We believe that the Holy Bible (consisting of 66 books) is the verbal, plenary, inspired Word of God in the original writings. We further believe that the Holy Ghost preserved its infallibility and inerrancy through the careful copying of manuscripts. We believe that the Authorised Version (King James Version) is the best representative translation in the English language. (II Peter 1:19-21; Psalm 12:6-7; Matthew 5:18)
A Baptist places no dependence on tradition or church teaching. A leader from a prominent religion was asked what he based his faith upon and the answer was the Bible plus tradition. The question was asked, “What if the Bible contradicts tradition, because it does at times?” His answer was that he would first place his faith upon tradition. The big problem with that thinking is that tradition and the church changes. Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.” A Baptist is one who places his faith in the unchanging Word of God.
We believe in one Holy, Infinite, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Triune God, who is eternally existing, manifested in three personal distinctions revealed as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit being co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and equally having the same attributes and perfections. We believe that He, as the Creator and Supreme Ruler of the Universe, being inexpressibly glorious in holiness, is worthy of all possible honour, confidence and love. (Genesis 1:26; Exodus 20:2-3; Psalm 139)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ became man without ceasing to be God. He is 100% man being 100% God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might, by His great mercy and grace, reveal God and redeem sinful man. Our great redemption was obtained through His voluntary, substitutionary death on the cross, shedding His priceless blood to appease the holy wrath of God. His vicarious atonement for the sins of mankind is the complete and only offering that God can accept for sin. It is sufficient for all but efficient only for those who receive Him as personal Saviour. (Psalm 22:1-3; Micah 5:2; Luke 1:26-38; Hebrews 10:9-10)
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, being the third Person of the Trinity, who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He further bears witness to the truth; is the Agent of the New Birth; indwells, sanctifies, seals, endues with power, guides, teaches and strengthens all genuine believers. It is commanded of believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which is evidenced by love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith and soul-winning power. (Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; 16:7-13; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:18)
We believe that the Genesis account of Creation is to be taken literally and that the world was directly created in six literal 24-hour periods, and not through some process of evolution. The direct creation of man therefore dates back in terms of thousands and not millions of years. (Genesis 1)
We believe that man was created in the image of God, being innocent and holy, but that in Adam’s sin, the entire human race fell and inherited a sinful nature. Man, as a sinner by birth and by choice, being alienated from God, is utterly and morally depraved being unable to redeem himself from his lost condition so that without the direct intervention of God, he is under condemnation and bound for eternal damnation, without defense or excuse.
(Genesis 2:7; 3:1-6; John 3:36; Romans 1-3)
We believe that Satan is a person, a fallen angel, the author of sin and the cause for the fall, the prince and power of the air, the god of this world, and the accuser of the brethren who shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Isaiah 14:12-17; Revelation 20:10)
We believe that only those who with penitent heart, under conviction of the Holy Ghost, turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins receive His mercy and grace so that they are instantaneously saved, made partakers of the Divine nature, born again. This forgiveness is based upon the blood that was shed freely on Calvary for all sin, and not on any human merit or works of righteousness. (Psalm 51:17; Luke 13:3; John 1:12; 3:1-7, Romans 10:9-13)
The Bible makes it clear that every person born into this world is a sinner (Romans 3:10-12). Since Adam and Eve took the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, we, as their descendents, were born with a sin nature (Romans 5:12). We say that we are only human but God states that we are sinners. Our sin nature makes us enemies of God (Romans 8:7), alienated from God (Ephesians 2:12), under the wrath of God who is angry at our sin (John 3:18, 36), and without any ability to please God (Romans 3:19-20; 8:8).
If God were to execute the full weight of the law, He would have to send each one of us to an eternal hell to face the just punishment for our rebellion against His authority (Revelation 20:10-15). However, we thank God that He is not only a God of perfect justice, but He is a God of gracious mercy and love. The greatest love story ever told is that of the God-man called Jesus who came into this world 2000 years ago. The Lord Jesus lived the perfect life and fulfilled the law of God perfectly (I John 3:5; II Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 27:19). Wicked men took Him though, prosecuted Him falsely, and nailed Him to a cruel cross. It was on that cross His Father poured out His wrath and judgment on Jesus – the wrath that we deserved was mercilessly poured out on the Son willing to suffer on our behalf (Isaiah 53:3-10). The last words of Jesus before He died were: “It is finished!” (John 19:30).
There is no more sacrifice necessary to pay for the sins of men, the Lord Jesus paid it all (Hebrews 10:10-14). In fact, God refuses to accept any other sacrifice other than the blood of Jesus that was spilt on the cross 2000 years ago (Hebrews 9:22).
Believers are those who put their faith in the risen Saviour. The Gospel is that Jesus, died, was buried and rose again so that He could pay man’s debt, remove Him from the righteous wrath of God, and free him to serve God with a clean conscience and a clean heart. All God requires is repentance (turning away from sin) and faith in the blood of His risen Son, and upon this He will pardon.
Before anyone can become a Baptist, he or she must testify of believing this Gospel of great news!
