Vinton baptist church
Statement of faith
I. THE WORD OF GOD
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written by various human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
Mark 13:31; John 8:31–32; 20:31; Acts 20:32; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21
II. THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three Persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
Genesis 1:1, 26; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1, 3; 4:24; Romans 1:19–20; Ephesians 4:5–6
III. GOD THE FATHER
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He is the only absolute and omnipotent Ruler in the universe––sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption––that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Psalm 103:9; Matthew 23:9; Luke 10:21–22; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 11:36; 1 Timothy 1:1–2; 2:5–6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6
IV. JESUS CHRIST (THE SON)
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s eternally and only begotten Son. We believe in His incarnation, where He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of his mother, Mary, taking upon Himself human flesh and a human nature, and that from then on, He remains––for all time––both fully God and fully man. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
Matthew 1:18–25; 20:28; Luke 1:26–38; John 1:1; 20:28, 30–31; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6–8; 6:9–10; 8:32; 9:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 7:25; 9:28; 1 Peter 2:21–23
V. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.
John 14:16–17, 26; 15:26–27; 16:9–14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; Galatians 5:22–26
VI. HUMANITY AND SIN
We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are therefore under condemnation. Humans are inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. With no recuperative powers to spiritually revive themselves, humans are hopelessly lost in the corruption of sinfulness, and that sinfulness justly deserves God’s righteous and wrathful punishment, which is an eternity in Hell.
Genesis 1–3; John 3:36; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1–3; 1 John 1:8
VII. THE GOSPEL
We believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is graciously revealed to us in Scripture. The word “gospel” means good news, and we cherish this news as good, right, and beautiful because it is the news of how we––sinful humans––can be brought from death to life. While we deserve nothing but righteous condemnation to Hell, God––in His sovereign goodness––has made a way for sinners to be reconciled to Himself through the work of Jesus Christ. Foundational to this good news is the doctrine of Substitutionary Atonement, which states that Jesus lived a life of complete obedience to the will of God (something we are incapable of doing) and by His perfect obedience, he has earned the blessing of eternal life; yet He willingly went to the cross and took on our curse (death) so that he might become our substitute. He took our place on the cross and offered himself as a sacrifice, thereby making atonement for our sins (appeasing the wrath of God), and through trusting/believing in the sufficiency of His perfect life and sacrificial death, we can take His place of blessing and be declared righteous (justified) before God.
Psalms 1–2; John 5:24; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:18–19, 21; Galatians 3:10–14; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5
VIII. SALVATION
We believe that salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of human merit or works. This doctrinal position ensures that God gets the glory that is due Him for His grace. Those who, by God’s grace, repent, forsake sin, and trust Jesus Christ as Savior have been regenerated (born again) by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation, sealed for eternity, and empowered to put their sinful desires to death and to bear Christ-like fruit.
Luke 13:3; John 1:12; 3:3–7; 5:24; Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9–10; Galatians 5:22–24; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:8–10; 2 Timothy 1:8–9; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:18–19
IX. THE CHURCH
We believe in the universal Church; a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head, and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of an assembly of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. Furthermore, we believe that the Bible establishes the right governance of the local church using the offices of Elder and Deacon, while maintaining that the local congregation holds the keys to the Kingdom of God and therefore holds authority over itself in submission to the ultimate authority of Christ.
Matthew 16:16–19; 18:15–20; Acts 1:8; 2:42; Ephesians 2:19–22; 5:19–21; 1 Timothy 3:1–16; Titus 1:5–9; Hebrews 10:23–25
X. CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the good of His people; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should pursue with great discipline––both for themselves and others––the full stature of maturity in Christ.
