What We Believe
Statement of Faith
(adopted November 9, 2008)
(adopted November 9, 2008)
The Bible
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God’s infallible written Word, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that the Bible is the one and only Word of God, and that it is uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is truth without any mixture of error in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters of doctrine and in all matters on which it speaks.
(Deuteronomy 32.47; 2 Timothy 3.15-16; 2 Peter 1.21)
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God’s infallible written Word, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that the Bible is the one and only Word of God, and that it is uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is truth without any mixture of error in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters of doctrine and in all matters on which it speaks.
(Deuteronomy 32.47; 2 Timothy 3.15-16; 2 Peter 1.21)
The Godhead
We believe in one God, perfect, all-powerful, just, and loving, who is manifested in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in every divine attribute and executing distinct but complementary offices (referred to as the Trinity). The three persons of the Godhead subsist in eternal, complete unity, because they are one. God is eternal and He is creator.
(Genesis 1.1; Matthew 3.16-17, 28.19; Mark 12.29; John 17.21; Acts 5.3-4; Colossians 1.16; Hebrews 1.1-3)
We believe in one God, perfect, all-powerful, just, and loving, who is manifested in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in every divine attribute and executing distinct but complementary offices (referred to as the Trinity). The three persons of the Godhead subsist in eternal, complete unity, because they are one. God is eternal and He is creator.
(Genesis 1.1; Matthew 3.16-17, 28.19; Mark 12.29; John 17.21; Acts 5.3-4; Colossians 1.16; Hebrews 1.1-3)
Jesus/God the Son
We believe that Jesus is God’s unique Son, co-equal with the Father. Jesus, while fully human, is also fully God. He preexisted with God the Father and with the Holy Spirit before His birth in Bethlehem. Jesus was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. He died on the cross for the sins of the world, bodily rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. Jesus is coming back to earth again – personally, bodily, and visibly – to resurrect the dead in Christ and to set up His eternal kingdom for all believers.
(Isaiah 7.14; Luke 1.26-38, 2.1-7; John 1.1, 3.16; Romans 5.8; 2 Corinthians 5.21; 1 Thessalonians 4.13-17; 1 Peter 2.21-24; 1 John 2.1-2; Revelation 21.1-7)
We believe that Jesus is God’s unique Son, co-equal with the Father. Jesus, while fully human, is also fully God. He preexisted with God the Father and with the Holy Spirit before His birth in Bethlehem. Jesus was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. He died on the cross for the sins of the world, bodily rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. Jesus is coming back to earth again – personally, bodily, and visibly – to resurrect the dead in Christ and to set up His eternal kingdom for all believers.
(Isaiah 7.14; Luke 1.26-38, 2.1-7; John 1.1, 3.16; Romans 5.8; 2 Corinthians 5.21; 1 Thessalonians 4.13-17; 1 Peter 2.21-24; 1 John 2.1-2; Revelation 21.1-7)
Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, eternal and coequal with the Father and the Son. He convicts people of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. By faith, the Holy Spirit empowers believers to live the Christian life.
(John 14.16-17, 14.26, 16.5-14; Romans 8.1-17; Ephesians 5.18)
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, eternal and coequal with the Father and the Son. He convicts people of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. By faith, the Holy Spirit empowers believers to live the Christian life.
(John 14.16-17, 14.26, 16.5-14; Romans 8.1-17; Ephesians 5.18)
Man
We believe that human beings are the special creations of God, made in His image and exclusively for a personal relationship with Him. After the creation, man fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the revealed will of God and became dead in sins and corrupt in nature. The effects of sin have been transmitted to the entire human race, Jesus Christ excepted, and thus every person born into the world is separated from a relationship with God, which is spiritual death. Man is incapable of remedying his lost and depraved condition apart from God’s grace.
(Genesis 1.26-27, 3.1-13; Psalm 51.5; Isaiah 53.6; Romans 3.23, 5.12-19; Ephesians 2.1-3)
We believe that human beings are the special creations of God, made in His image and exclusively for a personal relationship with Him. After the creation, man fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the revealed will of God and became dead in sins and corrupt in nature. The effects of sin have been transmitted to the entire human race, Jesus Christ excepted, and thus every person born into the world is separated from a relationship with God, which is spiritual death. Man is incapable of remedying his lost and depraved condition apart from God’s grace.
(Genesis 1.26-27, 3.1-13; Psalm 51.5; Isaiah 53.6; Romans 3.23, 5.12-19; Ephesians 2.1-3)
Salvation
We believe that the followers of Jesus Christ are saved by grace through faith, apart from religious ceremony, good works, or man’s effort. There is no other way to find salvation, forgiveness, life, and a personal relationship with God apart from Jesus. The essence of salvation is that we are given a new nature, that we are moved from death to life. Salvation gives us an abundant and eternal life. That we are secure eternally, without interruption, is a great privilege.
(John 3.16-18, 10.10, 10.26-30, 14.6; Rom. 3.24-26, 4.25, 5.10, 6.23, 8.1, 8.38-39, 10.9-13; 2 Cor. 5.17-18; Eph. 2.8-9; Colossians 1.13-14; Titus 3.5; 1 John 5.11-13)
We believe that the followers of Jesus Christ are saved by grace through faith, apart from religious ceremony, good works, or man’s effort. There is no other way to find salvation, forgiveness, life, and a personal relationship with God apart from Jesus. The essence of salvation is that we are given a new nature, that we are moved from death to life. Salvation gives us an abundant and eternal life. That we are secure eternally, without interruption, is a great privilege.
