The Baptist Articles of Faith provide a foundational summary of Baptist beliefs, derived from the Bible, outlining essential doctrines and guiding principles for the church community.
The Scriptures
The Holy Bible, written by divinely inspired men, is God’s revelation of Himself to humanity, serving as the ultimate authority for faith and practice. The Scriptures are a perfect treasure of divine instruction, guiding believers in truth and doctrine.
2.1; Inspiration and Authority
The Holy Bible, written by men divinely inspired, is God’s revelation of Himself to humanity. Its inspiration by God ensures its authority as the ultimate guide for faith and practice. The Scriptures, being fully inspired, are a perfect treasure of divine instruction, free from error, and serve as the final authority in all matters of Christian belief and living.
2.2. The Bible as God’s Revelation
The Holy Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to humanity, serving as the ultimate authority for faith and practice. It reveals God’s character, His plan of salvation, and His will for mankind. The Bible’s divine inspiration ensures its truth and reliability, making it the perfect treasure of heavenly instruction for guiding believers in their spiritual journey and understanding God’s purposes.
The True God
We believe in one true and living God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, who reveals Himself in love and redemption.
3.1. The Nature of God
We believe in one true and living God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. God is holy, omnipotent, and eternal, possessing divine sovereignty, wisdom, and love. He is the Creator of all things, self-existent, and unchanging in His attributes. God reveals Himself as a personal Being, distinct yet united in the Trinity, and is worshipped as the only true object of human devotion and service.
3.2. The Trinity
We believe in the one true and living God, existing eternally as three distinct, coequal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each possesses the attributes of deity, and they execute distinct but harmonious roles in creation, salvation, and the human experience. The Trinity is central to the Christian faith, reflecting the unity and diversity of God’s nature as revealed in Scripture.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, fully divine, possessing all attributes of deity. He convicts humanity of sin, regenerates believers, and empowers them for godly living.
4.1. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a divine person, fully God, coequal with the Father and Son. His work includes convicting sinners, regenerating believers, indwelling, teaching, and empowering for service. Through His indwelling, believers are sanctified and enabled to live a godly life, glorifying Christ in all aspects of their being.
4.2. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Salvation
The Holy Spirit is essential in salvation, convicting individuals of sin and enlightening their understanding of the Gospel. He regenerates hearts, imparting spiritual life, and ensures believers are sealed until redemption. His work is vital for repentance and faith, enabling individuals to trust in Christ for salvation and sanctifying them progressively through their walk with God.
The Devil, or Satan
Baptists believe in the existence of Satan as a personal being who opposes God, having rebelled against Him, and is the tempter of humanity, leading to the Fall.
5.1. The Existence and Fall of Satan
Baptists affirm the existence of Satan as a created being who once served God but fell due to pride and rebellion. His fall from heavenly glory resulted in opposition to God and humanity. Baptists believe Satan is the adversary of God and His people, leading humanity into sin and separation from God, fulfilling his role as the tempter and deceiver, ultimately doomed to eternal judgment by Christ.
5.2. The Influence of Satan in the World
Baptists believe Satan actively influences the world through deception and temptation, opposing God and His truth. He promotes sin, rebellion, and suffering, seeking to lead humanity away from God. Satan’s influence is evident in evil, moral darkness, and spiritual warfare, but Baptists affirm that his power is limited by God’s sovereignty and that he will ultimately be defeated by Jesus Christ.
The Creation
Baptists affirm the divine act of creation, teaching that God sovereignly created the universe out of nothing, establishing order, and purpose, reflecting His glory and nature.
6.1. The Act of Creation
Baptists believe in the divine act of creation, teaching that God sovereignly created the universe out of nothing. This creative act, as revealed in Scripture, demonstrates God’s omnipotence and wisdom. The Bible affirms that God intentionally designed creation to reflect His glory and purpose, establishing the foundation for human life and stewardship over the earth.
