Statements of Faith of General Baptists
(with references)
I. GOD
We believe that there is only one true, living, and eternal God and that the
Godhead is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
A. One true & eternal God
1. Deuteronomy 6:4 - Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
2. Mark 12:29,30 - 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments
is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,
and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
B. The Godhead 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:
1. God the Father 1 Corinthians 8:6 - But to us there is but one God, the
Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by
whom are all things, and we by him.
2. God the Son John 1:1-3,14 - 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
truth.
a. The Virgin Birth of Jesus Luke 1:26,27;30,31 - 26 And in the sixth month
the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and
the virgin's name was Mary. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for
thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy
womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
3. God the Holy Spirit John 14:16,26 - 16 And I will pray the Father, and he
shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 26 But
the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he
shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever
I have said unto you.
4. The Trinity Three in One 1 John 5:7 - For there are three that bear
record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are
one.
II. THE BIBLE
We believe that the Holy Scriptures are the Old and New Testaments; the inspired
and infallible Word of God and therein is found the only reliable guide of
Christian faith and conduct.
A. The Inspired Revelation
1. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 - 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto
all good works.
2. 2 Peter 1:20,21 - 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is
of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the
will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
B. The Infallible Word Matthew 5:18 - For verily I say unto you, Till heaven
and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till
all be fulfilled.
C. The Reliable Guide
1. Psalms 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
2. Romans 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for
our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have
hope.
III. MAN
We believe that God created man in His own image to bring Him honor through
obedience, and that when man disobeyed, he became a fallen and sinful creature,
unable to save himself. We believe that infants are in the covenant of God's
grace and that all persons become accountable to God when they reach a state of
moral responsibility.
A. Mans Origin
1. Genesis 1:26,27 - 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl
of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping
thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in
the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
2. Genesis 2:7 - And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
B. Mans Purpose Genesis 1:28 - And God blessed them, and God said unto them,
Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every
living thing that moveth upon the earth.
C. Mans Sin
1. Genesis 3:1-7 - 1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field
which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye
shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the
serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit
of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat
of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the
woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat
thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good
and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it
was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of
the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he
did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were
naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
2. Romans 5:12 - Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death
by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
D. Mans Accountability
1. Romans 14:11,12 - 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee
shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of
us shall give account of himself to God.
2. Romans 6:16 - Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,
his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience
unto righteousness?
IV. SALVATION
We believe that salvation (regeneration, sanctification, justification, and
redemption) has been provided for all mankind through the redemptive work (life,
death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession) of Jesus Christ, and that this
salvation can be received only through repentance toward God and faith toward
our Lord Jesus Christ.
A. Salvation Romans 10:9,10 - 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
1. Regeneration 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is
a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2. Sanctification Ephesians 5:25-27 - 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as
Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify
and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present
it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;
but that it should be holy and without blemish.
3. Justification Romans 5:18 - Therefore as by the offence of one judgment
came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free
gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
a. 2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
4. Redemption 1 Peter 1:18,19 - 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not
redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain
conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious
blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
B. Christs Redemptive Work Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth his love toward
us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1. Life and Death Romans 5:10 - For if, when we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall
be saved by his life.
2. Resurrection 1 Peter 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a
lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
3. Ascension Mark 16:19 - So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was
received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
4. Intercession Hebrews 7:25 - Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
for them.
C. Repentance Isaiah 55:6,7 - 6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call
ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have
mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
D. Faith Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for
he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him.
V. ASSURANCE AND ENDURANCE
We believe that those who abide in Christ have the assurance of salvation.
However, we believe that the Christian retains his freedom of choice; therefore,
it is possible for him to turn away from God and be finally lost.
A. Assurance John 10:28,29 - 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My
Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck
them out of my Father's hand.
B. Endurance
1. Ezekiel 3:20 - Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness,
and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die:
because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his
righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I
require at thine hand.
2. Matthew 10:22 - And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he
that endureth to the end shall be saved.
3. Luke 9:62 - And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the
plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
C. Warnings Romans 11:20-22 - 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken
off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God
spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity;
but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also
shalt be cut off.
D. Finally Lost Hebrew 6:4-6 - 4 For it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of
the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the
world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance;
seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open
shame.
