Statement of Faith

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The Baptist Faith & Message (BFM) serves as a statement of convictions and beliefs generally held by Southern Baptists (copies available on request). The following provides only a brief, partial summary of our beliefs, and is based on historic Southern Baptist confessions of faith.

 

The Scriptures

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The Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments) was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to mankind. 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. Therefore, all Scripture is authoritative, infallible and inerrant. The Scriptures are the only sufficient rule for faith and practice.

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(Ps. 19:7; 2 Tim. 3:16–17; 2 Pet. 1:20–21).

 

God

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There is only one living and true God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself, all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience that springs from faith.

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(Deut. 6:4; Ps. 145:3; John 1:3; 1 Cor. 8:4–6; 1 Tim. 1:17).

 

The Trinity

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The Scriptures reveal that the one and only God eternally one in three persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each Person has distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.

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(Matt. 3:16–17; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14)

 

• 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. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

 

• God the Son - Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Since He is fully God and fully man, He is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law; suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever live to make intercession for His people. In His death on the cross, He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He will return again visibly and bodily. (Isa. 53:10–12; John 1:1, 14; Acts 1:9–11; Rom. 3:21–26; 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:3–4; Gal. 3:13; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 1:1–3)

 

• God the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit brings glory to the Father and the Son. He applies the work of Christ to believers and distributes spiritual gifts to every believer according to His sovereign good pleasure for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. He is the Comforter, the Spirit of Adoption, the Seal of our Salvation and the Guarantor of our inheritance in Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service. (John 14:16–17; 16:14; Acts 5:3; Rom. 8:14–17; Eph. 1:13–14)

 

Baptism

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Baptism is a command of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is a prerequisite to church membership and to participation in the Lord’s Supper.

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(Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3–5; 1 Cor. 12:13)

 

The Church

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The Lord Jesus is the head of the church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular churches; and to each of these churches He has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a church are Elders (Pastors) and Deacons.

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(John 10:16; Acts 20:17, 28; Eph. 1:22; 5:23; 1 Tim. 3:1–13; 5:17-18; Tit. 1:5–9; Heb. 10:25)

 

Mankind

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God originally created Man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, Adam transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his descendants (all mankind) inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God

and His law. As a result, all people are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.

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(Gen. 1:26–27; 3:1–7; Rom. 5:12–19; Eph. 2:1–3)

 

Election

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Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is God’s eternal choice of a people for Himself unto everlasting life—not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ.

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(Rom. 8:28–30; 1 Cor. 1:27–29; Eph. 1:4, 11)

 

Regeneration

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Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who gives life to those dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone.

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(Eph. 2:1–6; Tit. 3:5; 1 John 5:1)

 

Repentance

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Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being led by the Holy Spirit is made aware

of the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and selfabhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.

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(Acts 2:37–38; 11:18; 2 Cor. 7:10–11)

 

Faith

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Saving faith is the belief, on God's authority, of whatever is revealed in His word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.

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(Rom. 3:27–28; 4:1–5; 4:17–25; 10:14, 17; Phil. 1:29; Eph. 2:8; Jas. 2:14–26)

 

Justification

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Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal of sinners who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.

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(Acts 13:38–39; Rom. 3:21–26; 8:34; 10:3–4; 2 Cor. 5:21)

 

Sanctification

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Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God's word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ's commands.

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(Jer. 31:31–34; Ezek. 36:27–27; Rom. 8:1–17; Gal. 5:13–24; 2 Pet. 1:3–11)

 

Perseverance of the Saints

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All those whom God has regenerated will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

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(John 6:37–40; 10:28–29; Rom. 8:28–39; 1 Cor. 1:8–9; Phil. 1:6)

 

Evangelism & Missions

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It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations and to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort.

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(Matthew 28:18–20; Luke 24:46–53; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13–15)

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The Lord’s Supper

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The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church membership.

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(Matt. 26:26–29; 1 Cor. 10:16–17; 11:23–34)

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The Lord’s Day

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The Lord's Day is a Christian institution for regular observance, and should be employed in

exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private.

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(Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1–2; Rev. 1:10)

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The Resurrection

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The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God—the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. The bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.

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(John 5:28–29; 1 Cor. 15:12–28; 2 Cor. 5:1–10; Phil. 1:23)

 

The Judgment

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God has appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to his deeds; the wicked shall go into everlasting and conscious punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.

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(Matt. 25:46; John 5:22, 27–29; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:6–11; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:7–10; 2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 7:13–17; 14:9–11)

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HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF GREENWOOD FBC

 

1) being a Christian

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HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN:

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Admit you are a sinner and cannot save yourself.“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

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Believe in God's plan of forgiveness and the promise of eternal life through Jesus. "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

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Confess Jesus as Lord and ask Him to save you. “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ”Romans 10:9 “For whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

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2) Biblical baptism

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Biblical baptism is being baptized by immersion after you become a Christian. "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

 

3) covenanting with us

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OUR CHURCH COVENANT:

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I commit to evangelism with my church

...by praying for those who do not know Christ.

...by sharing the gospel with others.

I commit to discipleship with my church

...by becoming an active member of a life group.

...by praying and reading my Bible daily.

I commit to ministry with my church

...by discovering my spiritual gifts.

...by using my spiritual gifts to serve others.

I commit to worship with my church

...by participating in our weekly worship services.

...by giving my tithes and offerings.

I commit to fellowship with my church

...by praying for the unity of our church.

...by loving others as Christ has loved me