6.2. The Purpose of Creation
The purpose of creation, according to Baptist teachings, is to glorify God and fulfill His divine will. Humanity was created in God’s image, entrusted with dominion over the earth, and called to enjoy a covenant relationship with Him. Creation serves as a reflection of God’s wisdom and love, providing a context for humanity to worship, serve, and experience fellowship with the Creator.
The Fall of Man
Humanity, created in God’s image, rebelled against Him through disobedience, introducing sin and separating mankind from divine fellowship. This fall brought guilt, corruption, and death to all people.
7.1. The Nature of the Fall
The Fall of Man, as taught in Baptist doctrine, occurred through Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, introducing sin into the world. This act of rebellion against God’s command led to spiritual and physical death, separating humanity from God’s fellowship. The Fall resulted in inherent sinfulness and moral corruption, necessitating redemption through Christ. This event is foundational to understanding human nature and the need for salvation.
7.2. The Consequences of the Fall
The Fall resulted in humanity’s separation from God, introducing sin, guilt, and death. Adam’s disobedience brought spiritual and physical death, causing a corrupt nature to be passed to all descendants. This sinfulness alienated humans from God’s fellowship, necessitating divine redemption for salvation. The consequences of the Fall are universal, affecting every individual, and emphasize the need for Christ’s atonement to restore humanity’s relationship with God.
The Virgin Birth
The Virgin Birth is a fundamental doctrine, affirming that Jesus Christ was born of the Holy Spirit and a virgin, Mary, without a human father, emphasizing His divine nature and sinlessness.
8.1. The Significance of the Virgin Birth
The Virgin Birth is crucial as it confirms Jesus’ divine nature, emphasizing His sinlessness and unique relationship with God. It underscores the supernatural origin of Christ, fulfilling biblical prophecies and demonstrating God’s initiative in salvation, making Jesus the perfect mediator between God and humanity.
8.2. The Biblical Basis for the Virgin Birth
The Virgin Birth is supported by Isaiah 7:14 and Luke 1:26-38, which describe Jesus’ conception by the Holy Spirit without human involvement. This miracle affirms Jesus’ divine origin, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and establishing His unique sinless nature, essential for His redemptive mission.
The Atonement for Sin
The atonement for sin is the redemptive work of Christ, who bore the penalty for humanity’s sin through His death on the cross, providing salvation by grace through faith.
9.1. The Necessity of the Atonement
The atonement was necessary because humanity’s sin separated us from God, requiring a divine sacrifice to restore fellowship. Christ’s death on the cross satisfied God’s justice, providing redemption and forgiveness for all who believe.
9.2. The Nature of the Atonement
The atonement is rooted in Christ’s substitutionary death, where He bore the penalty for humanity’s sin. This act of grace demonstrated God’s love and justice, reconciling believers to Himself through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice.
Grace in the New Creation
Grace in the new creation is God’s unmerited favor, extending salvation and transforming lives through faith in Christ, reflecting His divine love and redemptive purpose.
10.1. The Concept of Grace
Grace is God’s unmerited favor, freely given to humanity through Christ, demonstrating His love and mercy; It is central to salvation, enabling sinners to receive divine forgiveness and spiritual transformation through faith alone, apart from works, embodying God’s sovereign initiative and redemptive purpose in the lives of believers, as emphasized in Baptist teachings and the Holy Scriptures.
10.2. The Application of Grace in Salvation
Grace is the divine mechanism through which salvation is imparted to believers. It is applied through faith in Christ, resulting in justification and regeneration. Baptists affirm that grace is entirely God’s initiative, enabling individuals to repent and trust in Jesus. This unmerited favor ensures eternal life, emphasizing God’s sovereignty and love, as clearly taught in the Baptist Articles of Faith and the Holy Scriptures.
The Freeness of Salvation
Salvation is freely offered to all through faith in Christ, a gift of God’s grace, emphasizing its availability to everyone without merit or condition.
11.1. The Availability of Salvation
Salvation is freely offered to all people through faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing God’s grace and its universal availability regardless of background or circumstances.
