The Bible

We believe the entire Bible is the inspired word of God.  We believe that the Holy Spirit inspired men of God to write the words of Scripture.  The Bible is God’s inerrant truth, and therefore our sole authority in all matters of faith and life.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; John 14:26; John 16:13)

The Trinity

God the Father

We believe that there is only one living and true God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:11; Genesis 1:1, 2; Matthew 3:16, 17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 1:1-3) 

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate; fully God and fully Man, born in the likeness of man – in body and flesh. We believe He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  We believe He lived without sin and died on the cross as our substitute for the forgiveness of sin, that He was resurrected on the third day, ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, interceding on our behalf, and who will return in glory to establish His Kingdom. (John 1:1-3, 14; John 10:30; Colossians 2:9; Matthew 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-10; Hebrews 12:2; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead, that when we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, empowers us and He guides us in our everyday lives. (John 14:16,17; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:17)

The Church

We believe the Church of Jesus Christ is made up of those in every age and place who profess Him as the one and only Lord and Savior, seeing Him as our final authority as defined by God’s Word. We believe as a Baptist Church in regenerate membership, and that we are autonomous, and therefore free to determine, informed by Scripture, who our members will be, who our leaders are, how we worship, how we minister and who we want to cooperate and fellowship with. We welcome and encourage both men and women to participate in all levels of leadership and service.  All members are expected to share in the privilege and responsibility of discipleship, personal growth in our faith, worship, fellowship and service. We believe it is our privilege and our responsibility – under God – to practice our faith without interference from any individual or group, either religious or social or governmental. (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 4:4-6; Ephesians 2:19-22; James 1:22; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 1 Peter 4:10; Matthew 28:14-20)

Ordinances

We believe in the two ordinances historically held by those of the Baptist faith – Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  

Believer’s Baptism

Believer’s Baptism is the voluntary public identification with the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe baptism should be by full immersion in the same way that Jesus was baptized.  We believe that when we are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are symbolically indicating that we were once dead in sin but were resurrected to a new life in Christ when we received Him by faith. (John 1:4; John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:3-8) 

The Lord’s Supper

We believe that the elements of the Lord’s Supper – the bread and the wine – represent the body and the blood of Jesus Christ sacrificed on the cross as an atoning work for our sins.  Whereas the bread represents His body, the cup represents the blood of Christ which was shed on the cross for our sins.  We believe partaking in these elements should always be preceded by self-examination.  All who profess a personal faith in Jesus Christ are welcome to come to the table. (Matthew 3:6; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; John 1:12, 13)   

Evangelism and Missions

We believe we have been commanded to spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, beginning in Salem and then actively seeking to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:29-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 4:19, 20; Matthew 5:13-16)   

We believe that it is our priority, duty and privilege to support the mission fields at home and abroad.  The mission field is wherever there is a need for people to know Christ through the preaching of salvation in Jesus Christ alone, evidenced by good works, whenever there is a need – financial or otherwise – as an aid to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (John 8:24; John 14:6; James 2:14-17; Galatians 6:10)