John 14:15, 23–24; Romans 12:1–3; 1 Corinthians 4:2; 10:31; 2 Corinthians 9:6–9; Ephesians 4:11–16; Colossians 1:9–10; Hebrews 12:1–2; 1 John 2:3–6
XI. THE ORDINANCES
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:18–20; Romans 6:3–5; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
XII. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
I Timothy 2:5; Romans 14:7–9, 12
XIII. THE LAST THINGS
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:4–6, 11–15
Adopted August 25, 2024
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written by various human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
Mark 13:31; John 8:31–32; 20:31; Acts 20:32; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21
II. THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three Persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
Genesis 1:1, 26; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1, 3; 4:24; Romans 1:19–20; Ephesians 4:5–6
III. GOD THE FATHER
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He is the only absolute and omnipotent Ruler in the universe––sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption––that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Psalm 103:9; Matthew 23:9; Luke 10:21–22; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 11:36; 1 Timothy 1:1–2; 2:5–6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6
IV. JESUS CHRIST (THE SON)
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s eternally and only begotten Son. We believe in His incarnation, where He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of his mother, Mary, taking upon Himself human flesh and a human nature, and that from then on, He remains––for all time––both fully God and fully man. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
Matthew 1:18–25; 20:28; Luke 1:26–38; John 1:1; 20:28, 30–31; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6–8; 6:9–10; 8:32; 9:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 7:25; 9:28; 1 Peter 2:21–23
V. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.
John 14:16–17, 26; 15:26–27; 16:9–14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; Galatians 5:22–26
VI. HUMANITY AND SIN
We believe that man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are therefore under condemnation. Humans are inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. With no recuperative powers to spiritually revive themselves, humans are hopelessly lost in the corruption of sinfulness, and that sinfulness justly deserves God’s righteous and wrathful punishment, which is an eternity in Hell.
Genesis 1–3; John 3:36; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1–3; 1 John 1:8
VII. THE GOSPEL
We believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is graciously revealed to us in Scripture. The word “gospel” means good news, and we cherish this news as good, right, and beautiful because it is the news of how we––sinful humans––can be brought from death to life. While we deserve nothing but righteous condemnation to Hell, God––in His sovereign goodness––has made a way for sinners to be reconciled to Himself through the work of Jesus Christ. Foundational to this good news is the doctrine of Substitutionary Atonement, which states that Jesus lived a life of complete obedience to the will of God (something we are incapable of doing) and by His perfect obedience, he has earned the blessing of eternal life; yet He willingly went to the cross and took on our curse (death) so that he might become our substitute. He took our place on the cross and offered himself as a sacrifice, thereby making atonement for our sins (appeasing the wrath of God), and through trusting/believing in the sufficiency of His perfect life and sacrificial death, we can take His place of blessing and be declared righteous (justified) before God.
Psalms 1–2; John 5:24; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:18–19, 21; Galatians 3:10–14; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5
VIII. SALVATION
We believe that salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of human merit or works. This doctrinal position ensures that God gets the glory that is due Him for His grace. Those who, by God’s grace, repent, forsake sin, and trust Jesus Christ as Savior have been regenerated (born again) by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation, sealed for eternity, and empowered to put their sinful desires to death and to bear Christ-like fruit.
Luke 13:3; John 1:12; 3:3–7; 5:24; Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9–10; Galatians 5:22–24; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:8–10; 2 Timothy 1:8–9; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:18–19
IX. THE CHURCH
We believe in the universal Church; a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head, and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of an assembly of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. Furthermore, we believe that the Bible establishes the right governance of the local church using the offices of Elder and Deacon, while maintaining that the local congregation holds the keys to the Kingdom of God and therefore holds authority over itself in submission to the ultimate authority of Christ.
Matthew 16:16–19; 18:15–20; Acts 1:8; 2:42; Ephesians 2:19–22; 5:19–21; 1 Timothy 3:1–16; Titus 1:5–9; Hebrews 10:23–25
X. CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the good of His people; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should pursue with great discipline––both for themselves and others––the full stature of maturity in Christ.
John 14:15, 23–24; Romans 12:1–3; 1 Corinthians 4:2; 10:31; 2 Corinthians 9:6–9; Ephesians 4:11–16; Colossians 1:9–10; Hebrews 12:1–2; 1 John 2:3–6
XI. THE ORDINANCES
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:18–20; Romans 6:3–5; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
XII. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
I Timothy 2:5; Romans 14:7–9, 12
XIII. THE LAST THINGS
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:4–6, 11–15
Adopted August 25, 2024