Baptists are
a people who profess a living faith. This faith is rooted and grounded in
Jesus Christ who is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Therefore,
the sole authority for faith and practice among Baptists is Jesus Christ whose
will is revealed in the Holy Scriptures.
A living
faith must experience a growing understanding of truth and must be continually
interpreted and related to the needs of each new generation. Throughout their
history Baptist bodies, both large and small, have issued statements of faith
which comprise a consensus of their beliefs. Such statements have never been
regarded as complete, infallible statements of faith, nor as official creeds
carrying mandatory authority. Thus this generation of Southern Baptists is in
historic succession of intent and purpose as it endeavors to state for its
time and theological climate those articles of the Christian faith which are
most surely held among us.
Baptists
emphasize the soul's competency before God, freedom in religion, and the
priesthood of the believer. However, this emphasis should not be interpreted
to mean that there is an absence of certain definite doctrines that Baptists
believe, cherish, and with which they have been and are now closely
identified.
It is the
purpose of this statement of faith and message to set forth certain teachings
which we believe.
I. The
Scriptures
The Holy
Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of God's
revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction.
It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any
mixture of error, for its matter. It reveals the principles by which God
judges us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true
center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human
conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. The criterion by
which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.
Ex. 24:4; Deut. 4:1-2; 17:19; Josh. 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10;
119:11,89,105,140; Isa. 34:16; 40:8; Jer. 15:16; 36; Matt. 5:17-18; 22:29;
Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Rom.
15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter
1:19-21
II. God
There is one
and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and
personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe.
God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. To him we owe the
highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal God reveals Himself to us
as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but
without division of nature, essence, or being.
1. God
the Father
God as Father
reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow
of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is
all powerful, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who
become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in his
attitude toward all men.
Gen. 1:1; 2:7; Ex. 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Levit. 22:2; Deut. 6:4;
32:6; 1 Chron. 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isa. 43:3,15; 64:8; Jer. 10:10; 17:13;
Matt. 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13;
17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Rom. 8:14-15; 1 Cor. 8:6; Gal. 4:6; Ephes. 4:6; Col. 1:15; 1
Tim. 1:17; Heb. 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.
2. God
the Son
Christ is the
eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the
Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the
will of God, taking upon Himself the demands and necessities of human nature
and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored
the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His death on the cross He
made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead
with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with
them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the
right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, partaking of the nature of God
and of man, and in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and
man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate
His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever
present Lord.
Gen. 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isa. 7:14; 53; Matt. 1:18-23; 3:17;
8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35;
4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11;
16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20;
Rom. 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2:2; 8:6;
15:1-8,24-28; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; 8:9; Gal. 4:4-5; Ephes. 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10;
Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus
2:13-14; Heb. 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter
2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Rev. 1:13-16;
5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.
3. God
the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit
is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures.
Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He
convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He calls men to the Savior,
and effects regeneration. He cultivates Christian character, comforts
believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His
church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence
in the Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the
fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and
the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Gen. 1:2; Judg. 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isa. 61:1-3; Joel
2:28-32; Matt. 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35;
4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts
1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6;
19:1-6; Rom. 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Cor. 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11; Gal. 4:6;
Ephes. 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:19; 1 Tim. 3:16; 4:1; 2 Tim. 1:14;
3:16; Heb. 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev. 1:10; 22:17
III. Man
Man was
created by the special act of God, in His own image, and is the crowning work
of His creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by
his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God
and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man
transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence; whereby
his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin, and as
soon as they are capable of moral action become transgressors and are under
condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and
enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human
personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that
Christ died for man; therefore every man possesses dignity and is worthy of
respect and Christian love.
Gen. 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isa. 6:5;
Jer. 17:5; Matt. 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Rom. 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19;
6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Cor. 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Eph. 2:1-22; Col.
1:21-22; 3:9-11.
IV. Salvation
Salvation
involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who
accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal
redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes
regeneration, sanctification, and glorification.
1.
Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers
become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the
Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in
repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Repentance
and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine
turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and
commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior. Justification
is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of
all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the
believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God.
2.
Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the
believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward
moral and spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy
Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the
regenerate person's life.
3.
Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and
abiding state of the redeemed.
Gen. 3:15; Ex. 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matt. 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke
1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16;
17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Rom. 1:16-18; 2:4;
3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Cor.
1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; Gal. 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephes.
1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2
Tim. 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Heb. 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; James
2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Rev. 3:20; 21:1-22:5.
V. God's
Purpose of Grace
Election is
the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, sanctifies,
and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man and
comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is a glorious display
of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable.
It excludes boasting and promotes humility.
All true
believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and
sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but
shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and
temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts,
bring reproach on the cause of Christ, and temporal judgments on themselves,
yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-8; 1 Sam. 8:4-7,19-22; Isa. 5:1-7; Jer. 31:31ff.; Matt.
16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44;
24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16;
17:6,12,17-18; Acts 20:32; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7,26-36; 1 Cor.
1:1-2; 15:24-28; Ephes. 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Col. 1:12-14; 2 Thess.
2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:12; 2:10,19; Heb. 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 1:2-5,13; 2:4-10; 1
John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.
VI. The Church
A New
Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized
believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the
gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ, committed to His teachings,
exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and
seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth.
This church
is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the
Lordship of Jesus Christ. In such a congregation, members are equally
responsible. Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons.