(John 3.16-18, 10.10, 10.26-30, 14.6; Rom. 3.24-26, 4.25, 5.10, 6.23, 8.1, 8.38-39, 10.9-13; 2 Cor. 5.17-18; Eph. 2.8-9; Colossians 1.13-14; Titus 3.5; 1 John 5.11-13)
The Church
We believe that the Church includes the redeemed of all the ages. The local church is an autonomous, self-governing assembly of born again, baptized believers operating under the lordship of Christ. Jesus is the Head of the church and the church is the body and bride of Christ. The church is God’s primary context for spiritual development and community impact.
(Matthew 16.18; Acts 2.42-47, 6.3; 1 Corinthians 12.12-27; Colossians 1.18; Revelation 19.7-9)
We believe that the Church includes the redeemed of all the ages. The local church is an autonomous, self-governing assembly of born again, baptized believers operating under the lordship of Christ. Jesus is the Head of the church and the church is the body and bride of Christ. The church is God’s primary context for spiritual development and community impact.
(Matthew 16.18; Acts 2.42-47, 6.3; 1 Corinthians 12.12-27; Colossians 1.18; Revelation 19.7-9)
The Ordinances
We believe that there are two ordinances of the church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that by water baptism a believer is publicly identified with our Savior in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism is not a condition for salvation. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Jesus’ death. The elements of the Lord’s Supper are symbols of His body and blood. Every believer should take the Lord’s Supper as an act of worship, praise, remembrance, and gratitude to Jesus Christ for what He has done for us.
(Matthew 28.19; Luke 22.14-20; Acts 2.41, 8.36-39; 1 Corinthians 11.23-30)
We believe that there are two ordinances of the church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that by water baptism a believer is publicly identified with our Savior in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism is not a condition for salvation. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Jesus’ death. The elements of the Lord’s Supper are symbols of His body and blood. Every believer should take the Lord’s Supper as an act of worship, praise, remembrance, and gratitude to Jesus Christ for what He has done for us.
(Matthew 28.19; Luke 22.14-20; Acts 2.41, 8.36-39; 1 Corinthians 11.23-30)
Satan
We believe that Satan, the devil, is a literal being, created by God, and who, by his own choice, is an enemy of God. Satan introduced sin into the world. Satan’s power is limited, yet he commands a host of fallen spirit beings who seek to keep unsaved people lost, and who seek to divide and deceive individual Christians. He was judged guilty at the cross, and will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire for eternity, which was prepared especially for him.
(Genesis 3.1-9; Isaiah 14.12-14; Zechariah 3.1; Matthew 25.41; Hebrews 2.14; 2 Peter 2.4; Revelation 20.10)
We believe that Satan, the devil, is a literal being, created by God, and who, by his own choice, is an enemy of God. Satan introduced sin into the world. Satan’s power is limited, yet he commands a host of fallen spirit beings who seek to keep unsaved people lost, and who seek to divide and deceive individual Christians. He was judged guilty at the cross, and will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire for eternity, which was prepared especially for him.
(Genesis 3.1-9; Isaiah 14.12-14; Zechariah 3.1; Matthew 25.41; Hebrews 2.14; 2 Peter 2.4; Revelation 20.10)
Priesthood of the Believer
We believe that every believer has direct access to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus alone is our High Priest and our intermediary to God the Father; thus, we have no need for a human intermediary. A believer is free to pray and interpret the Scripture as led by the Holy Spirit. Since every believer is a priest, each one has both the right and the responsibility to stand in the gap between God and the world - to speak God's word to people and to speak to God on behalf of people.
(Matthew 27.51; Galatians 3.26-28; Ephesians 2.18, 1 Peter 2.5)
We believe that every believer has direct access to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus alone is our High Priest and our intermediary to God the Father; thus, we have no need for a human intermediary. A believer is free to pray and interpret the Scripture as led by the Holy Spirit. Since every believer is a priest, each one has both the right and the responsibility to stand in the gap between God and the world - to speak God's word to people and to speak to God on behalf of people.
(Matthew 27.51; Galatians 3.26-28; Ephesians 2.18, 1 Peter 2.5)
Special Considerations
The above doctrinal statement is the official stance of BMBC and will be taught as such. No one teaching under the auspices of BMBC must teach contrary to these tenets. We also recognize that there are doctrines and practices over which believers may disagree, and we know that there are areas of life where Scriptural precepts or principles are not clearly given. Therefore, we will respond with liberty on those issues. We further permit ourselves to "agree to disagree" on non-essential issues.
(Acts 15.1-6; Romans 14.1-6; 1 Corinthians 10.23-24; Ephesians 4.3-6)
The above doctrinal statement is the official stance of BMBC and will be taught as such. No one teaching under the auspices of BMBC must teach contrary to these tenets. We also recognize that there are doctrines and practices over which believers may disagree, and we know that there are areas of life where Scriptural precepts or principles are not clearly given. Therefore, we will respond with liberty on those issues. We further permit ourselves to "agree to disagree" on non-essential issues.
(Acts 15.1-6; Romans 14.1-6; 1 Corinthians 10.23-24; Ephesians 4.3-6)
