[for the full statement of faith of the SBC, click here]
Abbreviated Statement of Faith (source: Spotswood)
The Bible
I believe that The Bible is The Word of God, supernaturally inspired so that it is inerrant in the original manuscripts and preserved by God in its plenary verbal inspiration. It is a divine authoritative standard for every age and every life.
The Trinity
I believe that The Godhead exists eternally in three persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit and that these three persons are one God.
God's Love for Man
I believe that God, by his sovereign choice and out of love for men, sent Christ into the world to save sinners.
God With Us
I believe that Jesus Christ was both God and man in the flesh, that He was born of a virgin, and that He lived a sinless life. During His life He taught and wrought mighty works, wonders and signs exactly as revealed in the four Gospels. He was crucified as a penalty for our sins and was raised from the dead on the third day. Later He ascended to The Father's right hand where He is head of the church and intercedes for believers, and from whence He is coming again personally, bodily and visibly to this earth to set up His millennial Kingdom.
Salvation
I believe that salvation is of pure grace. With its forgiveness of sins, new nature and hope of eternal life, salvation is entirely apart from good works, baptism, church membership or one's effort.
Once Saved Always Saved
I believe that a true believer is eternally secure and that he cannot lose his salvation. Sin may interrupt the joy of the true believer's fellowship with God and bring the loving discipline of his Heavenly Father upon him.
Our Destination
I believe that all who receive Christ become joint-heirs with Him. At death their spirits depart to be with Christ in conscious blessedness and at the rapture their bodies will be raised to the likeness of the body of His glory and dwell in divine presence forever.
Spiritual Growth
I believe that it is the goal of every Christian to grow in spiritual maturity through obedience to the Word of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit
I believe that The Holy Spirit is a person and God and possesses all divine attributes. He indwells all believers, baptized and seals them at the moment of their salvation and fills them in response to confession of sin.