The New
Testament speaks also of the church as the body of Christ which includes all
of the redeemed of all the ages.
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; Ephes. 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 Peter 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3; 21:2-3.
VII. Baptism
and the Lord's Supper
Christian
baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's
faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin,
the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in
Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the
dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church
membership and to the Lord's Supper.
The Lord's
Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through
partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the
Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
Matt. 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22;
22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; Acts 20;7; Rom. 6:3-5; 1
Cor. 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Col. 2:12.
VIII. The
Lord's Day
The first
day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular
observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and
should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public
and private, and by refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from
secular employments, work of necessity and mercy only being excepted.
Ex. 20:8-11; Matt. 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36;
John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Col. 2:16; 3:16; Rev.
1:10.
IX. The Kingdom
The kingdom
of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His
particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King.
Particularly the kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by
trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and
to labor that the kingdom may come and God's will be done on earth. The full
consummation of the kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of
this age.
Gen. 1:1; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5-6; Matt. 3:2; 4:8-10,23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52;
25:31-46; 26:29; Mark 1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32; 17:20-21;
23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Rom. 5:17; 8:19; 1 Cor.
15:24-28; Col. 1:13; Heb. 11:10,16; 12:28; 1 Peter 2:4-10; 4:13; Rev. 1:6,9;
5:10; 11:15; 21-22.
X. Last Things
God, in His
own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end.
According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in
glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in
righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to hell, the place of
everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified
bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in heaven with the
Lord.
Isa. 2:4; 11:9; Matt. 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46;
26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John
14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Cor. 5:10;
Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thess. 1:7ff.; 2; 1
Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.;
1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Rev. 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13.
XI. Evangelism
and Missions
It is the
duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord
Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of
man's spirit by God's Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others.
Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of
the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the
teachings of Christ. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly
to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods in
harmony with the gospel of Christ.
Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-6; Isa. 6:1-8; Matt. 9:37-38; 10:5-15;
13:18-30,37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John
14:11-12; 15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3;
Rom. 10:13-15; Ephes. 3:1-11; 1 Thess. 1:8; 2 Tim. 4:5; Heb. 2:1-3;
11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Rev. 22:17.
XII. Education
The cause of
education in the kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions
and general benevolence and should receive along with these the liberal
support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian schools is necessary
to a complete spiritual program for Christ's people.
In Christian
education there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and
academic responsibility. Freedom in any orderly relationship of human life is
always limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a Christian
school, college, or seminary is limited by the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ,
by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose for
which the school exists.
Deut. 4:1,5,9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Neh. 8:1-8; Job. 28:28; Psalms 19:7ff.;
119:11; Prov. 3:13ff.; 4:1-10; 8:1-7,11; 15:14; Eccl. 7:19; Matt. 5:2;
7:24ff.; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40; 1 Cor. 1:18-31; Eph. 4:11-16; Phil. 4:8; Col.
2:3,8-9; 1 Tim. 1:3-7; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:14-17; Heb. 5:12-6:3; James 1:5; 3:17.
XIII.
Stewardship
God is the
source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we
owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy
trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions.
They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and
material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to
use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures,
Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly,
systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the
Redeemer's cause on earth.
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 Peter 1:18-19.
XIV.
Co-Operation
Christ's
people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and
conventions as may best secure co-operation for the great objects of the
kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over
the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit,
combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner.
Members of New Testament churches should co-operate with one another in
carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for
the extension of Christ's kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense
is spiritual harmony and voluntary co-operation for common ends by various
groups of Christ's people. Co-operation is desirable between the various
Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and
when such co-operation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of
loyalty to Christ and his Word as revealed in the New Testament.
Ex. 17:12; 18:17ff.; Judg. 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Neh. 4;
8:1-5; Matt. 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff.; Acts
1:13-14; 2:1ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1 Cor. 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2 Cor.
8-9; Gal. 1:6-10; Eph. 4:1-16; Phil. 1:15-18.
XV. The
Christian and the Social Order
Every
Christian is under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in
his own life and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement
of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and
permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the
individual by the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus. The Christian should
oppose in the spirit of Christ every form of greed, selfishness, and vice. He
should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the aged, the helpless,
and the sick. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and
society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth,
and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready
to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to
act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and his
truth.
Ex. 20:3-17; Lev. 6:2-5; Deut. 10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zech.
8:16; Matt. 5:13-16,43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3ff.; 10:21; Luke
4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Rom. 12-14; 1 Cor. 5:9-10; 6:1-7;
7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Gal. 3:26-28; Eph. 6:5-9; Col. 3:12-17; 1 Thess. 3:12;
Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8.
XVI. Peace and
War
It is the
duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness.
In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in
their power to put an end to war.
The true remedy
for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is
the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the
practical application of His law of love.
Isa. 2:4; Matt. 5:9,38-48; 6:33; 26:52; Luke 22:36,38; Rom. 12:18-19;
13:1-7; 14:19; Heb.12:14; James 4:1-2
XVII. Religious
Liberty
God alone is
Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and
commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it.
Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection
and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such
freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state
more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of
Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the
revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry
on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the
pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious
opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support
of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal,
and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of
all men and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion
without interference by the civil power.
Gen. 1:27; 2:7; Matt. 6:6-7; 24:16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Rom.
6:1-2; 13:1-7; Gal. 5:1,13; Phil. 3:20; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; James 4:12; 1 Peter
2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19.
1963
Baptist Faith and Message
