Our Beliefs
The Berean Baptist Church Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final authority of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that this statement of faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14:2; II Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-8).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:18-36; Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 1:3-5, 2:24; Ephesians 1:17).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 7:25, 9:24; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1-2).
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14).
We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:17-18; 5:18; I John 2:20 & 27).
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry (Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:7-12).
We believe the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing were temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common necessary sign of the filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing (I Corinthians 1:22, 13:8, 14:21-22; James 5:15).
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10; I Peter 1:18-19). This free gift of salvation is fully available to all who will receive it by faith. We reject the notion that only the elect may be saved, or that God has chosen who can and cannot be saved. Salvation is available to whosoever will receive it.
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemers blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us.
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations. When we are deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Saviour (John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17 & 19; I John 5:1: Luke 5:27; John 3:6-7; II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13; John 1:12-13; Ephesians 5:9; Acts 13:39; Romans 8:1; Romans 5:9; Romans 5:1; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Romans 4:1-3; Hebrews 10:38; Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; Luke 18:13; Romans 10:13; Luke 12:8; Romans 10:9-11).
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by Gods power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5).
We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of Gods Word, which, however clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).