We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and
life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13).
B. THE GODHEAD
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Co-eternal in being, co-identical in
nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13-14).
C. THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST
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 (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 1:35).
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 (Romans 3:24-25; I
Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5).
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 9:24; 7:25; I John 2:1).
D. THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the
Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of
redemption (John 16:8-11; II Corinthians 3:6; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13- 14).
E. THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and
became alienated from God and that man is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26
- 27; Romans 3:2, 23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).
F. SALVATION
We believe that salvation is a free 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 (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19).
G. THE ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s 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 1:5).
We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word; which,
however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans 13:14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:1-15).
H. THE TWO NATURES OF THE BELIEVER
We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature
through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural
(Romans 6:13, 8:12-13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; I Peter 1:14-16).
I. SEPARATION
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; and that separation
from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded of God (II Timothy 3:1-5;
Romans 12:1-2, 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11; II Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1).
J. MISSIONS
We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the
Gospel to all mankind (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:19-20).
K. THE MINISTRY AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of all His gifts; and that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient
for the perfecting of the saints today; and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New
Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established (II Corinthians 12:12; I Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:
7-12).
We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted (John 15:7; I John 5:
14-15).
L. THE CHURCH
We believe that the church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again
persons of this present age (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 11:2).
We believe that the church spiritual and universal is manifested through local New Testament churches.
We believe a New Testament church is an organized body of baptized believers practicing Scriptural ordinances and actively engaging
in carrying out the Great Commission (Acts 2:41-42, 47; Matthew 28:19-20).
We believe that the establishment of new local churches is clearly taught in the New Testament (Acts 14:27; Titus 1:5-11).
M. ORDINANCES
We believe there are just two ordinances set forth in the New Testament: believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Believer’s baptism is the believer’s immersion in water to show forth (in a solemn and beautiful emblem) our faith in the crucified,
buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life.
N. DISPENSATIONALISM
We believe in the dispensational view of Bible interpretation but reject the extreme teaching known as “Hyper-Dispensationalism,” such
as that teaching which opposed either the Lord’s Table or water baptism as a Scriptural means of testimony for the church in this age
(Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 18:18; I Corinthians 11:23-26)
O. THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man
and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire.
P. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in that “Blessed Hope,” the personal, imminent, pre-tribulational and pre-millennial coming of Christ for His redeemed ones;
and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Zechariah 14:4-11;
Revelation 19:11-16; I Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9; Revelation 3:10).
Q. THE ETERNAL STATE
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all mankind; the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting
punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13).
CHURCH COVENANT
Having been led, as we believe, by the Holy Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on the profession of our
faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this
assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in
knowledge; holiness, and to comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality, to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and
doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry; the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and
the spread of the gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children to seek the salvation of our kindred and
acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our
deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to
be zealous in our efforts to advance the cause of our Saviour.
We further engage to watch out over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness
and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for
reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Saviour to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church, where we can
carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
Statement of Faith
and Church Covenant
and Church Covenant
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Preaching the Gospel Teaching the Word and Instilling a passion for God's glory |
Berea Baptist Church
370 Alt US 19 S
PO Box 489
Palm Harbor, FL 34683
Phone (727) 784-2733
Fax (727) 784-5463
office@bereabaptist.us
370 Alt US 19 S
PO Box 489
Palm Harbor, FL 34683
Phone (727) 784-2733
Fax (727) 784-5463
office@bereabaptist.us