What We Believe

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect record of divine instruction: that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God judges us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world the basis of Christian unity, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.

2 Timothy 3:16-17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (Also, 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Samuel 23:2; Acts 1:16; 3:21; John 10:35; Luke 16:29-31; Psalm 119:111; Romans 3:1-2.)

2 Timothy 3:15. Able to make thee wise unto salvation. (Also, 1 Peter 1:10-12; Acts 11:14; Romans 1:16; Mark 16:16; John 5:38-39.)

Proverbs 30:5-6. Every word of God is pure…Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. (Also, John 17:17; Revelation 22:18-19; Romans 3:4.)

Romans 2:12. As many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. John 12:47-48. If any man hear my words…the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (Also, 1 Corinthians 4:3-4; Luke 10:10-16; 12:47-48.)

Philippians 3:16. Let us walk by the same rule; let us mind the same thing. (Also, Ephesians 4:3-6; Philippians 2:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Peter 4:11.)

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, who is known as Jehovah (YHWH), the maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

John 4:24. God is a Spirit. Psalm 147:5. His understanding is infinite. Psalm 83:18. Thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the Most High over all the earth. (Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:10.)

Exodus 15:11. Who is like unto thee…glorious in holiness? (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:6-8.)

Mark 12:30. Thou shalt love the lord thy God with all thy heart, and soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. Revelation 4:11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for they pleasure they are and were created. (Matthew 10:37; Jeremiah 2:12-13.)

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. John 15:26. When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 1 John 5:7.)

John 10:30. I and my Father are one. (John 5:17; 14:23; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6.)

Ephesians 2:18. For through him (the Son) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 2 Corinthians 13:14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. (Revelation 1:4-5; 21:2-3; 1 Peter 5:1-4.)

God the Father is the eternal Father who rules all creation with perfect love, kindness, and justice. He is all wise and reveals Himself in His providential care, absolute wisdom, and utter truth. He is majestic in holiness, and is faithful to His word to perform all that is written therein. He especially displays His fatherly care toward His prized creation, man.

Genesis 1:1; Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 32:4-6; 33:27a; Psalm 19:90; 139; 145; Isaiah 6:1-3; 40; 43:10-13; 46:10; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10, 12-16; 17:10; Matthew 6:9; 23:9; John 3:16; 4:24; 1:17; James 1:17; 1 John 1:5; 4:8.

God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the eternal begotten Son of God. Being God, He, for a time, emptied Himself of the manifestations of His glory and took upon Himself flesh and dwelt on the earth. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and gave Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice by shedding His blood and dying on the cross. He did this to make an eternal, absolute and total payment for the past, present and future sins of mankind. He then was resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the one mediator between God and man. Mankind enters into a right relationship with God through receiving the Son as Savior and Lord. God the Son will one day return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission.

Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:1-12; 22:1-31; 24:1-10; 110:1-7; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; 11; 42:1-4; 53; 61:1-3; Daniel 9:24-27; Micah 5:1b-5a; Matthew 1:18-25; 3:16-17; 14:33; 16:16; 17:1-13; 24:29-31; 26:63-64; 28:18; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:34-35; 4:16-21; 24:25-27, 44-48; John 1:1-18, 29,45; 4:29; 5:19-47; 10:30, 37-38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:6-13; 28-31; 16:15a, 28; 17:1-5, 20: Acts 1:9-11; 2:22-24; Romans 1:2-4; 1 Corinthians 8:6b; 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:19b-23; Philippians 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-20; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 12:2; 13:8; 1 John 1:1-4; 2:1-2; 5:20; Revelation 1:8, 17-18; 5:9-10, 12-13; 19:11-16.

God the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He was active in the creation. He inspired the writing of the Holy Scriptures. He convicts all mankind of sin, righteousness and judgement. He indwells those who believe to illuminate the Word, to cultivate Godly character, comfort believers, bestow spiritual gifts by which men serve God, and seal the believer unto the day of final redemption. This indwelling occurs the moment a person receives Jesus Christ as his Savior. Concurrent to the indwelling, the Holy Spirit baptizes the new believer into the body of Christ and energizes him in all areas of life.

Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6a; 1 Samuel 16:14; Psalm 51:11; 139:7; Isaiah 61:1; Ezekiel 36:27; Joel 2:28-32; Zechariah 4:6; Matthew 1:18; 10:20; 28:19; Luke 4:1, 18-19; 11-13; John 3:6-8; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:4; 17-18; 5:3; 7:51; 13:2; 16:6-7; Romans 5:5; 8:1-17, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16; 3:16; 6:19; 12:1-11, 13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 4:6; 5:16-18, 22-23, 25; Ephesians 1:13-14; 3:16-19; 4:30; 5:18; Philippians 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 2:27; 3:24b; 4:13; Revelation 22:17.

The church composed of all who have received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, is the body of Christ into which (relationship) each member of the body enters the moment of their spiritual birth. Covenant Baptist Church is a local expression of this body, bound together by commitment and covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. This church is committed to biblical teachings, exercising the gifts of God, enjoying the rights and privileges invested in His church by His word and to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth.

The church was born through the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, and His subsequent giving of the Holy Spirit at the day of Pentecost. The church will one day be caught away as a unit to spend time everlasting reigning and ruling with its Savior as the bride of Christ.

Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22.

We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his maker; but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin, and as soon as they are capable of moral action become transgressors and are under condemnation, not by constraint, but choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.

Genesis 1:27. God created man in his own image. Genesis 1:31. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good. (Ecclesiastes 7:29; Acts 17:26-29; Genesis 2:16-17.)

Genesis 3:6-24. 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…So he (the Lord God) drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Romans 5:12)

Romans 5:19. By one man's disobedience many were made sinners. (John 3:6; Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:15-19; 8:7)

Isaiah 53:6. We have turned everyone to his own way. (Genesis 6:12; Romans 3:9-18.)

Ephesians 2:1-3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the word; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Romans 1:18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. (Romans 1:32; 2:1-16; Gal. 3:10; Matt. 20:15.)

Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by his own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense, salvation includes regeneration, sanctification and glorification.

A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

B. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior. Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God.

C. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual perfection through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life.

D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.

Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26, 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14, 29; 3:3-21, 36; 5:24; 19:9, 28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18; 29-39; 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8, 14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5.

It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of "man's" Spirit by God's Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.

Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17.

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper.

The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.

Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.

Christ's people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ's Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ's people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.

Exodus 17:12; 18:17; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Nehemiah 4:1-23; 8:1-5; Matthew 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff.; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Philippians 1:15-18.

God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on earth.

Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15; 12:15; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19.

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.

Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.

The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.