Korean (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; Mark 12:29; 1 Peter 1:2). If I were to ask you to defend your decision on being a Baptist, what would you say? Leadership I have heard folk say, I am Baptist to the bone if you cut me bless God, Ill bleed Baptist! Autonomy and independence of the Local Church. We must remember that first and foremost, we are Christians blood-bought, eternally saved, Christ professing, grace given, mercy receiving, repentant sinners who the Father in heaven has spared from the fiery pits of Hell! To display respect for Gods creation and His provisions and to specifically practice respect for and courtesy to all persons equally. Vietnamese. Repentance is characterized by godly sorrow for sin which is offensive to God and destructive to the soul. Special creation of the existing space-time universe and all its basic systems and kinds of organisms in the six literal days of the creation week. We stand in the line of the historic Protestant tradition. Genesis 1:2630; 2:5, 7, 1822; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:36; 32:15; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:2631; Romans 1:1932; 3:1018, 23; 5:6, 12,19; 6:6; 7:1425; 8:1418, 29; 1 Corinthians 1:2131; 15:19, 2122; Ephesians 2:122; Colossians 1:2122; 3:911. (John 3:15; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-9), Section 13: Separation and Sanctification, We believe that sanctificationis the divine setting apart of the believer unto God, and that the Scriptures clearly teach non-conformity to the world for every believer. ; 10:21; Luke 4:1821; 10:2737; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Romans 1214; 1Corinthians 5:910; 6:17; 7:2024; 10:2311:1; Galatians 3:2628; Ephesians 6:59; Colossians 3:1217; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8. To pursue a balanced, disciplined approach to personal health. 1. We believe in the Biblical story of . The Trinity - We believe the Godhead exists eternally in three persons . He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe in a pre-tribulation Rapture of believers, and a premillennial return of Christ to the earth to establish His Kingdom. In Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. This is a family that we are not born intorather, the Father of this family willfully and purposefully brought us in. Baptist Deacon, there are some churches that have no statement of faith. The performance of professional responsibilities in the context of this educational institution is consistent with this intent and with the standards found in Scripture. Here are 10 things to know about Baptists and their beliefs. (Romans 8:14-17; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:5; 1 John 3:1-2), We believe that all who are truly born again are eternally kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. Throughout our history we have been a confessional people, adopting statements of faith as a witness to our beliefs and a pledge of our faithfulness to the doctrines revealed in Holy Scripture. A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Matthew 3:1317; 26:2630; 28:1920; Mark 1:911; 14:2226; Luke 3:2122; 22:1920; John 3:23; Acts 2:4142; 8:3539; 16:3033; 20:7; Romans 6:35; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 21; 11:2329; Colossians 2:12. We are pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by God as by a Father. (Exodus 18:21-22; Exodus 22:28; 2 Samuel 23:3; Daniel 3:10-18; Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:27-29; Acts 5:29; Acts 23:5; Romans 13:1-7), We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as Gods eternal covenant people. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever-present Lord. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The fact that we find our roots of faith in the same fertile soil as millions of others who have gone before us is a matter of Gods sovereigntynothing more! We believe in God's electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christs people. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. ; 119:11; Proverbs 3:13ff. Section 201 of the United States Copyright Act specifies that the employeris considered the author of a work made for hire, and owns all the rights comprised in the copyright except in cases where the employer and the employee have expressly agreed otherwise in a written instrument signed by them.. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. ; and Fern Creek . A Statement of Faith is just a summary. We specifically affirm the following doctrinal truths: The Scriptures Christ is the eternal Son of God. We believe that Jesus Christ eternally existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit. ; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:2526; 2 Timothy 3:1517; Hebrews 1:12; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:1921. Therefore, we believe the Universal Church and this local church family are obligated to make every effort to evangelize all people everywhere, beginning in our homes, then reaching to our town, state, nation, and the entire world. To respect the appropriate ethical and Spiritual guidelines for personal interaction including the respect for the property of both the institution as well as the personal property of others. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. Founded in 2019, FBA offers a full day, in-person environment that uses the well-known Abeka Christian curriculum with a combination of video instruction and teacher-led classes. We are sinners by nature and by conduct. Second, the 2000 revision of the BF&M removed the assertion that the person of Jesus Christ was to be the exegetical standard by which the Bible was to be interpreted,[citation needed][c] and replaced it with the last sentence in the quotation below. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. We believe He arose bodily from the dead on the third day in the same body in which He suffered and died. (A) The Holy Scriptures We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally and fully inspired Word of God. As Gods created beings, living under His Lordship, all other sexual activity, including premarital sex, extramarital sex, polygamy, bisexual acts, same-sex marriage, homosexual acts, and bestiality violate clear biblical teaching on sexual purity (Rom. President Baptist.org, Featuring : Statement of Faith The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. Statement of Faith. ; 4:110; 8:17, 11; 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Matthew 5:2; 7:24ff. ", Those words are commonly referred to as the "red letter words", based on the. We believe that God instituted the family for the well-being of mankind and designed it to be a unit of order and blessing. All who join CHBC are required to affirm the CHBC Statement of Faith, the revised New Hampshire Confession of Faith from 1853. The Scriptures The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. In fact, I can recall a time or two I have said that very thing myself. It is instantaneous and not a process. To respect leadership and support harmony that is compatible with biblical truth, understanding that insubordination in any form incompatible with any professional relationship with Boston Baptist College. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. The Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M) is the statement of faith of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). We believe the Bible to be the center of true Christian unity and the supreme and final authority against which all matters of doctrine, faith, human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tested. "Throughout the process, the [Faith Statement Development] team sought the Lord's guidance and wisdom and has . Be sure to look for the continuation of this article to find further discussion regarding the Baptist Distinctives! To limit any personal matters to momentary attention while on the job, including but not limited to - phone calls, personal visits or conversations or computer use. The Scriptures. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the one and only Superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, or benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 9:67; Jeremiah 23:56; Matthew 3:2; 4:810, 23; 12:2528; 13:152; 25:3146; 26:29; Mark 1:1415; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:3132; 17:2021; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:67; 17:2231; Romans 5:17; 8:19; 1 Corinthians 15:2428; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 11:10, 16; 12:28; 1 Peter 2:410; 4:13; Revelation 1:6, 9; 5:10; 11:15; 2122. Regarding ministry, the BF&M now explicitly defines the pastoral office as the exclusive domain of men thus prohibiting female pastors. Freedom in any orderly relationship of human life is always limited and never absolute. Published on April 8, 2021. 9. Boston Baptist College teaches and practices the ministry of the Holy Spirit from a textual and historical position rather than that which is espoused by the modern Charismatic interpretation. Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff. Baptism Mission In our mission of Connecting people to Jesus and one another, Southeast Christian Church has grown into a unified multisite community. He will return in power and glory to judge the world which he created, consummate His mission, and assume His rightful throne. All who believe in Him are justifiedon the grounds of His shed blood. Of Repentance and Faith. Magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming King of kings. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. We believe that justification is the judicial act of God declaring us to be righteous through faith in Christ Jesus. It is Gods revelation to man, inerrantas originally written by Spirit-controlled men. The Lords Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior. ; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:34; 2:6869; 5:1415; Nehemiah 4; 8:15; Matthew 10:515; 20:116; 22:110; 28:1920; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff. D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. A spokesman for Prestonwood Baptist Church, where Mr. Graham is pastor, said the church "categorically denies" the way the report characterizes an incident under his leadership in which it . It is the responsibility of each Christian to learn, believe, and live every doctrine taught in Gods Word. As stated in Matthew 4:4 (ESV): But He answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. We are to observe and do all things Christ has commanded us (teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Statement of Faith The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God's infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. The change was made over concerns that some groups were elevating the recorded words of Jesus[d] in Scripture over other Scriptural passages (or, in some cases, claiming that Jesus' silence on an issue held priority over other passages explicitly discussing a topic, an example being homosexuality). Sunday Mornings: 9:00 AM In-Person 10:30 AM In-Person 10:30 AM Live Streaming Online. This revision was particularly objectionable to the Baptist General Convention of Texas[citation needed], the largest SBC state convention, which had previously split between moderates and conservatives, with the latter forming the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. First Baptist Classical Academy: Statement of Faith & Conviction . Immersion of believers and the Lords Supper the only two ordinances. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. ; Isaiah 61:13; Joel 2:2832; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:2832; 28:19; Mark 1:10, 12; Luke 1:35; 4:1, 1819; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:1617, 26; 15:26; 16:714; Acts 1:8; 2:14, 38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17, 39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:16; Romans 8:911,1416, 2627; 1 Corinthians 2:1014; 3:16; 12:311, 13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:1314; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8, 14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:67; Revelation 1:10; 22:17. But some of us take it too far to the place of sin. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. Addresses issues of contemporary concern soteriological inclusivism (Section IV), family (Section XVIII), gender (Section III), sexual immorality, adultery, homosexuality, pornography, and abortion (Section XV). To maintain responsible standards of speech and action so as to avoid profanity, vulgarity, and harassment or acts of physical assault or violence. (Matthew 3:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:34-39; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:11-12). Lets face it many Baptists are proud, and that is OK in a manner of speaking, because we have a rich heritage. To discuss issues of personal salary and compensation only with an appropriate supervisor. Genesis 1:2628; 2:1525; 3:120; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:49; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:2628; Psalms 51:5; 78:18; 127; 128; 139:1316; Proverbs 1:8; 5:1520; 6:2022; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:1314; 24:3; 29:15, 17; 31:1031; Ecclesiastes 4:912; 9:9; Malachi 2:1416; Matthew 5:3132; 18:25; 19:39; Mark 10:612; Romans 1:1832; 1 Corinthians 7:116; Ephesians 5:2133; 6:14; Colossians 3:1821; 1 Timothy 5:8, 14; 2 Timothy 1:35; Titus 2:35; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:17. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. Portuguese With these thoughts in mind, it is an honor to be considered a Baptist, but we must take heed lest we fall. Jesus said He is the Door (singular), and any other path is . Knowing who we are is one thing, but knowing WHAT we are is completely another. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth. In Jesus Christ abide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It is to be preceded always by solemn self-examination. 1. Services. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God. It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11; Matthew 25:41; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9-10; Revelation 20:10), We believe in the Genesis account of creation as being neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct and immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process. It is bestowed solely through the Redeemers shed blood and not because of any works we have done. facebook: Bro Champion The new birth of the one who was dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate persons life. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. 2:1214) and thus the college community unites in the conviction that God opposes any attempt to alter ones gender by surgery or appearance. It is a solemn and beautiful emblem that declares our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior as well . We receive the spirit of adoption and we are enabled to come boldly to the throne of grace and cry Abba, Father. Boston Baptist College is a community of born-again Christians committed to disciplined obedience to the example and teachings of Christ in all matters of faith and practice. She is now dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ. Mission Statement, Faith Baptist Church. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of Gods creation. We believe God brought all creation into being in six literal 24-hour days and that He rested on the 7th day. 3. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. The new birth of mans spirit by Gods Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. 3:00pm 5:30pm, Crusaders Teens (Seasonal) We believe in one God, existing in three persons, known as the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit ( Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost"; Genesis 1:1, 26-27; John 10:30, 37-38 ). All members of the Boston Baptist College community are expected to treat one another with respect and Christ-like compassion. (1) The Holy Scriptures We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. We believe they each have precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections. ; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:122:13. To refrain from the violation of any civil or criminal law that could adversely affect Boston Baptist College or bring reproach upon the cause of Christ. Our Statement of Faith summarizes essential Christian beliefs, shows unity in Christ, and guards the church from error. (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-47; Acts 15:13-18; Acts 20:17-28; Romans 1:16; Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:13-16; Ephesians 3:1-6; Ephesians 4:11-13; Ephesians 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-7). Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. While not stated in the 2000 BF&M, some churches also apply this interpretation to deacons, being a pastoral office of the church, and will not ordain women or allow them to serve as deacons. