What we Believe
We believe that there is only one true and eternal God Indivisible, yet revealed to us as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. One God with three distinct coequal and co-eternal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 1:1-3, 14; John 17:21-22; 14:25-26; Matthew 3:17; Ephesians 4:4-6).
We believe that the Bible, The Word of God, is our final authority and is trustworthy for faith and practice when interpreted responsibly under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit within a community of faith (Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17).
We believe that God created people in His divine image. Through Adam’s fall all became sinful, lost and condemned. Each person, by deliberate choice, participates in sin and is in need of redemption through Christ’s death and resurrection (Genesis 1:26-30; Ephesians 2:1-22; Romans 1:19-32; Romans 5:12-21).
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, fully divine, fully human, eternal and preexistent (Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; John 1:1-3; 1:14).
We believe that God offers forgiveness of sin and justification by faith in Christ Jesus NOT based on our good works (And the very faith that saves is a gift of God by His Grace*). Such forgiveness is received by persons as God’s gift upon repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ, enabling us to participate in Christ’s reign as a present reality and a future hope (1 John 1:9; John 3:16; John 6:35-37; 6:40; 6:47; 10:14; Ephesians 2:8-12; John 1:12)
We believe that the Church is a community of believers who experience a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, follow the Lord in believer’s baptism, share the Lord’s supper, gather regularly for worship and covenant for mutual support and care giving (Matthew 16:15-19; Romans 10:9; Acts 16:30-33; 1 corinthians11:22-23; Hebrews 10:23-25).
We believe that the church is called in loyalty to Jesus Christ to proclaim in the Power of the Holy Spirit the Good News of God’s reconciling grace, inviting persons to receive salvation and follow Christ as his disciples. As disciples, we seek faith, love and justice for all persons (Micha 6:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Galatians 3:26-28; James 1:27; 2:8).
We believe that Jesus Christ will return visibly, at which time He will raise the dead and judge all people. Believers will enjoy eternal fellowship with God as they participate in the fullness of God’s reign, while unbelievers will suffer eternal separation from God (Matthew 24:29-31; 25:31-46; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15; 21:1-8).
(All of this statement comes from the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky, except for the addition marked * which was added for clarification)
We believe that the Bible, The Word of God, is our final authority and is trustworthy for faith and practice when interpreted responsibly under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit within a community of faith (Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17).
We believe that God created people in His divine image. Through Adam’s fall all became sinful, lost and condemned. Each person, by deliberate choice, participates in sin and is in need of redemption through Christ’s death and resurrection (Genesis 1:26-30; Ephesians 2:1-22; Romans 1:19-32; Romans 5:12-21).
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, fully divine, fully human, eternal and preexistent (Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; John 1:1-3; 1:14).
We believe that God offers forgiveness of sin and justification by faith in Christ Jesus NOT based on our good works (And the very faith that saves is a gift of God by His Grace*). Such forgiveness is received by persons as God’s gift upon repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ, enabling us to participate in Christ’s reign as a present reality and a future hope (1 John 1:9; John 3:16; John 6:35-37; 6:40; 6:47; 10:14; Ephesians 2:8-12; John 1:12)
We believe that the Church is a community of believers who experience a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, follow the Lord in believer’s baptism, share the Lord’s supper, gather regularly for worship and covenant for mutual support and care giving (Matthew 16:15-19; Romans 10:9; Acts 16:30-33; 1 corinthians11:22-23; Hebrews 10:23-25).
We believe that the church is called in loyalty to Jesus Christ to proclaim in the Power of the Holy Spirit the Good News of God’s reconciling grace, inviting persons to receive salvation and follow Christ as his disciples. As disciples, we seek faith, love and justice for all persons (Micha 6:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Galatians 3:26-28; James 1:27; 2:8).
We believe that Jesus Christ will return visibly, at which time He will raise the dead and judge all people. Believers will enjoy eternal fellowship with God as they participate in the fullness of God’s reign, while unbelievers will suffer eternal separation from God (Matthew 24:29-31; 25:31-46; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15; 21:1-8).
(All of this statement comes from the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky, except for the addition marked * which was added for clarification)