​The Essentials

 

1. ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

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

 

2. ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

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

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3. ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power of living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.

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

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4. ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

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5. ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme objects of God's creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called sin. This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.

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

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6. ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is God's free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement of good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sins penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.

Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1

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7. ABOUT BAPTISM & THE LORDS SUPPER
Baptism is a symbolic testimony of the salvation experience that gives us new & eternal life. The Greek word baptizo was anglicized centuries ago (baptize). The word actually means to immerse, to plunge, or to submerge. Baptism in the New Testament always followed a profession of faith and the practice of the day was by immersion. Baptism symbolizes the believers faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believers death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. We, therefore, baptize those who have trusted Christ as Savior, and do so by immersion. Baptism, itself, does not save; it is a visual testimony of salvation.

The Lords Supper, likewise, is a symbolic memorial of Jesus death on the cross. The bread and wine symbolize the body and blood of Jesus. We celebrate the Lords Supper (communion) to remember that our salvation was purchased by Jesus death.

Matt. 3:13-17; 26:26-30, 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42 8:35-39; 16:30-34; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12

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8. ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot lose it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.

John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

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9. ABOUT ETERNITY
People are created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is the experience of Heaven.

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

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10. ABOUT THE CHURCH
A New Testament church is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the faith & fellowship of the gospel, committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word. As such, we seek to spread the gospel to all nations. The church is an autonomous body in which its members are equally responsible for stewardship, ministry, and spiritual growth.

Matt. 16:15-19; 18-15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28: Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-32; Phil. 1:1; Col 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-15; 4:14; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3; 21:2-3

 

11. ABOUT STEWARDSHIP
God is the source of all blessings; everything we have is His. We are under obligation to serve Him with our time, talents, and material possessions, recognizing that all of these have been entrusted to us to manage & use to glorify God and help others. We should contribute of our means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the cause of Christ.

Gen. 14-20; Lev. 27:30-32; Deut. 8:18; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 6:1-4, 19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21, 42; 16:1-13; Acts. 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Rom. 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9; 12:15; Phil. 4:10-19; 1 Pet. 1:18-19

 

​Adapted from the Baptist Faith and Message, Revised Edition, by Herschel H. Hobbs