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In His incarnation He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. To be a model of biblical character in all aspects of deportment and interactions and so to avoid any offensive or inappropriate activity or appearance that could impugn the integrity of the institution. 13. Genesis 12:13; Exodus 19:56; Isaiah 6:18; Matthew 9:3738; 10:515; 13:1830, 3743; 16:19; 22:910; 24:14; 28:1820; Luke 10:118; 24:4653; John 14:1112; 15:78,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:2640; 10:4248; 13:23; Romans 10:1315; Ephesians 3:111; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:13; 11:3912:2; 1 Peter 2:410; Revelation 22:17. (Genesis 13:14-17; Ezekiel 37; Romans 11:1-32), Section 22: The Rapture and Other Future Events, We believe in the imminent, pre-millennialreturn of Christ for His Church. 8. All true believers endure to the end. All employees have a moral, ethical, professional, and legal responsibility to support the implementation of all college policies for student and campus deportment. However, for more contemporary churches which have elders, the interpretation has been extended to this office as well, thus prohibiting women from being elders. We believe that Satan is a personal being, the author of sin, a fallen angel, prince of demons, the unholy god of this age, the great enticer and deceiver, the adversary of Christ and His people, the accuser of the brethren, and the ruler of all the powers of darkness. We believe the Scriptures teach that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect, in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to Confidential issues will be discussed only in secured settings so as to prohibit even the unintentional compromise of sensitive information. B. Justification is Gods gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Each article or position is followed by Scripture which they use to support their position.[a]. [2] Described as "the New Hampshire Confession of Faith [of 1833], revised at certain points, and with some additional articles growing out of present needs," it was intended as "a reaffirmation of Christian fundamentals," which was deemed necessary because of "the prevalence of naturalism in the modern teaching and preaching of religion. Exodus 20:811; Matthew 12:112; 28:1ff. Parents are to demonstrate to their children Gods pattern for marriage. He helps empower the believer to develop the character of Christ and live every day in God's will. Isaiah 2:4; Matthew 5:9, 3848; 6:33; 26:52; Luke 22:36, 38; Romans 12:1819; 13:17; 14:19; Hebrews 12:14; James 4:12. The one and only Head is Christ through the Holy Spirit. They shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting punishment. We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication . The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, and where there are no Christian works of obedience then faith is dead. ; 28:1920; Luke 2:40; 1 Corinthians 1:1831; Ephesians 4:1116; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 2:3, 89; 1 Timothy 1:37; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:1417; Hebrews 5:126:3; James 1:5; 3:17. We believe the Lord's coming to be imminent. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Champion 1:2627). (Isaiah 53:4-7; John 3:1-21; Acts 4:12; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:10; Romans 3: 23- 25; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10), We believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ and in His ascension into Heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest. Webelievein the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. There are a few differing opinions on the origin of the Baptist church. Many us of have good answers to these questions, but are they the right answers? To maintain professional and mentoring relationships with students while never violating propriety or losing the capacity to lead or discipline students objectively avoiding preferential treatment of any student at all times. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10), Section 23: The Eternal State of the Saved and The Lost, We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men: the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority of faith and life. Introduction. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. Activities on the Lords Day should be commensurate with the Christians conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. To faithfully support the sanctity of permanent marriage between a man and a woman, avoiding all forms of sexual misconduct (including harassment and abuse-noting the institutional policy for such) and to contribute exclusively to that biblical pattern in all spheres of influence. These are the beliefs and biblical distinctives of First Baptist Classical Academy in Kamloops. We believe that in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until Gods purpose is fulfilled. The Family. The New Hampshire Confession of Faith was drawn up by the Rev. 15. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. Being one body unites believers to each other and to Christ. Each one has outlined a statement of faith. 11. ; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:13; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff. How are you different from a Methodist, a Presbyterian, an Episcopal, a Pentecostal, or a Catholic? Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. We believe that a Baptist church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures.