In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. We also believe that Gods Word is a complete and chronological record from creation to the birth of Christ. By "Inspiration" we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. ; Acts 1:1314; 2:1ff. We believe that justification is the judicial act of God declaring us to be righteous through faith in Christ Jesus. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. To treat my institutional responsibilities as a sacred trust and so to be prompt, productive and professional as an employee of Boston Baptist College. Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. The Church. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. 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. He was literally and physically raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the Person who was with them before His crucifixion. Exodus 17:12; 18:17ff. Repentance is characterized by godly sorrow for sin which is offensive to God and destructive to the soul. Water baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of membership in the local church. 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. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ. Sunday Mornings: 9:00 AM In-Person 10:30 AM In-Person 10:30 AM Live Streaming Online. 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. He is our High Priest and Divine Advocate with the Father. He is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire. We also believe that the husband is to be the head of the home and, together with his wife, has the responsibility to bring up their children in the caring guidance, counsel, and discipline of the Lord. To discuss issues of personal salary and compensation only with an appropriate supervisor. 1803, d. 1868), about 1833, and has been adopted by the New Hampshire Convention, and widely accepted by Baptists, especially in the Northern and Western States, as a clear and concise statement of their faith, in harmony with the . 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). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. "Throughout the process, the [Faith Statement Development] team sought the Lord's guidance and wisdom and has . (A) The Holy Scriptures We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally and fully inspired Word of God. The Baptist Faith and Message is also available in different language translations. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of the Father, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, equal with God the Father and God the Spirit and of the same nature. Married persons, husbands and wives, are commanded to exclusive sexual fidelity to each other while single persons are called to abstinence (Heb.13:4). We specifically affirm the following doctrinal truths: The Scriptures Lets face it many Baptists are proud, and that is OK in a manner of speaking, because we have a rich heritage. Boston Baptist College | 950 Metropolitan Avenue, Hyde Park, MA 02136, Call: (617) 364-3510 | Email: info@boston.edu, Boston Baptist College, 950 Metropolitan Avenue, Hyde Park, MA 02136, United States. Spanish Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-47; Acts 15:13-18; Acts 20:17-28; Romans 1:16; Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:13-16; Ephesians 3:1-6; Ephesians 4:11-13; Ephesians 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-7). In His incarnation as Jesus Christ, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 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. Reaffirmation of most historical Baptist convictions. We believe that, by His finished work on the cross and His unceasing ministry of intercession in Glory, Jesus Christ has procured for every believer eternal redemption, eternal salvation, and everlasting life. To limit any personal matters to momentary attention while on the job, including but not limited to - phone calls, personal visits or conversations or computer use. We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: first, to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church; third, to teach and instruct as He commanded. We further believe the wedding ceremony is an act of worship before God where one man and one woman are joined in holy matrimony. To maintain responsible standards of speech and action so as to avoid profanity, vulgarity, and harassment or acts of physical assault or violence. He is worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love. Christs people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. A Statement of Faith is just a summary. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Expressing our love in worship that is as sincere, vibrant, and artful as it is scriptural. Baptism Mission In our mission of Connecting people to Jesus and one another, Southeast Christian Church has grown into a unified multisite community. (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. The Holy Spirit conceived His incarnationin a miraculous manner. Christ, the Lord, bore our sin in His own body on the crossthe just dying for the unjust. The Family. (Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15), (Statement of Faith ratified February 5th, 2017), exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. They are each worthy of precisely the same honor, confidence, and obedience. (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. Exodus 20:317; Leviticus 6:25; Deuteronomy 10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:1316, 4348; 22:3640; 25:35; Mark 1:2934; 2:3ff. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provide for rescue and redemption from sin. We receive the spirit of adoption and we are enabled to come boldly to the throne of grace and cry Abba, Father. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate persons life. 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. 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. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war. Insults, slurs and other forms of derogatory speech or actions have no place in a Christian community or thoughtful dialogue, and will be worthy of disciplinary action. An In-depth Study of Our Baptist Distinctives & Heritage. God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. In Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. 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 the true mission of the Church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men. 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 ). Genesis 1:27; 2:7; Matthew 6:67, 24; 16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:1920; Romans 6:12; 13:17; Galatians 5:1, 13; Philippians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:12; James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:1217; 3:1117; 4:1219. There is one and only one living and true God. Hindi Christ, glorified in Heaven, is the Head of the Church. We believe that Satan is a personal being, the author of sin, a fallen angel, prince of demons, the unholy god of this age, the great enticer and deceiver, the adversary of Christ and His people, the accuser of the brethren, and the ruler of all the powers of darkness. Salvation is received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work. NOVEMBER 1994. He will return in power and glory to judge the world which he created, consummate His mission, and assume His rightful throne. Article XVIII. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. Contact. (John 17:17; Romans 6:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 5:16-23; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 1 John 3:2; Jude 24-25; Revelation 22:11), We believe adoption means to be placed as a son. 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. Statement of Faith. 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. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. ", Those words are commonly referred to as the "red letter words", based on the. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11; Matthew 25:41; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9-10; Revelation 20:10), We believe in the Genesis account of creation as being neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct and immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process. God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage. Therefore, we believe creation to be approximately 6000 years old. They are for the strengthening of God's people (the Church) and proof of God's existence and power to unbelievers. The programs and activities governing St. Paul Church shall be based upon and at all times shall be consistent with the following Baptist Doctrine. Activities on the Lords Day should be commensurate with the Christians conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 4. Portuguese Office Hours: 9:00am - 3:00pm Phone: (518) 399-2220 Fax: (518) 399-2580 office@faithcrossroads.org. Autonomy and independence of the Local Church. STATEMENT OF FAITH. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. We believe the Lord's coming to be imminent. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. The Church. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. We must remember that first and foremost, we are Christians blood-bought, eternally saved, Christ professing, grace given, mercy receiving, repentant sinners who the Father in heaven has spared from the fiery pits of Hell! He is the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and earth. We believe positional sanctification occurs at the moment of regeneration and practical sanctification is to be progressive throughout the entire life span of the believer.