What we Believe:
Scripture
We believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore has truth without admixture of error for its matter. We believe that it is the true center of Christian union and the only infallible rule of human conduct, creeds and opinions.
(II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21)
God
We believe that there is only one living and true God, infinite in every excellence; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three personal distinctions—the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit---yet one in substance and equal in every divine perfection.
(Exodus 20:2-3; I Corinthians 8:6; Matthew (28:19)
Jesus
We believe in the absolute Deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; that He was divine as no other man can be, being very God of very God, existing from all eternity co-equal with the Father and the Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for one instant and that His humiliation did not consist in laying aside His Deity; that as man He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
(John 1:1-2; I John 5:20; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-38)
Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, equal with the Father and the Son and of the same substance and nature: that He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, bears witness to the truth, is the Agent of the new birth, placing the believer into the body of Christ (baptized by the Holy Spirit), that He seals, endures, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies, and helps the believer, indwelling every true child of God.
(II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16-17; Romans 8:14-27; I Corinthians 12:13)
Satan
We believe in the distinct personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, author of all powers of darkness and sin, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice.
(Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10)
Creation
We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, “each after its own kind”, by direct act.
(Genesis 1, 2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3)
The fall of Man
We believe that man, in the person of Adam, was created in innocence, but by voluntary transgression fell into sin, thus plunging humanity into condemnation and death, so that now all people are born in sin and “shaped in
iniquity” and become willful sinners with the first expression of personal choice, and so are without excuse before God.
(Genesis 3; Romans 5:10-19; Psalm 51)
Redemption From Sin
We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through the redemption wrought by Jesus Christ when He voluntarily took upon Him a human body and nature, yet without sin; and by His suffering, death, and resurrection made full satisfaction to the justice of God for the sin of man; that the blessings of this salvation are given on the grounds of grace to all who believe; and confess that it is the immediate duty of all to accept these offers of mercy.
(John 1:1-3; John 3:1-7; Hebrews 10:4-14; Acts 16:30-33)
Salvation by Grace
We believe that faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation from sin, and this salvation is wholly by grace; that no works, however good, make the salvation more secure. (John 3:3-7; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-13) We believe that all who take Christ as their personal Savior are born again and are eternally secure in Christ. (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39: Philippians 1:6)
The Church
We believe that the Church universal is a New Testament institution; unknown to the Old Testament prophets; established by Jesus Christ, who is its sole head; revealed through the holy Apostles; empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; His “body” for service and His “bride” for glory. It began with the New Testament saints at Pentecost and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the Rapture.
(Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:8; 2:1-13, 41-47; 15:14; Romans 16:26; I Corinthians 12:12-28; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:21; 5:23-33; I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
We believe that the Church universal is manifested through the local church, which is a congregation of believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in it by His Word; that its officers are bishops (or pastors) and deacons; that it has the absolute right of self-government, discipline and benevolence.
(Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians 1:2; 6:4-5; 7:17; 11:16; I Timothy 3:1-15)
Ordinances
We believe that there are two church ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water and is properly called “Believer’s Baptism.” It sets forth in a beautiful and solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with the effect of that faith in our lives as it produces death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership in Berean Baptist Church. The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of our Lord’s death until He comes and the partaking of it should always be preceded by careful self-examination.
(Acts 8:36-39; I Corinthians 11:23-32)
Righteous and Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only such as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of God are truly righteous in God’s sight, while all who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both during and after death in the everlasting conscious joy of the saved
and the suffering of the lost.
(Malachi 3:18; Romans 3:16-23; Matthew 25:34-41; Luke 6:25; John 8:21)
Return of Christ
We believe in the bodily, personal return of Jesus Christ.
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:11-21; Jude 14)
We believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men, and therefore has truth without admixture of error for its matter. We believe that it is the true center of Christian union and the only infallible rule of human conduct, creeds and opinions.
(II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21)
God
We believe that there is only one living and true God, infinite in every excellence; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three personal distinctions—the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit---yet one in substance and equal in every divine perfection.
(Exodus 20:2-3; I Corinthians 8:6; Matthew (28:19)
Jesus
We believe in the absolute Deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; that He was divine as no other man can be, being very God of very God, existing from all eternity co-equal with the Father and the Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for one instant and that His humiliation did not consist in laying aside His Deity; that as man He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
(John 1:1-2; I John 5:20; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-38)
Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, equal with the Father and the Son and of the same substance and nature: that He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, bears witness to the truth, is the Agent of the new birth, placing the believer into the body of Christ (baptized by the Holy Spirit), that He seals, endures, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies, and helps the believer, indwelling every true child of God.
(II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16-17; Romans 8:14-27; I Corinthians 12:13)
Satan
We believe in the distinct personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, author of all powers of darkness and sin, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice.
(Matthew 4:1-3; II Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10)
Creation
We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, “each after its own kind”, by direct act.
(Genesis 1, 2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3)
The fall of Man
We believe that man, in the person of Adam, was created in innocence, but by voluntary transgression fell into sin, thus plunging humanity into condemnation and death, so that now all people are born in sin and “shaped in
iniquity” and become willful sinners with the first expression of personal choice, and so are without excuse before God.
(Genesis 3; Romans 5:10-19; Psalm 51)
Redemption From Sin
We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through the redemption wrought by Jesus Christ when He voluntarily took upon Him a human body and nature, yet without sin; and by His suffering, death, and resurrection made full satisfaction to the justice of God for the sin of man; that the blessings of this salvation are given on the grounds of grace to all who believe; and confess that it is the immediate duty of all to accept these offers of mercy.
(John 1:1-3; John 3:1-7; Hebrews 10:4-14; Acts 16:30-33)
Salvation by Grace
We believe that faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation from sin, and this salvation is wholly by grace; that no works, however good, make the salvation more secure. (John 3:3-7; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-13) We believe that all who take Christ as their personal Savior are born again and are eternally secure in Christ. (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39: Philippians 1:6)
The Church
We believe that the Church universal is a New Testament institution; unknown to the Old Testament prophets; established by Jesus Christ, who is its sole head; revealed through the holy Apostles; empowered and perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; His “body” for service and His “bride” for glory. It began with the New Testament saints at Pentecost and will be consummated at the coming of Christ in the Rapture.
(Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:8; 2:1-13, 41-47; 15:14; Romans 16:26; I Corinthians 12:12-28; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:21; 5:23-33; I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
We believe that the Church universal is manifested through the local church, which is a congregation of believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in it by His Word; that its officers are bishops (or pastors) and deacons; that it has the absolute right of self-government, discipline and benevolence.
(Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians 1:2; 6:4-5; 7:17; 11:16; I Timothy 3:1-15)
Ordinances
We believe that there are two church ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water and is properly called “Believer’s Baptism.” It sets forth in a beautiful and solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with the effect of that faith in our lives as it produces death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership in Berean Baptist Church. The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of our Lord’s death until He comes and the partaking of it should always be preceded by careful self-examination.
(Acts 8:36-39; I Corinthians 11:23-32)
Righteous and Wicked
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only such as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of God are truly righteous in God’s sight, while all who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both during and after death in the everlasting conscious joy of the saved
and the suffering of the lost.
(Malachi 3:18; Romans 3:16-23; Matthew 25:34-41; Luke 6:25; John 8:21)
Return of Christ
We believe in the bodily, personal return of Jesus Christ.
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:11-21; Jude 14)