It's important for us all to know and agree on what we believe. Some want a quick version of our beliefs, and some want the description to be more detailed...so we offer two versions for you - enjoy!
What We Believe: Simplified Version
The Bible
We believe every word! B-I-B-L-E…Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
God
He’s real…He loves us…He never messes up.
Jesus Christ
He is the Son of God…He died for us…He rose from the dead…wow!
The Holy Spirit
He is the very real third person of God. He loves to help us in every way.
Man
God made us to be near Him. We ran away. God brings us back to Him through His son, Jesus. He really loves us!
Salvation
Eternal life is a free gift. Faith in Jesus brings forgiveness. Isn’t God awesome?
The Second Coming
Jesus promised that He would come back again one day. For everyone that follows Him, its gonna be amazing!
Eternal Security
Once you accept the gift of eternal life, God will never turn His back on you!
The Church
We don’t see church as a place to go on Sunday, but rather people who love God and who are learning to love others. Its great to be in God's family!
The Ordinances
Jesus told us to be sure to do two things - be baptized and celebrate the Lord's Supper. We love to do this to demonstrate that we are His followers!
What We Believe: Full Version
For your convenience, here is a series of brief statements about our core beliefs. For a more comprehensive and detailed listing of our doctrinal and theological beliefs please refer to the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. A copy of this document can be obtained from the Florida Baptist Convention at flbaptist.org.
Concerning The Scriptures
We believe and teach that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)
Concerning God
We believe and teach that there is only one true and living God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:26; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19)
Concerning Jesus Christ
We believe and teach that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He is fully God and fully man united in one Person forever. He died on the cross, shedding His blood as atonement for our sins; He was buried and rose again bodily; He ascended to the Father according to the Scriptures. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Hebrews 4:15)
Concerning the Holy Spirit
We believe and teach that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, co-equal, co-existent and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. Simultaneous with regeneration, the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into the body of Christ. (Matthew 28:19; John 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
Concerning Man
We believe and teach that man is the direct creation of God, body, soul and spirit, made in the image of God. The first man, Adam, sinned and brought the fall of mankind with resulting physical and spiritual death for all. (Romans 3:10, 23; 5:12; Genesis 1:26-27)
Concerning Salvation
We believe and teach that all who receive Jesus Christ as Savior are born again by the Holy Spirit and thus become children of God. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It involves redemption, regeneration, justification, sanctification and glorification. (John 1:12; 3:3; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)
Concerning the Second Coming
We believe and teach the pre-millennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth literally, personally, bodily and visibly. At the rapture of the Church, the dead in Christ and living believers will be caught up to meet Him in the air. At the end of the seven year tribulation, Christ will return with His saints to establish His earthly Millennial Kingdom. (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:1-6)
Concerning Eternal Security
We believe and teach that salvation is wholly of the Lord, apart from the works of man; that every true believer is kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation; that the Holy Spirit permanently indwells, seals and secures every true believer for all eternity. (John 10:28; 14:16-17, 26; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14; Ephesians 1:13; 2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24-25)
Concerning the Local Church
We believe and teach that the New Testament Church is a local body of baptized believers with Christ as its head and the Holy Spirit as its guide. (Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:6-8; 6:3; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:3-6, 22-23)
Concerning Ordinances
We believe and teach that the local church was given two ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper. All who have received Christ as Savior and Lord should be baptized by immersion. All who have received Christ as Savior and Lord should also observe the Lord's Supper as a memorial of His death, burial and resurrection until He comes. Both baptism and the Lord's Supper are symbolic pictures of spiritual realities. (Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 26:26-30; 28:19-20)
We welcome your questions about any of these doctrinal positions. Please Contact 4CBC for more information.
