What We Believe

The Bible

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired by God and are completely inerrant in the original writings. They are the supreme standard for doctrine and belief.

The Scriptures are the final authority in all matters of practice and on any other subjects they address.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Psalm 119

The Triune God

We believe in one God existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Who are eternal, co-existent, and co-equal in all Their attributes.

Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; John 10:25-30, 38; John 14:16, 17

God the Father

We believe that God the Father gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to become our only means of salvation. We believe that God the Father is sovereign, and that He hears and answers prayer.

John 3:16; 6:37-39; John 8:42; Acts 4:10; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:15-23

God the Son

We believe that Jesus Christ is perfect God and perfect man. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. He was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. After living a sinless life. He was condemned and crucified on Calvary’s cross to bear the sins of the world. He was buried and rose again from the dead on the third day as man’s only Savior. He is coming again to take all believers in a pre-tribulational rapture at the end of this age. He now sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.

Matthew 1:19, 20; Philippians 2:6-8; John 1:1, 2; 1 Peter 2:24-25; 3:18; Acts 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Hebrews 4:14-16

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates each believer at conversion, then seals and indwells the believer forever. He convicts the world of sin, to righteousness and judgment to come.

John 16:7; 1 John 2:27; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Ephesians 4:30; John 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Romans 8:9-11

Satan

We believe that Satan, the devil, is a fallen angel of great power, and that he took some angels, who are now demons, with him at his fall. He is completely evil and tempts all men to sin against God. He will be cast into the lake of fire at his final end.

Ephesians 6:12; Isaiah 14:12-14; John 8:44; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 20:1

Mankind

We believe that Adam, the first man, was created in the image of God and that he sinned by disobedience, thereby incurring physical and spiritual death. All persons are born sinners in thought, word, and deed, and in need of a Savior. Once a person puts his trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ he is “born again” and enjoined in Christ to grow in grace, sanctifying and separating himself from all worldly snares. Once a person is born again, he is a new creation and has everlasting life.

Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 5:10-23; 6:23; Isaiah 53:6; 55:7; Matthew 12:36; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 3:18

Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably created the human race in two genders: male and female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Gen 1:26-27. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that the normative teaching of the Bible on marriage is that a marriage is to be the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union Gen. 2:18-25.

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. 1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10.

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Berean Baptist Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Berean’s members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Berean in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22.

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11.

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.

Abortion

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that elective abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental/physical well-being of the mother is acceptable.

Exodus 21:22-23; Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44

The Church

We believe that the Holy Scriptures teach that the Church of Jesus Christ was inaugurated at Pentecost and must be considered in two aspects: 10.1. The local Church, which is an autonomous congregation of baptized believers, is associated by a covenant of faith and in the fellowship of the gospel. The local Church is to observe the ordinances of Christ, be governed by His Word, and exercise the gifts invested in believers by God. The local Church is also to worship, pray, evangelize the world, educate its members, and fellowship in Christ. 10.2. The Church as the body of Christ is the entire company of believers in Christ.

Acts 2:41-42; Ephesians 1:22-23; Hebrews 12:22-24

Church Ordinances

We believe in two Church ordinances that are to be observed by the congregation: 11.1. Believers are to be baptized by immersion in water. 11.2. The Lord’s Supper commemorating Christ’s death shall be observed regularly till He comes. Self-examination and worship shall characterize the observance of this ordinance.

Romans 6:2-8; Colossians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30

The Great Commission

We believe that the supreme task for the Church, through the equipping of the saints, should be the evangelization of the world in obedience to the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ, given before He ascended to the Father.

Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-47; Acts 1:8

Civil Government

We believe that all Christians should obey the officials of the government and the laws of their country, as those appointed by God for the protection of all and the punishment of evildoers. The only exception to this would be when these officials or laws conflict with the relationship between God and the believer. We are admonished to pray for our rulers.

Ezra 7:26; Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Final Things

We believe that Christ’s return is imminent and that the Church will be raptured prior to the tribulation period. After the tribulation, Christ will reign on earth for one thousand years before the lost will be judged at the Great White Throne. Then Christ will be with His people throughout all eternity.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1- 12; Revelation 20:1-15