A summary of our beliefs are as follows:
The Scriptures. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain, infallible, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.
God. There is but one 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.
The Trinity. God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
Providence. God from eternity ordains all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any ways to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.
Election. Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life—not because of foreseen merit in them, but because of His mercy in Christ—in consequence of which choice they are called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.
The Fall of Man. God originally created Man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, and are under condemnation for original sin and actual transgressions.
The Mediator. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, 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, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator; the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church; and Sovereign of the Universe.
Regeneration. Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who gives life to those who are dead in trespasses and sins enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renews their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone.
Justification. 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.
Sanctification. 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.
Faith. Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever 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.
Repentance. Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.
Perseverance of the Saints. Those whom God hath accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, 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.
The Church. 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 hath given needful authority for administering that order, discipline, and worship which He hath appointed. The regular officers of a Church are bishops, pastors, or elders, and deacons.
Baptism. Baptism is an ordinance 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 prerequisite to church fellowship, and to participation in the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, 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 fellowship.
The Lord’s Day Sabbath. 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, resting from worldly employment and recreations while preforming the duties of necessity and mercy.
Liberty of Conscience. God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it.
The Resurrection. 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. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.
The Final Judgment. God hath 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 punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.
For a more detailed presentation of our beliefs we confess the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. This historic document is the best confessional description of the truths we believe the Bible teaches. The representatives of 7 congregations in London gathered to summarize their common confessional beliefs, and to distinguish themselves from the Anabaptists and the Arminians. This was one of the first of several non-Anglican groups in that century to put a confession of their faith forward for the world to see. Two years later, the Westminster Assembly would produce its own confession (Westminster Confession of Faith), and then in 1658, the Congregationalists would follow suit (Savoy Declaration). To show their solidarity and theological agreement in many areas of doctrine with the Presbyterians and Congregationalists, the Baptists of London drafted the 1677 Baptist Confession with significant reliance on the Westminster and Savoy. The Confession is known for the year 1689 because in that year they approved the confession as an association of churches.
In 1855, the young pastor of New Park Street Chapel, Charles H. Spurgeon published a new edition of the Confession and in doing so wrote, “This little volume is not issued as an authoritative rule, or code of faith, whereby you are to be fettered, but as an assistance to you in controversy, a confirmation in faith, and a means of edification in righteousness. Here, the younger members of our church will have a body of divinity in small compass, and by means of the Scriptural proofs, will be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in them.”
“Be not ashamed of your faith; remember it is the ancient gospel of martyrs, confessors, reformers, and saints. Above all, it is the truth of God, against which the gates of Hell cannot prevail.”
“Let your lives adorn your faith, let your example adorn your creed. Above all live in Christ Jesus, and walk in Him, giving credence to no teaching but that which is manifestly approved of Him, and owned by the Holy Spirit. Cleave fast to the Word of God which is here mapped out for you.”
The practical result of these beliefs is that we take the Bible seriously and seek with our all to live lives that are pleasing and honoring to God.