Statements of Faith

The movement of churches today called "General Baptists" began in America in 1823 when founder Benoni Stinson organized the Liberty Church (now Howell General Baptist Church) in southern Indiana. In 1870 the General Association of General Baptists was organized, bringing together General Baptist local associations of churches in cooperative efforts.

1. GOD

   
   
   

   We believe that there is only one true, living, and eternal God and that the Godhead is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

   
   

   (A) One True and Eternal God: Deuteronomy 6:4; 33:27; Jer. 10:10; Matt. 3:15-16; 28:19; Mk. 12:29; Jn. 14:9-11; 10:30; Rom. 8:9-11; I Cor. 8:4-6; II Cor. 3:17; I Thess. 1:9; I Tim. 1:17; 2:5; 6:17; Heb. 1:1-13; 3:12.
   (B) The Godhead:

   1. God as Father: Gen. 1:1; Matt. 6:9; Eph. 4:6.
   2. God as Son: Isa. 9:6; Matt. 16:16; Jn. 1:1; 3:14, 16; 14:28; I Cor. 15:28; Heb. 1:8.

   Virgin Birth of Jesus: Matt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:26-38.

   3. God as Holy Spirit: Jn. 14:16, 26; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:1-4; Rom. 8:16.

   Commentary by Dr. Douglas Low, Professor of New Testament,
   Chapman Seminary and OCU

2. THE BIBLE

   
   
   

   We believe that the Holy Scriptures are the Old and New Testaments; the inspired and infallible Word of God and therein is found the only reliable guide of Christian faith and conduct.

   
   

   (A) The Inspired Revelation: Lk. 24:44-46; Rom. 16:25-26; II Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; II Pet. 1:20-21.
   (B) The Infallible Word: Isa. 40:8; Lk. 21:33; Jn. 17:17; Titus 1:2; I Pet.1:25.
   (C) The Reliable Guide: Deut. 6:6-9; Ps. 19:7-10; 119:105, 140; Jn. 5:39; Acts 17:11-12; Rom. 10:14-15; 15:4; II Tim. 3:16-17.

   Commentary by Dr. Douglas Low, Professor of New Testament,
   Chapman Seminary and OCU

3. MAN

   
   
   

   We believe that God created man in His own image to bring Him honor through obedience, and that when man disobeyed, he became a fallen and sinful creature, unable to save himself. We believe that infants are in the covenant of God's grace and that all persons become accountable to God when they reach a state of moral responsibility.

   
   

   (A) Man's Origin: Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7; Ps. 8:5.
   (B) Man's Purpose: Gen. 1:28-31; 2:15-25; Isa. 43:7.
   (C) Man's Sin: Gen. 3:1-24; Ps. 51:5; Jer. 13:23; Rom. 1:18-3:23; 5:12-21; 7:1-25.
   (D) Man's Accountability: Matt. 19:13-15; Rom. 4:15; 5:13; 6:16; Heb. 11:24-26.

   Commentary by Dr. Douglas Low, Professor of New Testament,
   Chapman Seminary and OCU

4. SALVATION

   
   
   

   We believe that salvation (regeneration, sanctification, justification, and redemption) has been provided for all mankind through the redemptive work (life, death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession) of Jesus Christ, and that this salvation can be received only through repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

   
   

   Salvation: Heb. 5:9; I Thess. 5:9; I Pet. 1:9; Heb. 7:25.
   Regeneration: Jn. 3:3-8; 1:11-13; I Pet. 1:23; Eph. 2:1-10; II Cor. 5:17; II Pet. 1:4; Titus 3:5.
   Sanctification: I Cor. 1:30; Eph. 5:26; Heb. 10:9-10, 29; II Tim. 2:21; Heb. 13:12; Rom. 12:1-2; I Pet. 1:2.
   Justification: Rom. 3:20-24; 5:1-2, 18; 8:30-33; Acts 13:38-39; I Cor. 6:11; II Cor. 5:21.
   Redemption: Matt. 20:28; Isa. 53:6; Col. 1:14; Titus 2:14; I Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 5:9.
   Christ's Redemptive Work: Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Heb. 2:9; Rev. 22:17; II Pet. 3:9; Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9.
   Life and Death: Rom. 5:10; Heb. 9:12-15; Jn. 10:11; I Jn. 3:16.
   Resurrection: Rom. 4:25; I Pet. 1:3; I Cor. 15:14, 17.
   Ascension: Heb. 4:14-16, 6:19-20; 9:24; 10:11-12.
   Intercession: Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:15; Isa. 53:12; I Tim. 2:5.
   Repentance: Isa. 55:6-7; Lk. 24:47; Lk. 13:3-5; Acts 2:38; I Thess. 1:9-10.
   Faith: Jn. 3:16-18; Heb. 11:1, 6; I Pet. 1:5.

   1. Commentary by Dr. Douglas Low, Professor of New Testament,
   Chapman Seminary and OCU

   2. Commentary by Dr. Douglas Low, Professor of New Testament,
   Chapman Seminary and OCU

5. ASSURANCE AND ENDURANCE

   
   
   

   We believe that those who abide in Christ have the assurance of salvation. However, we believe that the Christian retains his freedom of choice; therefore, it is possible for him to turn away from God and be finally lost.

