What Baptist Believe: Our
Faith
(The
numbers in each paragraph refer to the biblical support
following each paragraph)
1.
Of the Scriptures
We believe
that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is
a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction (1); that it has God
for its author, salvation for its end (2), and truth without any
mixture of error for its matter (3); that it reveals the
principles by which God will judge us (4); and therefore is, and
shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of
Christian union (5), and the supreme standard by which all human
conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried (6).
1.
2
Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Sam. 23:2; Acts
1:16
;
3:21
; John 10:35; Luke 16:29-31; Psa.
119:11;
Rom.
3:1-2
2.
2
Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; Acts
11:14
; Rom.
1:16
; Mark
16:16
; John 5:38-39
3.
Prov. 30:5-6; John 17:17; Rev. 22:18-19;
Rom.
3:4
4.
Rom.
2:12
; John 12:47-48; 1 Cor.
4:3-4; Luke
10:10
-16;
12:47
-48
5.
Phil.
3:16; Eph. 4:3-6; Phil. 2:1-2; 1 Cor.
1:10; 1 Pet. 4:11
6.
1
John 4:1; Isa. 8:20; 1 Thess.
5:21; 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 17:11; 1 John
4:6; Jude 3:5; Eph. 6:17; Psa.
119:59-60; Phil. 1:9-11
2. Of the True God
We believe
that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an
infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is JEHOVAH, the Maker
and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth (1); inexpressibly
glorious in holiness (2), and worthy of all possible honor,
confidence, and love (3); that in the unity of the Godhead there
are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (4);
equal in every divine perfection (5), and executing distinct and
harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (6).
1.
John
4:24; Psa. 147:5; 83:18; Heb. 3:4;
Rom.
1:20
; Jer. 10:10
2.
Exod. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; 1
Pet. 1:15-16; Rev. 4:6-8
3.
Mark
12:30
; Rev. 4:11; Matt. 10:37; Jer.
2:12-13
4.
Matt.
28:19; John 15:26; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 1
John 5:7
5.
John
10:30; 5:17; 14:23; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor.
2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6
6.
Eph.
2:18; 2 Cor. 13:14; Rev. 1:4-5;
comp. 2, 7
3. Of the Fall of Man
We believe
that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker
(1); but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and
happy state (2); in consequence of which all mankind are now
sinners (3), not by constraint, but choice (4); being by nature
utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God,
positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just
condemnation to eternal ruin (5), without defense or excuse (6).
1.
Gen.
1:27, 31; Eccl. 7:29; Acts 16:26; Gen. 2:16
2.
Gen.
3:6-24;
Rom.
5:12
3.
Rom.
5:19
; John 3:6; Psa. 51:5;
Rom.
5:15-19; 8:7
4.
Isa. 53:6; Gen. 6:12;
Rom.
3:9-18
5.
Eph.
2:1-3; Rom.
1:18
, 32; 2:1-16; Gal. 3:10; Matt. 20:15
6.
Ezek.
18:19
-20; Rom.
1:20
;
3:19
; Gal. 3:22
4. Of the Way of
Salvation
We believe
that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace (1), through
the mediatorial offices of the Son
of God (2); who by the appointment of the Father, freely took
upon him our nature, yet without sin (3); honored the divine law
by his personal obedience (4), and by his death made a full
atonement for our sins (5); that having risen from the death, he
is now enthroned in heaven (5); and uniting in his wonderful
person the tenderest sympathies with
divine perfections, he is every way qualified to be a suitable,
a compassionate, and an all- sufficient Saviour
(7).
1.
Eph.
2:5; Matt. 18:11; 1 John 4:10; 1 Cor.
3:5-7; Acts 15:11
2.
John
3:16; 1:1-14; Heb.
4:14
;
12:24
3.
Phil.
2:6-7; Heb. 2:9, 14; 2 Cor. 5:21
4.
Isa. 42:21; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 4:4-5; Rom.
3:21
5.
