An Affirmation of Our Faith
Adopted by the Baptist General Conference in 1951
1. The Word of God: We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully
inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all
matters of faith and conduct.
2. The Trinity: We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally
existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection,
and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation,
providence and redemption.
3. God the Father: We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal
spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns
Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers
prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through
Jesus Christ.
4. Jesus Christ: We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived
by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles
and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection,
ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal
visible return to earth.
5. The Holy Spirit: We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the
Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment,
and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ.
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that
He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.
6. Regeneration: We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by
choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who
repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated
by the Holy Spirit.
7. The Church: We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body
of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe
in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ,
baptized on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work
and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local
church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
8. Christian Conduct: We believe that Christians should live for the glory
of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless
before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions;
and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature
of maturity in Christ.
9. The Ordinances: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two
ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe
that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name
of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ
for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should
be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
10. Religious Liberty: We believe that every human being has direct relations
with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each
church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical
or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate
as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation
or patronage of the other.
11. Church Cooperation: We believe that local churches can best promote
the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational
organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference,
exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference
is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate
with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary basis.
12. The Last Things: We believe in the personal and visible return of the
Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe
in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity
of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
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