“We believe that a great commitment to the great commandment and the great commission will grow a great church”
The Great Commandment: “Jesus said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart...soul...and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” Matt. 22:36-40
The Great Commission: “Jesus said, ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matt. 28:19-20
• To “Love God with all your heart” is “WORSHIP”.
• To “Love your neighbor as yourself” is “MINISTRY”.
• To “Go...make disciples” is “EVANGELISM”.
• To “Baptize...” is to “INCORPORATE INTO FELLOWSHIP”.
• To “Teach them...all things” is “DISCIPLESHIP”.
The Purpose of the New Beginnings Baptist Church is:
To bring people to Jesus and membership in His family, develop them to Christ like maturity, and equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world, in order to magnify God’s name.
Our Statement of Faith
What We Believe:
Unity in the essentials…Diversity in the nonessentials…and love in all
Adopted:09/20/2016
THE ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE:
We believe there is only one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (2 Cor. 13:14)
We believe that Jesus Christ is God. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, His miracles, His death on the cross, His resurrection from the dead and His ascension to God the Father in heaven and to His coming personal return. (Matt. 1:23)
We believe the Bible is the sole authoritative Word of God. We believe it to be exactly what God wants us to have in the exact form He wants it in. We believe the Bible is the standard of living, useful for guiding, correcting and training in our lives. It is the standard against which our lives must be measured and shaped. We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. (2 Tim 3:15)
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complimentary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen. 1:27)
We believe that human life is sacred from conception to its natural end; and that we must have concern for the physical and spiritual needs of our fellow men. We believe that children are a blessing and heritage from the Lord from the moment of conception. Parents are to demonstrate God’s pattern for marriage to their children, as well as teach them spiritual and moral values, so that children will grow up to make choices based on biblical truth. (Psalm 127:3-5; Psalm 139:13; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 12:20-21; Galatians 6:10)
We believe in the sinfulness of man. Man is by nature and by birth sinful. He is the product of the fall and sin entered our world as a result of Adams sin in the Garden of Eden. Man cannot, on his own, remove his sinfulness, as it is a condition of the heart. (Rom 5:5-8)
We believe salvation of sinful people is possible only by God’s grace through faith in Him and requires the intervention of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 3:22-24)
We believe that sinful man is eternally separated from God and in need of salvation. Sinful man cannot enter into heaven. Because God loves and values mankind so much, He provided an avenue for salvation. That avenue is only found in Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death upon the cross. It was His blood shed as a sacrifice for our sins that cleanses us of sin. (Rom 6:23)
We believe salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned or attained in any way. We are dependent upon God’s grace alone for our salvation. Consequently, man must ask for forgiveness of sins and confess with his mouth that Jesus is Lord in order to receive this forgiveness. (Rom 4:4-5)
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, who by living in believers, enables the Christian to live a Christ like life. We further believe Christians are not perfect and will never be perfect until they stand in the presence of God Himself in heaven. (John 15:5)
We believe the Holy Spirit gives gifts to all believers. All are gifted for the express purpose of building up the Kingdom, but all gifts are not the same. Not all gifts are to be used in the same way or in the same time or same place. We do not practice Charismatic or Pentecostal “gifts” in any of our services or sponsored activities. (1 Cor 12:4-6)
We believe in the spiritual unity of all Christians in our Lord Jesus Christ. Being a believer, having been baptized and having asked for forgiveness makes one a member of the Church, not membership lists as determined by man. (Rom 14:1)
We believe in the sovereignty of God. He is and always has been in control of everything that comes to pass. Nothing in this world is outside of His sovereign control. We believe God’s people will be cared for, protected and ultimately preserved until they are united with Him in Heaven. (Rom 8:37-39)
We believe in sharing our faith with others as an expression of obedience to our Lord and as an expression of love and compassion towards our neighbor. (1 Peter 3:15-16)
We believe tithes and offerings are the sole manner in which a church should be financed. That responsibility rests exclusively with individuals who are members of this congregation and exercise their giving out of a generous heart. Our guests will never be asked to contribute toward our ministry. (2 Cor 9:7-8)
We believe Jesus is the head of the Church, His body. Therefore, this congregation maintains autonomy yet freely chooses to affiliate with the American Baptist Churches of North America. We do so because we believe it is important to express our faith in the context of the larger, universal Church. (Eph 1:22-23)
We believe in the Priesthood of all believers. By that we mean no one stands between God and us. We are free to approach God directly with our praises, burdens, cares and concerns. (1 Peter 2:9)
We believe and observe the following as ordinances instituted by Christ for His Church: the Lord’s Supper (Communion) and Baptism by immersion. We believe the Lord’s Supper to be an ordinance instituted for believers to remember the suffering and death of Christ upon the cross. (1 Cor 11:23-29)
We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman, and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union. Additionally, we believe God’s plan for human sexuality is to be expressed only within the context of marriage, that God created man and woman as unique biological persons made to complete each other. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason, we believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Eph. 5:31) We also believe that individual disobedience in any of these matters is sin, though not more or less sin than other sin. Scripture is clear that God provides redemption, healing and freedom from the power of sin and restoration to all who would turn from their sin and embrace Jesus Christ by faith. We will love, disciple, exhort, and patiently assist men and women repenting of sin and fighting sexual temptation of all kinds. Our teaching on marriage and sexuality will not serve as ground for bigotry, harassment, or fearful or hateful speech or actions, which are forbidden by God and ineffective in producing change.
Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct:
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of New Beginnings Baptist Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Shepherd’s Board is the New Beginnings Baptist Church’s final interpretive authority of the Bible’s meaning and application.
Understanding the implications of the non-essentials
“Unity in the essentials, diversity in the non-essentials means as believers we will be:
1. Tolerant of others views and beliefs which this congregation considers non-essential.
2. Gracious in our treatment of those with opposing points of view.
3. Loving toward them in spite of our disagreements.
Our Lifestyle Statement
What we practice
Beliefs are not worth much unless they are translated into actions. Based upon what the Bible teaches, we feel very strongly about the following seven practices of believers;
BIBLE AS OUR SOLE AUTHORITY
2 Timothy 3:15 (NIV) “The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right.”
Since God’s word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, we accept the Bible as our manual for living. Our first question when faced with a decision is “What does the Bible say?” We practice daily Bible reading, Bible study and Bible memorization. The Bible is the basis for all we believe.
AUTONOMY OF EACH LOCAL CHURCH
“Christ is the head of His Body, the church. He is the source of the Body’s life” (Col. 1:18 GN)
Christ is the recognized head of our church, not any person, group or religious organization. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with other Christian groups, we believe every local church should be self governed and independent from any denominational control.
PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
“Christ loves us and by His death He has freed us from our sins and made us a kingdom of priests to serve God. . .” (Rev 1:6 GN) “You are . . . the King’s priests . . . God’s own people, chosen to proclaim wonderful acts of God.” (1Peter 2:9 GN)
The Bible teaches that every Christian is called to “full time” Christian service, regardless of his or her vocation. We practice the truth that every believer is a minister by encouraging every member to find a place of service and ministry. Every believer has direct access to God through prayer and Bible reading.
TITHING
“A tithe of everything you produce belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord” Lev. 26:30
At New Beginnings Baptist Church, we practice tithing for the support of Christ’s body, the church, as God commands. We recognize that giving 10% of our income is the Biblical standard for giving. Financial management ultimately becomes a spiritual issue and is left to each member to make decisions accordingly.
IMMERSION
“For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ and in baptism you were also raised with Christ.” (Col 2:12GN)
We practice baptism by immersion the way Jesus was baptized and the way the Bible commands.
SPIRIT LED LIVING
“Jesus said ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
We believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God’s power within us. So we seek to practice a daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable us to do what is right. (Phil 2:13, Eph 5:18)
TELLING OTHERS ABOUT CHRIST
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.” 1 Peter 3:15
It is the responsibility of every Christian to share the Good News with those whom God brings us into contact. We practice personal sharing about Christ and inviting friends to church.
These practices are what make us uniquely BAPTIST:
BIBLE AS OUR SOLE AUTHORITY
AUTONOMY OF EACH LOCAL CHURCH
PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
TITHING
IMMERSION
SPIRIT LED LIVING
TELLING OTHERS ABOUT CHRIST
You can learn more about New Beginnings in our Christian Life and Service Seminar (C.L.A.S.S. 101) which is offered periodically throughout the year.