Isa. 53:4-5; Matt.
20:28
; Rom.
4:25
;
3:21
-26; 1 John 4:10; 2:2; 1 Cor.
15:1-3; Heb. 9:13-15
6.
Heb.
1:8, 3; 8:1; Col. 3:1-4
7.
Heb.
7:25; Col. 2:9; Heb.
2:18
;
7:26
; Psa. 89:19; Psa.
14
5. Of Justification
We believe
that the great gospel blessing which Christ (1) secures to such
as believe in him is Justification (2); that Justification
includes the pardon of sin (3), and the promise of eternal life
on principles of righteousness (4); 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 (5); by virtue
of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us
of God (6; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace
and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for
time and eternity (7).
1.
John
1:16; Eph. 3:8
2.
Acts
13:39; Isa. 3:11-12; Rom. 8:1
3.
Rom.
5:9; Zech. 13:1; Matt. 9:6; Acts 10:43
4.
Rom.
5:17
; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Pet. 3:7; 1 John
2:25
; Rom.
5:21
5.
Rom.
4:4-5;
5:21
;
6:28
; Phil. 3:7-9
6.
Rom.
5:19
;
3:24
-26;
4:23
-25; 1 John 2:12
7.
Rom.
5:1-3, 11; 1 Cor.
1:30-31; Matt. 6:33; 1 Tim. 4:8
6. Of the Freeness of
Salvation
We believe
that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the
gospel (1); that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them
by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith (2); and that nothing
prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his
own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel
(3); which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation
(4).
1.
Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Luke 14:17
2.
Rom.
16:26
; Mark
1:15
; Rom.
1:15
-17
3.
John
5:40; Matt.
23:37
; Rom.
9:32
; Prov. 1:24; Acts
13:46
4.
John
3:19; Matt. 11:20; Luke 19:27; 2 Thess.
1:8
7. Of Grace in
Regeneration
We believe
that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born
again (1); that regeneration consists in giving a holy
disposition to the mind (2); that it is effected in a manner
above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in
connection with divine truth (3), so as to secure our voluntary
obedience to the gospel (4); and that its proper evidence
appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness
of life (5).
1.
John
3:3, 6-7; 1 Cor. 1:14; Rev. 8:7-9;
21:27
2.
2 Cor.
5:17; Ezek. 36:26; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:28-29; 5:5; 1 John 4:7
3.
John
3:8;
1:13
; James 1:16-18; 1 Cor.
1:30; Phil. 2:13
4.
1
Pet. 1:22-25; 1 John 5:1; Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:9-11
5.
Eph.
5:9;
Rom.
8:9; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 3:14-21; Matt. 3:8-10;
7:20
; 1 John 5:4, 18
8. Of Repentance and
Faith
We believe
that Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also
inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating
Spirit of God (1); whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt,
danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ
(2), we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and
supplication for mercy (3); at the same time heartily receiving
the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and
relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour
(4).
1.
Mark
1:15
; Acts
11:18
; Eph. 2:8; 1 John 5:1
2.
John
16:8; Acts 2:37-38;
16:30
-31
3.
Luke
18:13
;
15:18
-21; James 4:7-10; 2 Cor.
7:11; Rom.10:12-13; Psa. 51
4.
Rom.
10:9-11; Acts 3:22-23: Heb. 4:14; Psa.
2:6; Heb. 1:8;
8:25
; 2 Tim. 1:12
9. Of God's Purpose of
Grace
We believe
that Election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which
he graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners (1);
that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it
comprehends all the means in connection with the end (2); that
it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being
infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable (3); that it
utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer,
praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy
(4); that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree
(5); that it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly
believe the gospel (6); that it is the foundation of Christian
assurance (7); and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves
demands and deserves the utmost diligence (8).
1.
2
Tim. 1:8-9; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Pet. 1:1-2; Rom. 11:5-6; John 15:15;
1 John 4:19; Hos. 12:9
2.
