BIBLE - We believe that the Bible, consisting of both the Old and New Testaments, is God's infallible, inerrant Word, written by men who were uniquely moved by the Holy Spirit, and that it is our sole authority in all matters of faith and practice.* We affirm our belief in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Scriptures in their original writings.
John 1:1-5, 14, 18; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21
GOD - We believe in one God, creator of heaven and earth, eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Mark 12:29; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:18-20
GOD THE FATHER is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power. We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:9-14; Romans 11:33; 1 Corinthians 8:6
GOD THE SON Jesus Christ, is God's only begotten Son, born of a virgin, sinless in life, who atoned for the sins of the world by His substitutionary death on the cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His high priestly intercession for His people, His Lordship,* and His personal, visible pre-millennial return to the world according to His promise.
John 1:1-5; Romans 1:4; 1:16; Ephesians 1:1-14; Colossians 1:9-23
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. His works in the believer include (but are not limited to): (1) salvation, baptizing into the body of Christ, indwelling, sealing eternally; (2) progressive sanctification,* giving, filling, teaching, enabling; and (3) glorifying Christ.
John 14:16-18; John 16:7-14; Romans 8:18-28; 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14; Galatians 5:22
HUMANITY - We believe that humanity, male and female, is sacred in God’s eyes and was uniquely created by Him, in His image and for His glory, to exercise dominion over the earth and to enjoy a relationship with Him forever. Every human being is directly responsible to God in matters of faith and life. We believe that all humanity by nature and by choice are sinners but that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7, 22; 5:1-2; 9:6; Psalm 100:3; 119:73; Isaiah 43:7; 45:12; Acts 17:26; 1 Corinthians 11:7; James 3:9; 2 Ecclesiastes 3:17; 12:14; Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 1:20; 3:19; Hebrews 4:13; 9:27; Revelation 20:11-13 3 John 3:16
SALVATION - We believe that salvation is God's gift to man in the person of Jesus Christ. Sinful man is saved from the eternal penalty of sin as a result of receiving Jesus Christ, by faith, as the Savior and Lord of life. We believe that all who are born-again through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ are eternally secure through His grace.
John 1:1-12; Romans 1:16; Ephesians 2; Romans 6, 7, 8; Ephesians 6:10
THE CHURCH - We believe that the church is the body of Christ which is made up of every born-again believer since Pentecost regardless of race, sex or national origin, and will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The local church is an organized body of immersed* believers* voluntarily associated together for the worship of God, growth in godliness and the observance of the Biblical ordinances (believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper*). The local church is independent and autonomous* and is free from all outside ecclesiastical* or political* interference.
Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:1-8; Acts 2:37-38; Ephesians 1:22, 2:19; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14
SATAN - We believe that Satan is a personal created being, a fallen angel, and the author of sin and the cause of the fall of mankind. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man. He will be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire.
Jude 1:6; Genesis 3; Matthew 4; Revelation 12:7-12, 20:1-3, 20:7-10; 1 Peter 5:8-9
ETERNITY - We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the believer and the nonbeliever. The saved will enjoy the wonders of God's presence forever, and the lost will be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire.
MARRIAGE - We believe marriage has been ordained (or established or instituted) by God. RRBC defines “marriage” as the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment. A civil government’s sanction of a union will be recognized as a legitimate marriage by the church only to the extent that it is consistent with the definition of “marriage” found in these Articles.
Genesis 2:24; Ecclesiastes 5:4-7
* This indicates one of the following historic Baptist distinctives: the Bible as the sole authority in all matters of faith and practice; the Lordship of Jesus Christ; a regenerated church membership; progressive sanctification; two church ordinances (believer's baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper); the priesthood of believers; the separation of Church and State; and the autonomy of the local church.
