Berkeley Avenue Baptist Church Core Beliefs
Bible
We believe the Bible to be the complete Word of God.
- That the 66 books of the Old and New Testament were inspired by the Spirit of God as originally written
- That the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and conduct 2 Timothy 3:16
God
We believe in one God, Creator of all, holy, sovereign, eternal, existing in three equal Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
Jesus Christ
We believe in the absolute and essential deity of our Lord Jesus Christ
- In His eternal existence, with the Father in pre-incarnate glory
- In His work of creation, in His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death and bodily resurrection
- In His triumphant ascension, mediatorial ministry and personal return
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the absolute and essential deity, and in the personality of the Holy Spirit
- Who convinces of sin, of righteousness and of judgment
- Who regenerates, indwells, seals, sanctifies, illuminates and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ
- Who baptizes believers at conversion into the Body of Christ and bestows upon them His gifts sovereignly as He wills and fills those yielded to Him
Mankind
We believe that Adam was divinely created in the image of God
- That by the sin of disobedience he fell from that state
- That all his posterity inherited spiritual depravity and defilement
- That all men therefore are guilty before God and condemned to physical and spiritual death
Salvation
We believe that salvation is by the sovereign grace of God
- That by the Father, Christ voluntarily suffered a propitiatory death
- That justification is by faith alone in the all-sufficient sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
- That those whom God has effectually called shall be divinely preserved and ultimately perfected in the image of the Lord
Statement of Faith
The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God. Scripture is without error in its original writings and is the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. God has spoken clearly and sufficiently through His Word, and it is to be read, preached, taught, and obeyed.
(2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Psalm 19:7–11)
The One True God
We believe there is one living and true God, eternal, infinite, and unchanging, who exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person is fully God, equal in power and glory, yet distinct in role. God is holy, sovereign, wise, just, gracious, and loving, and He does all things for His own glory.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Isaiah 46:9–10; Romans 11:36)
God the Father
We believe God the Father is the creator and sustainer of all things. He sovereignly rules over creation and history according to His perfect will. In love, He chose to save a people for Himself and sent His Son to accomplish their redemption.
(Ephesians 1:3–6; Psalm 103:19; John 6:37)
God the Son
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, obeying the law of God perfectly. Through His substitutionary death on the cross, He fully satisfied the justice of God and secured redemption for His people. He was bodily raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now reigns as Lord and intercedes for His church.
(John 1:1–14; Isaiah 53; Romans 5:8–10; Hebrews 7:25)
God the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God and applies the work of Christ to the hearts of God’s people. He convicts of sin, grants new life, unites believers to Christ, indwells them, and enables them to live in obedience and holiness. The Spirit illumines Scripture and empowers the church for worship, witness, and service.
(John 16:8–11; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9–14)
Humanity and Sin
We believe God created humanity in His image, male and female, for His glory. Through Adam’s disobedience, sin entered the world, and all people are now born sinful by nature and choice. Apart from God’s grace, humanity is spiritually dead and unable to save itself.
(Genesis 1:26–27; Romans 3:10–18; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1–3)
Salvation
We believe salvation is entirely the work of God’s grace, from beginning to end. God saves sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Salvation is not based on human merit or effort but on God’s mercy. Those whom God saves are justified, adopted, sanctified, and will be kept by His power until the end.
(Ephesians 2:8–10; Romans 8:29–30; John 10:27–29)
Justification
We believe justification is the gracious act of God by which He declares sinners righteous solely based on Christ’s righteousness credited to them, received through faith alone.
(Romans 4:1–8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:16)
The Church
We believe the church is the body of Christ, made up of all true believers. The local church is a gathered community of baptized believers who covenant together for worship, discipleship, fellowship, and mission. Christ alone is the head of the church.
(Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 1:22–23)
Ordinances
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church:
Baptism, by immersion, is a public confession of faith in Christ.
The Lord’s Supper, as a memorial and proclamation of Christ’s death until He returns
These ordinances do not save but strengthen faith and proclaim the gospel.
(Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26)
Christian Living
We believe those who have been saved by grace are called to live lives of worship, obedience, and holiness. Good works are the fruit of salvation, not the cause of it. Believers are called to love God, love others, pursue unity, and bear witness to Christ in the world.
(Romans 12:1–2; Galatians 2:20; James 2:17)
Last Things
We believe in the bodily return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the eternal state. Those who are in Christ will enjoy eternal life with God, while those who reject Christ will face eternal separation from Him.
(Matthew 25:31–46; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; Revelation 21–22)