2 Thess.
2:13-14; Acts 13:48; John 10:16; Matt. 20:16; Acts 15:14
3.
Exod. 33:18-19; Matt. 20:15; Eph.
1:11
; Rom.
9:23
-24: Jer. 31:3; Rom.
11:28
-29; James 1:17-18; 2 Tim. 1:9; Rom.
11:32
-36
4.
1 Cor.
4:7; 1:26-31; Rom. 3:27; 4:16; Col. 3:12; 1 Cor.
3:5-7; 15:10; 1 Pet. 5:10; Acts 1:24; 1 Thess.
2:13; 1 Pet. 2:9; Luke 18:7; John 15:16; Eph. 1:16; 1 Thess.
2:12
5.
2
Tim. 2:10; 1 Cor.
9:22
; Rom.
8:28
-30; John 6:37-40; 2 Pet. 1:10
6.
1 Thess.
1:4-10
7.
Rom.
8:28-30; Isa. 42:16;
Rom.
11:29
8.
2
Pet. 1:10-11; Phil. 3:12; Heb. 6:11
10. Of Sanctification
We believe
that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the
will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness (1); that it
is a progressive work (2); that it is begun in regeneration (3);
and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the
presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter,
in the continual use of the appointed means-especially the Word
of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer
(4).
1.
1 Thess.
4:3;
5:23
; 2 Cor. 7:1; 13:9;
Eph. 1:4
2.
Prov. 4:18; 2 Cor. 3:18;
Heb. 6:1; 2 Pet. 1:5-8; Phil. 3:12-16
3.
John
2:29;
Rom.
8:5; John 3:6; Phil. 1:9-11; Eph. 1:13-14
4.
Phil.
2:12-13; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor.
13:5; Luke 11:35; 9:23; Matt. 26:41; Eph. 6:18; 4:30
11. Of the Perseverance
of Saints
We believe
that such only are real believers as endure unto the end (1);
that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark
which distinguishes them from superficial professors (2); that a
special Providence watches over their welfare (3); and they are
kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (4).
1.
John
8:31; 1 John
2:27
-28; 3:9;
5:18
2.
1
John 2:19; John 13:18; Matt. 13:20-21; John 6:66-69; Job 17:9
3.
Rom.
8:28
; Matt. 6:30-33; Jer.
32:40; Psa. 121:3; 91:11-12
4.
Phil.
1:6;
2:12
-13; Jude 24-25; Heb. 1:14; 2 Kings 6:16; Heb.
13:5; 1 John 4:4
12. Of the Harmony of
the Law and the Gospel
We believe
that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his
moral government (1); that it is holy, just, and good (2); and
that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to
fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin (3);
to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a
Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy Law, is one great
end of the Gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the
establishment of the visible Church (4).
1.
Rom.
3:31
; Matt. 5:17; Luke
16:17
; Rom.
3:20
;
4:15
2.
Rom.
7:12
, 7, 14, 22; Gal. 3:21; Psa.
119
3.
Rom.
8:7-8; Josh. 24:19; Jer.
13:23; John
6:44
;
5:44
4.
Rom.
8:2, 4; 10:4; 1 Tim. 1:5; Heb. 8:10; Jude 20-21; Heb. 12:14;
Matt. 16:17-18; 1 Cor. 12:28
13. Of a
Gospel
Church
We believe
that a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized
believers (1), associated by covenant in the faith and
fellowship of the gospel (2); observing the ordinances of Christ
(3); governed by his laws (4), and exercising the gifts, rights,
and privileges invested in them by his Word (5); that its only
scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, and Deacons (6),
whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the
Epistles to Timothy and Titus.
1.
1 Cor.
1:1-13; Matt. 18:17; Acts 5:11; 8:1;
11:31
; 1 Cor.
4:17
;
14:23
; 3 John 9; 1 Tim. 3:5
2.
Acts
2:41-42; 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor.
5:12-13
3.
