New Beginnings Baptist Church

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.