VI. CHRISTIAN DUTIES
We believe that Christians should live faithfully by serving in and through the
local church, praying diligently, witnessing earnestly, practicing tolerance,
showing loving kindness, giving as God prospers, and conducting themselves in
such a way as to bring glory to God.
A. Faithful Service 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be
ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as
ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
B. Study the Bible 2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
C. Prayer Luke 18:1 - And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men
ought always to pray, and not to faint;
D. Witnessing Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost
is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem
(hometown), and in all Judaea (all surrounding areas), and in Samaria (to other
races, cultures & outcasts), and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
E. Self-Control Proverbs 16:32 - He that is slow to anger is better than the
mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
F. Loving Kindness Ephesians 4:32 - And be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath
forgiven you.
G. Financial Stewardship 2 Corinthians 9:6,7 - 6 But this I say, He which
soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully
shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,
so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful
giver.
VII. THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church Universal is the Body of Christ, the fellowship of
all believers, and that its members have been called out from the world to come
under the dominion and authority of Christ, its Head. We believe that a local
church is a fellowship of Christians, a part of the Body of Christ, voluntarily
banded together for worship, nurture, and service.
A. The Church Universal 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 12 For as the body is one,
and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one
body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,
whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all
made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.
B. The Local Church Revelations 3:22 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches.
1. Worship Services Psalms 96:6 - O come, let us worship and bow down: let us
kneel before the LORD our maker.
a. Church Attendance Hebrews 10:25 - Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching.
2. Nurture 2 Peter 3:18 - But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
a. Equipping the Saints Ephesians 4:11-15 - 11 And he gave some, apostles; and
some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature
of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to
and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men,
and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the
truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even
Christ:
VIII. ORDINANCES
We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances instituted by
Christ to be observed by Christians only. We also believe that the biblical mode
of baptism is immersion and that participation in the Lord's Supper should be
open to all Christians. (Note: Several associations and local churches recognize
feet washing as an ordinance. We believe that this should be left to the
individual, and that neither the practice nor the non-practice of it should be
any bar to fellowship, either in the church, the local association, the
Presbytery, or the General Association.)
A. Baptism
1. Instituted 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:
2. Subjects Acts 2:41 - Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
3. Biblical Mode (Immersion) Romans 6:3-5 - 3 Know ye not, that so many of us
as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we
are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness
of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we
shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
4. Purpose (Profession of Faith) Galatians 3:26,27 - 26 For ye are all the
children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
B. Communion
1. Instituted 1 Corinthians 11:24,25 -24 And when he had given thanks, he
brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do
in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had
supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as
ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
2. Subjects 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 - 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this
bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body
and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of
that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh
unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's
body.
3. Purpose 1 Corinthians 11:26 - For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink
this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
IX. THE LORD'S DAY
We believe in the sanctity of the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, and
that this day ought to be observed by worshiping God, witnessing for Christ, and
ministering to the needs of humanity. We believe that secular work on Sunday
should be limited to cases of necessity or mercy.
A. Sanctity Exodus 20:8-10 - 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the
sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy
son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor
thy stranger that is within thy gates:
B. Observance
1. Luke 4:16 - And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as
his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for
to read.
2. Mark 2:27,28 - 27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and
not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the
sabbath.
3. Mark 16:9 - And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came
together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow;
and continued his speech until midnight.
4. Acts 20:7 - And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came
together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow;
and continued his speech until midnight.
5. 1 Corinthians 16:2 - Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay
by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I
come.
6. Revelations 1:10 - I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me
a great voice, as of a trumpet,
X. LAST THINGS
We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ, and in the bodily
resurrection of the dead. We believe that God will judge all mankind by Jesus
Christ; that He will reward the righteous with eternal life in heaven, and that
He will banish the unrighteous to everlasting punishment in hell
A. Christs Return Acts 1:11 - Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand
ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
B. Resurrection
1. John 5:28,29 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which
all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they
that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done
evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 - 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and
the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall
be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and
so shall we ever be with the Lord.
3. Philippians 3:21 - Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned
like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to
subdue all things unto himself.
4. Revelations 20:4-6 - 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and
judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for
the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the
beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or
in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But
the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the
first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
C. Judgment & Reward 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.