1 Cor.
11:2; 2 Thess. 3:6; Rom.
16:17
-20; 1 Cor.
11:23
; Matt.
18:15
-20; 1 Cor 5:6; 2 Cor.
2:7; 1 Cor.
4:17
4.
Matt.
28:20; John
14:15
;
15:12
; 1 John 4:21; John 14:21; 1 Thess.
4.2; 2 John 6; Gal. 6:2; all the Epistles
5.
Eph.
4:7; 1 Cor. 14:12; Phil. 1:27; 1 Cor.
12:14
6.
Phil.
1:1; Acts
14:23
;
15:22
; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1
14. Of Baptism and the
Lord's Supper
We believe
that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer
(1), into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost (2);
to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in
the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour,
with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new
life (3); that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a Church
relation; and to the Lord's Supper (4), in which the members of
the Church, by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to
commemorate together the dying love of Christ (5); preceded
always by solemn self-examination (6).
1.
Acts
8:36
-39; Matt. 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; 4:1-2; Matt. 28:19;
Mark 16:16; Acts
2:38
;
8:12
;
16:32
-34; 18:8
2.
Matt.
28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Gal. 3:27-28
3.
Rom.
6:4; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:20-21; Acts 22:16
4.
Acts
2:41-42; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts and Epistles
5.
1 Cor.
11:26; Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20
6.
1 Cor.
11:28; 5:1, 8; 10:3-32;
11:17
-32; John 6:26-71
15. Of
the Christian Sabbath
We believe
that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day, or Christian
Sabbath (1); and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes (2),
by abstaining from all secular labor and sinful recreations (3);
by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private
(4) and public (5); and by preparation for that rest that remaineth
for the people of God (6).
1.
Acts
20:7; Gen. 2:3; Col. 2:16-17; Mark
2:27
; John 20:19; 1 Cor.
16:1- 2
2.
Exod. 20:8; Rev. 1:10; Psa.
118:24
3.
Isa. 58:13-14; 56:2-8
4.
Psa. 119:15
5.
Heb.
10:24-25; Acts
11:26
;
13:44
; Lev. 19:30; Exod.
46:3; Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2, 3; Psa.
26:8; 87:3
6.
Heb.
4:3-11
16. Of Civil Government
We believe
that civil government is of divine appointment, for the
interests and good order of human society (1); and that
magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and
obeyed (2); except only in things opposed to the will of our
Lord Jesus Christ (3) who is the only Lord of the conscience,
and the Prince of the kings of the earth (4).
1.
Rom.
13:1-7; Deut. 16:18; 1 Sam. 23:3; Exod.
18:23; Jer.30:21
2.
Matt.
22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13; 1 Tim. 2:1-8
3.
Acts
5:29; Matt. 10:28; Dan. 3:15-18; 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20
4.
Matt.
23:10; Rom. 14:4; Rev. 19:16; Psa.
72:11; Psa. 2; Rom. 14:9-13
17. Of the Righteous and
the Wicked
We believe
that there is a radical and essential difference between the
righteous and the wicked (1); that such only as through faith
are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by
the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem (2);
while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in
his sight wicked, and under the curse (3); and this distinction
holds among men both in and after death (4).
1.
Mal.
3:18; Prov. 12:26; Isa.
5:20; Gen. 18:23; Jer. 15:19;Acts
10:34
- 35; Rom.
6:16
2.
Rom.
1:17
; 7:6; 1 John 2:29; 3:7; Rom.
6:18
, 22; 1 Cor. 11:32; Prov.
11:31; 1 Pet. 4:17-18
3.
1
John 5:19; Gal. 3:10; John 3:36; Isa.
57:21; Psa. 10:4; Isa
55:6-7
4.
Prov. 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21-24; Prov.
10:24; Luke 12:4-5;
9:23
- 26; John 12:25-26; Eccl. 3:17; Matt. 7:13-14
18. Of the World to Come
We believe
that the end of the world is approaching (1); that at
