Our Beliefs: Articles of Faith and Practice

We accept the faith and principles that were accepted by the Southern Baptist Convention on the 9th of May, 1963. The following illustrates our fundamental beliefs:

  • About God

    God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe and exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are equal and a single God.

    See Genesis 1:1 & 26-27 ; Genesis 3:22 ; Psalm 90:2 ; Matthew 28:19 ; 1 Peter 1:2 ; 2 Corinthians 13:14

  • About Jesus Christ

    Jesus Christ is the Son of God, is consubstantial with the Father. Jesus Christ lived a human life without sin and He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world, dying at the cross. He was resurrected from the dead on the third day, to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended into heaven and He will return again to Earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of Lords.

    See Matthew 1:22 & 23 ; Isaiah 9:6 ; John 1:1-5 & 14:10-30 ; Hebrews 4:14-15 ; 1 Corinthians 1:3 & 15:3-4 ; Romans 4:25 ; Acts 1:9-11 ; 1 Timothy 6:14-15 ; Titus 2:13

  • About the Holy Spirit

    The Holy Spirit is consubstantial with the Father and the Son of God. He is in the world to remind human beings of the need of Jesus Christ. He provides new birth and lives in each Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with the knowledge of spiritual truths and sovereignty. He directs us in the will of God. He gives power to the believer in the service and comfort in affliction. He imparts spiritual gifts in a sovereign manner, with which the believer responds to the call to serve and to minister.

    See 1 Corinthians 3:17 ; John 14:16-17 & 16:7-13 ; Acts 1:8 ; 1 Corinthians 2:12 & 3:16 ; Ephesians 1:13 ; Galatians 5:25 ; Ephesians 5:18

  • About the Bible
    The Bible is the Word of God, written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme truth for the belief and Christian life. Because it was inspired by God, it is an irrefutable truth in its totality. Our first question when facing a decision is: What does the Bible say on the matter? We practice the daily reading, study, and the memorization of Biblical texts. The Bible is the basis for everything we believe and do.

    See 2 Timothy 3:16 ; 2 Peter 1:20-21 ; 2 Timothy 1:13 ; Psalm 119:105 & 160 ; Proverbs 12:6

  • About the Man

    Man was created in the image of God to be like Him in character. Man is the primary being in the creation of God. Although man has a great potential to do good, he is stained by the tendency to disobey God. This disobedience is called, sin. Sin has separated people from God’s glory; sin causes many problems in life and because of it will take people to eternal condemnation in hell.

    See Genesis 1:27 ; Psalm 8:3-6 ; Isaiah 53:6a ; Isaiah 59:1-2 ; Romans 3:23

  • About Salvation
    Salvation is a gift from God, but it is necessary to accept it. We cannot offer good deeds or personal improvement to compensate for our sins. Only trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s provision to forgive our sins, we can be saved. Eternal life begins at the moment we receive Christ as our Savior and Lord, granting Him all control.

    See John 5:1 & 14:6 ; Romans 6:23 ; Galatians 3:26 ; Ephesians 2:8-9 ; Titus 3:5 ; John 3:16

  • About Eternal Life
    God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ. Therefore, the believer is assured eternal salvation. Salvation cannot be lost. Salvation is obtained and maintained by the grace and power of God.

    See John 10:29 ; 1 Timothy 1:12 ; Hebrews 7:25 & 10:10-14 ; 1 Peter 1:3-5

  • About the Church
    The universal church of Christ is the community of all those redeemed by His blood. The Lord established it and He is the Savior and Head. According to the New Testament, the local church is an independent body, whose members are equipped and guided by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel and edify the believer.

    We recognize the value of voluntary cooperation with other churches or organizations of the same faith and order, but we think that each local church must have its own government and be independent of any denominational control. We insist that the congregation determines its own strategy, structure, and style.

    The church is sustained by the believers’ offerings, as God has required. We recognize that some give according to the required 10% stated in the Old Testament, but the recommendation in the New Testament is to give with no limit, regularly, generously, and happily.

    See Acts 15 (Jerusalem Council) ; Colossians 1:18 ; 2 Corinthians 9:7

  • About Eternity

    Man was created to live forever. We have two options: we can live eternally separated from God because of sin or together with God by His forgiveness and salvation.

    The eternal separation from God is hell. Living in eternal union with Him is eternal life in heaven. Heaven and hell are real places for an eternal existence.

    See Matthew 1:8 & 2:44,46 ; John 2:25 & 3:16 & 5:11-13 ; Romans 6:23 ; Revelation 20:15

  • About Marriage
    We believe marriage is a divine institution, created by God between a man and a woman. The purpose of God for this institution is for fellowship and procreation. Marriage between a man and a woman with their respective biological descendants forms the family who at the same time constitutes the foundation of all society.

    See Genesis 2:20-25 & Ephesians 5:21-33

  • Religious Freedom
    Only God is the Lord of our conscience, and He has left it free of man’s doctrines and commandments which are opposed to His Word or are not in it. Church and state must be separated. The state must provide protection and complete freedom to the church in the exercise of its spiritual aims. The church should not have to resort to the civil branch of government to do the church work. The gospel of Christ only considers the spiritual means to reach its goals. The state does not have the right to impose penalties of religious opinions of any class. The state does not have the right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. The Christian ideal is one of a free church in a free state, and this implies the right for all men/women to have free access without obstacles to God, and the right to establish and propagate opinions in the religion sphere without interference on the part of the civil branch of government.

    See Genesis 1:27 & 2:7 ; Matthew 6:6 & 7:24 & 16:26 & 22:21 ; John 8:36 ; Acts 4:19-20 ; Romans 6:1-2 & 13:1-7 ; Galatians 5:1-13 ; Philippians 3:20 ; 1 Timothy 2:1-2