Scriptures

We believe in the absolute authority and accuracy of the 66 canonical books of the Bible, its full verbal inspiration in the original manuscripts and its all-sufficiency as the Christian’s rule of faith and practice.

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

Our Beliefs

The True GOD

We believe that there is but one God—the Creator, Preserver and Ruler of all things—Who is perfect in holiness and in love, Who is infinite in wisdom and measureless in power and Who reveals Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Nehemiah 9:6;

Exodus 15:11; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12;

1 John 4:8b; Matthew 28:19

The Lord Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal and only begotten Son of God conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, that He is true God and true man and that He is the only and sufficient Mediator between God and man.

Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2,14; John 12:45; John 14:9; 1 Timothy 2:5

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity Whose ministry is to convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; to regenerate the unbelieving; to seal, sanctify, teach and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ.

John 16:8-11; John 3:3-7; John 14:26;

Ephesians 1:13

The Creation and the Fall of Man

We believe that man was created in the image of God by direct creation. Man sinned and thereby incurred both physical and spiritual death. Therefore, we believe that all men by nature and by choice are sinners and that all men, apart from Christ, shall be separated forever from God.

Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:17; Ezekiel 18:20a; Romans 6:23

The Substitutionary death of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice according to the Scripture. All who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Revelation 1:5

The Salvation of Sinners

We believe that salvation is by grace through faith, not of works, and that all who by faith receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are born again of the Holy Spirit. We believe that the genuine child of God has a special Providence that watches over his welfare and that he is kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Ephesians 2:8-9; John 8:31; 1 John 2:19; Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:6

The Resurrection and Return of Christ

We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven and in His present ministry there for us as High Priest and Advocate. We believe in the personal, visible, imminent pre-tribulation, pre-millennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Saints and in His coming in Glory with His Saints to set up His Kingdom upon the earth.

1 Corinthians 15:4; Acts 1:8-11;

Hebrews 4:14-16;

1 John 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:1-5

The Resurrection of the Dead

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the bodily resurrection of the unjust—the just to everlasting life, the unjust to everlasting punishment.

1 Corinthians 15:20-24; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; Luke 20:35-38; Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Corinthians 5:10

The Church and Believer’s Baptism

We believe that a local church is a voluntary association of baptized believers who are equal in rank and privilege, subject to the Word of God and independent of any external ecclesiastical control whatsoever. We believe that God’s Word commands every believer to be baptized and that the only scriptural mode is immersion in water. Although baptism has no saving merit, it does demonstrate in solemn and beautiful symbolism the believer’s faith in and union with the crucified, buried and risen Savior.

Acts 8:38; Acts 18:8; Romans 6:3-5

The Lord’s Supper

We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a provision of bread and the cup which are symbolic of Christ’s broken body and shed blood. The Lord’s Supper is taken by saved individuals in commemoration of the suffering and death of their Lord and in anticipation of His soon coming again. Its observance is to be preceded by faithful self-examination.

Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30

Marriage

We believe in the holy covenant of marriage. After creating man (both male and female). God created marriage for them. Marriage is a covenant in which one man and one woman leave their parents and form a lifelong monogamous bond for the purposes of: picturing Christ and His Church, companionship, procreation, pleasure and deterring temptation.

Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:22-33; Genesis 2:20; Genesis 1:28; Malachi 2:15; Proverbs 5:18-20; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9

Thus, marriage is a permanent covenant broken only by death and specific scriptural exceptions such as unrepentant sexual sin or desertion by an unbeliever. Furthermore, all expressions of sexuality outside of the bonds of marriage are deemed as sinful sexual immorality. These include, but are not limited to, acts and lifestyles such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexuality and polygamy.

Matthew 5:32, 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:12-15; Hebrews 13:4; Exodus 20:14; Genesis 1:28, 2:18; Matthew 19:1-6; Romans 1:26-28

Since marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church, Berean Baptist Church views marriage as a profound spiritual institution established by God. Due to the importance of marriage in biblical witness, Berean Baptist Church adopts the following policy:

There shall be no same gender marriages performed at Berean Baptist Church.
Only duly appointed pastor(s) shall officiate at marriage ceremonies conducted on church property.

Applicants wishing to have a marriage ceremony performed by a member of the pastoral staff or to use the church facilities shall affirm their agreement with the Articles of Faith and shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent there within.

Berean Baptist Church does not recognize a same-gender marriage as a legitimate marriage,

even if a marriage license has been issued by the State.