11.2; The Conditions of Salvation
Salvation is conditioned upon repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, requiring a genuine turning from sin and personal acceptance of His sacrifice. It is by grace through faith, not works, that one is saved, emphasizing the biblical truth that salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Justification
Justification is God’s act of declaring sinners righteous through faith in Christ, based on His substitutionary atonement, imputing His righteousness to believers by grace alone.
12.1; The Doctrine of Justification
The doctrine of justification asserts that believers are declared righteous by God through faith in Christ’s substitutionary atonement, apart from works. This legal declaration is rooted in Christ’s sacrifice, which satisfies divine justice, imputing His righteousness to believers. It is a gracious act of God, emphasizing salvation by faith alone, and establishes the believer’s standing before Him.
This doctrine underscores the sufficiency of Christ’s work and the inability of humans to achieve righteousness through their own efforts. It is a cornerstone of Baptist theology, reflecting the transformative power of grace and the assurance of salvation for those who trust in Christ.
12.2. Justification by Faith
Justification by faith is a fundamental Baptist belief, asserting that individuals are declared righteous by God through faith in Jesus Christ. This righteousness is imputed through Christ’s substitutionary atonement, emphasizing salvation by grace alone. It is not earned by works but is a gift received through trust in Him. This doctrine, rooted in Scripture, highlights the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice for sin, making believers acceptable before God.
Repentance and Faith
Repentance and faith are inseparable graces, wrought by the Holy Spirit, leading to a deep conviction of sin, and a sincere turning to God through Christ.
13.1. The Relationship Between Repentance and Faith
Repentance and faith are inseparable, with repentance leading to a deep conviction of sin, prompting a genuine turning to God through Christ, and faith trusting in His redemption.
13.2. The Biblical Basis for Repentance and Faith
The Bible teaches that repentance and faith are gifts from God, rooted in His grace. Repentance involves turning from sin to God, while faith trusts in Christ’s redemption. Key verses like Acts 2:38, Romans 3:24-25, and Ephesians 2:8 emphasize these doctrines, highlighting justification by faith and the Holy Spirit’s role in transforming hearts.
Baptism and the Church
Baptism symbolizes a believer’s commitment to Christ, typically performed by immersion. The church plays a vital role in guiding believers and administering this sacred ordinance.
14.1. The Importance of Baptism
Baptism is a symbolic act of obedience, publicly declaring one’s faith in Christ. It represents spiritual rebirth, union with Christ, and commitment to His teachings. Baptism is essential for church membership and participation in the Lord’s Supper, emphasizing believers’ identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It serves as a powerful witness to personal faith and devotion.
14.2. The Role of the Church in Baptism
The Church plays a vital role in baptism by ensuring it is administered correctly. It provides spiritual guidance, verifies the believer’s profession of faith, and maintains doctrinal integrity. The Church community supports the baptized individual, fostering spiritual growth and accountability. Baptism within the Church fosters unity and strengthens the body of Christ, fulfilling the Great Commission and upholding biblical standards.
The Last Things
The Baptist faith emphasizes the bodily return of Christ, resurrection of the dead, final judgment, and eternal states of heaven and hell, reflecting divine justice and mercy.
15.1. The Second Coming of Christ
Baptist doctrine affirms the literal, bodily return of Jesus Christ, a climactic event bringing divine judgment and fulfillment of God’s plan. This belief inspires hope and motivates believers to live godly lives, eagerly anticipating Christ’s glorious appearing to reign supremely. The Second Coming underscores God’s justice, mercy, and ultimate triumph over evil, resonating throughout Baptist Articles of Faith as a central eschatological truth.
15.2. The Final Judgment and Eternal State
Baptist teachings emphasize the final judgment, where all humanity will stand before God. The righteous, through faith in Christ, will inherit eternal life and glory, while the wicked will face eternal punishment. This doctrine underscores the certainty of divine justice and the eternal separation of believers and unbelievers, reflecting Baptist eschatological beliefs rooted in biblical prophecy and the ultimate triumph of God’s sovereignty.