   
   

   (A) Assurance: Matt. 28:20; I Cor. 10:13; Heb. 5:9.
   (B) Endurance: Matt. 10:22; Lk. 9:62; Col. 1:23; Rev. 2:10-11; 3:3-5.
   (C) Warnings: Jn. 15:6; Rom. 11:20-23; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 3:12; 10:26-29; II Pet. 2:20-21.
   (D) Finally Lost: Jn. 15:6; I Cor. 9:27; Heb. 6:4-6.

   Commentary by Dr. Douglas Low, Professor of New Testament,
   Chapman Seminary and OCU

6. CHRISTIAN DUTIES

   
   
   

   We believe that Christians should live faithfully by serving in and through the local church, praying diligently, witnessing earnestly, practicing tolerance, showing loving kindness, giving as God prospers, and conducting themselves in such a way as to bring glory to God.

   
   

   (A) Faithful Service: I Chron. 16:11; Ps. 101:6; Matt. 28:18-20; Jn. 15:7-14; Rom. 12:14; I Cor. 13; II Cor. 8, 9; Eph. 4, 6; Heb. 12:1.
   (B) Prayer: II Chron. 7:14; Dan. 6:10; Matt. 6:1-13; 26:41; Lk. 18:1; I Thess. 5:17.
   (C) Witnessing: Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8.
   (D) Tolerance: Matt. 18:15-17; Lk. 10:27; Gal. 5:22-23; II Pet. 1:5-9.
   (E) Loving Kindness: Jn. 13:35; I Jn. 3:11; 4:7, 11-12.
   (F) Financial Stewardship: Matt. 23:23; I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 9:6-7.

   Commentary by Dr. Douglas Low, Professor of New Testament,
   Chapman Seminary and OCU

7. THE CHURCH

   
   
   

   We believe that the Church Universal is the Body of Christ, the fellowship of all believers, and that its members have been called out from the world to come under the dominion and authority of Christ, its Head. We believe that a local church is a fellowship of Christians, a part of the Body of Christ, voluntarily banded together for worship, nurture, and service.

   
   

   (A) The Church Universal: Matt. 16:18; Jn. 10:10; I Cor. 3:16; 12:12-14, 27; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18, 24; Heb. 12:23.
   (B) The Local Church: Matt. 18:17; Acts 2:38-47; 11:19-30; Rev. 1:4; 3:22.

   1. Worship and Service: Rom. 12:1; I Cor. 14:12, 23-25; Heb. 10:25; Ja. 1:26-27.
   2. Nurture: Eph. 4; II Pet. 1:2-8; 3:18.

   Commentary by Dr. Douglas Low, Professor of New Testament,
   Chapman Seminary and OCU

8. ORDINANCES

   
   
   

   We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances instituted by Christ to be observed by Christians only. We also believe that the biblical mode of baptism is immersion and that participation in the Lord's Supper should be open to all Christians. (Note: Several associations and local churches recognize feetwashing as an ordinance. We believe that this should be left to the individual, and that neither the practice nor the non-practice of it should be any bar to fellowship, either in the church, the local association, the Presbytery, or the General Association.)

   
   

   (A) Baptism:

   1. Instituted: Matt. 3:13-15; 28:19.
   2. Subjects: Acts 2:41; 8:12, 37-38; 10:47-48; 16:30-33; 19:5.
   3. Biblical Mode: Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12.
   4. Purpose: Matt. 3:14; I Pet. 3:21.

   
   (B) Communion:

   1. Instituted: Matt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:19-20; I Cor. 11:23-25.
   2. Subjects: I Cor. 11:27-29.
   3. Purpose: I Cor. 11:26.

   Commentary by Dr. Douglas Low, Professor of New Testament,
   Chapman Seminary and OCU

9. THE LORD'S DAY

   
   
   

   We believe in the sanctity of the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, and that this day ought to be observed by worshiping God, witnessing for Christ, and ministering to the needs of humanity. We believe that secular work on Sunday should be limited to cases of necessity or mercy.

   
   

   (A) Sanctity: Ex. 20:8; Isa. 58:13-14.
   (B) Observance: Mk. 2:27-28; Lk. 4:1-16; 14:1-6; Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:2; Rev. 1:10.

   Commentary by Dr. Douglas Low, Professor of New Testament,
   Chapman Seminary and OCU

10. LAST THINGS

    
    
    

    We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ, and in the bodily resurrection of the dead. We believe that God will judge all mankind by Jesus Christ; that He will reward the righteous with eternal life in heaven, and that He will banish the unrighteous to everlasting punishment in hell.

    
    

    (A) Return: Matt. 24, 25; Lk. 12:40; Jn. 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Jn. 3:2; Rev. 1:7.
    (B) Resurrection: Jn. 5:25, 28-29; 6:40; 11:24-25; Rom. 8:11; I Cor.15; Phil. 3:21; I Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6.
    (C) Judgment and Reward: Matt. 25:21; Mk. 9:43-48; Jn. 5:27; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:16; 14:12; II Cor. 5:1, 10; Col. 3:24; II Thess. 1:7-10; Heb. 9:27; II Pet. 3:8-13; Jude 21; Rev. 2:7; 14:13; 20:10-15; 22:12.

    Commentary by Dr. Douglas Low, Professor of New Testament,
    Chapman Seminary and OCU

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