches it is a requirement for membership. However, believers who have not been baptized subsequent to their confession of faith, are welcomed as adherents who may participate in the life and ministry of the church.
12. The ordinance of the Lord’s Supper as instituted by Christ Himself
Luke 22:19 And (Jesus) took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, ‘This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me’. In the same way after supper he took the cup saying ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’.]
At the Last Supper that Jesus celebrated with his disciples in the upper room, he used the Passover meal as a powerful image of his death.
We celebrate it because Jesus told us to – that is why we call it an ordinance. Secondly, it is also a deeply meaningful act of worship that brings the cross of Christ to mind. And thirdly, it is an act of communion with a worldwide company of believers, past and present. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10:17 that ‘we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread’.
Why is this important? The celebration is not only an act of obedience and a deeply meaningful act of worship,it is anexpression of fellowship with the church.
13. The visible bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ in power and great glory
Matthew 24:30 Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
No one can determine the exact time, not even the angels or Jesus (Matthew 24:36) but we know Jesus’ second coming will be unexpected and take people by surprise (1 Thessalonians 5:2). We also know that it will be a glorious and triumphant coming. The angels will be his body guards (2 Thessalonians 1:7), and believers his glorious retinue (1 Thessalonians 3:13). The second coming will immediately precede the end of the world as we know it, and the introduction of God’s universal, eternal, spiritual kingdom. (See below 14).
Why is this important? Jesus spoke about the need to always be ready (e.g. Matt 24:44) because we don’t know when he will return and to do what we can to grow in our faith (Parable of the Ten Virgins Matthew 25:1-13), as well as proclaim and demonstrate the good news of the Gospel while we wait. (see Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-30).
14. The resurrection of the dead – the just to eternal life and the unrighteous to eternal punishment
2 Corinthians 5:10 for we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ so that each of us may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
John 5:28-29 … a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgement.
The second coming will immediately precede the final judgement, in which Jesus will separate believers from unbelievers, as a Shepherd separates sheep from goats (Matthew 25:31-46). The reward of the ‘just’ (i.e. those made righteous by the atonement of Jesus) is described as eternal life (i.e. life in all its fullness without the sin and sadness of the present). The final state of the ‘unrighteous’ (i.e. those who not trust in Jesus as their Saviour and obey Him as Lord) is described as eternal existence in a lake of fire (Revelation 20:14), where they will suffer anguish and despair. (Matthew 8:12). Life after death will follow a judgement of our works (Matthew 25:31-46) and in John 6:29 Jesus explains that ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent’.
Why is this important? The Bible is clear that there will be life after death for everyone following judgement of our works. And it is only those who are ‘in Christ’ who will be saved from eternal punishment. We only have opportunity to repent and follow Christ while we live on earth.