(The following is a brief exerpt from
The Baptist Faith & Message, 2000.
To read the entire text, click here.)
The Scriptures
We believe the Holy Bible is totally true and trustworthy. It was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
God
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. 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.
Jesus
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. His substitutionary death on the cross made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully Man.
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church.
Salvation
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.