The following idea follows the example of the original Christians. It is clear that John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus, and the early church disciples, baptised their converts by full immersion in water (often in the River Jordan). The early Baptists received their name as a slur or derogatory term because they baptised their converts after professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was argued by their opponents that their converts had been baptised already as infants, and they were slurred re-baptisers or Ana-baptists. The name was later shortened to Baptists. The Bible demonstrates baptism as full immersion in water as a symbol of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Matt. 3:15-17; Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:41-2). The word baptism is a transliteration of a Greek word meaning “to immerse, dip or plunge.” Baptists do not consider the christening of babies as baptism since they are not submerged in water, and furthermore they are not able to make a conscious decision to profess personal faith in Christ.
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by the power of God, without any meritorious works of man, and are thus secure in Christ forever. We also believe that this security in Christ should greatly motivate believers to be completely consecrated to the Lord Jesus, living to please Him, and not using our Christian liberty for an occasion to the flesh. (John 3:16; 5:24; 10:27-29; I John 5:11-13)
We further believe salvation initiates the process of sanctification or separation from this corrupt world system unto Christ. Sanctification is the life-long process whereby believers daily become more like Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit by means of the Word of God and self-examination. We believe that the Spirit-filled life is only possible through dying to self and allowing our Lord, by His Holy Spirit, to live through us. (John 17:17; Romans 6:1-14; 8:1-15; Galatians 2:20-21)
In the light of God’s plan for our lives, we believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as to bring honour, and not reproach, to the name of their Holy Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Therefore, all believers should separate themselves from anyone or anything that brings dishonour to the Name of our Lord. (Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 6:14-18; II Thessalonians 3:6, 14)
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men; the saved to everlasting life into the eternal presence of the Lord in Heaven or Paradise, the lost to judgment and eternal, conscious punishment in a literal hell. (Matthew 13:49-50; 18:8-9; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:10-15)
We believe that the church by definition is a local, visible congregation of called-out believers who, upon their confession in Christ and baptism by immersion, regularly meet with each other. The church has the God given right of self-government free from the interference of a hierarchy, government or other individuals, and under the Headship of Christ. (Matthew 18:15-17; 28:19-20)
We believe that it is the obligation of the saved and the mission of the church to witness both by life and word to the truths of the Holy Scriptures, seeking to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind and fulfil the Great Commission. Therefore, we purpose to keep missions in the forefront of the minds of the members of Gospel Baptist Church, doing everything we can as a church to effectively reach our own town or city, county, province, country, continent and world for the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 8:4)
We believe that the two ordinances committed to the local church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the full immersion of a saved, penitent believer in the Lord Jesus Christ into water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, of the Holy Spirit. It symbolises the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; and it also symbolises the believer’s identification with Christ and death to self. (Matthew 3:15-16; 8:36-9; Romans 6:3-5)
The Lord’s Supper is a memorial whereby the congregation celebrates the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus for our sins. It must be celebrated with the pure fruit of the vine and unleavened bread to be true in its picture; and it should only be taken by individuals who are saved, baptised, members of a church walking in fellowship with the Lord. (Luke 22:14-20; I Corinthians 11:2, 23-28)
We believe that the only Scriptural positions in the church are bishops, who are also called pastors or elders, and deacons.
Furthermore, we believe that these roles are available to men only, who according to the Scriptures fulfil the character qualifications. (1 Timothy 2:12-15)
The role of the pastor is to feed the flock, oversee the congregation and rule the church of God, not by constraint, but by example. (Acts 20:28; I Timothy 3:1-7; 5:1; Hebrews 13:7, 17)
The deacon is to be a servant to the pastor, aiding in the administrative areas of the work so that the pastor may give himself to the Word and prayer. (Acts 6:1-7; I Timothy 3:8-13.)
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His spiritual gifts; and that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today. We believe that the gifts of tongues, healings, prophecies and knowledge are no longer relevant today, nor are they necessary for the maturing of believers.
However, we believe that every believer is endowed with at least one spiritual gift at salvation such as hospitality, giving, mercy and it is their responsibility to use it for the glory of God, the edification of the saints and the furtherance of the Gospel. (Romans 12:5-8; I Corinthians 12:4-11; 13:8-10)
A priest can approach God himself without a mediator. In I Peter 2:5, and 9, the Apostle Peter teaches us that every genuine, Bible-believing Christian is a priest. John restates this in Revelation 1:6. What exactly does this mean? The Chambers dictionary defines a priest as a mediator between God and worshippers. If the Bible states that all believers or Christians are priests, then we can go to God ourselves without anyone coming in between that relationship.
Hebrews 4:14-16 encourages us to do so and I Timothy 2:5 states that the only valid mediator (priest) between God and man is the Lord Jesus Christ. Some religions have taken the priesthood away from individual believers and have placed it into the hands of a select few. This is contrary to the Bible, and it is the exercise of unfair control over men and women.
Thinking for yourself means no one telling you what you have to believe. Some religions hold people in fear so that they can not and will not think for themselves. According to I Corinthians 10:23, Christians have the God-given right to decide their own preferences and convictions. No one has the right to force what he believes upon others as each individual has the right to exercise his own conscience freely before God (Romans 14:5).
To be able to make a valued judgment, it is appropriate for each individual to have the opportunity to hear what God has to say in His Word. However, it is at the discretion of the individual as to whether he wants to hear or not. We have the freedom to believe what we want to believe. But remember, with this freedom to choose comes responsibility and accountability before God (Romans 14:10).
As Bible believers who take Scripture literally, we take a dispensational approach to the Word of God. Therefore, we believe in:
Click here to read a history of Baptists by Thomas Armitage.