OUR BELIEFS

 
 
 
This Statement of Faith summarizes the doctrinal beliefs of East Side Baptist Church and is an expression of what we believe to be the teaching of the Bible.
 
1. The Scriptures
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God. The Scriptures were written as the Holy Spirit moved men to write the very words of God without error or contradiction. This divine inspiration is true only of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments and extends to every part of the Bible and to every word and letter of the original writings. We believe that the Scriptures have been accurately preserved over the centuries through copies that reflect the original manuscripts.
Ps. 119:105; Prov. 119:160; Matt. 5:17-18; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21.
 
We believe that the Bible is a unique book in that it alone reveals the truth by which we can know God accurately and the way of salvation clearly. Its message is clear and powerful, it is sufficient for life and godliness, and it is the final authority for faith and practice.
Ps. 119:130; Jer. 23:29; Matt. 4:4; Rom. 10:9-17; Acts 17:11; Heb. 4:12-13; 2 Pet. 1:19; 2 Pet. 1:3.
 
2. God
We believe that there is only one true and living God. He is an infinite, all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere-present Spirit. He is one in essence and eternally exists as three co-equal and co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He has created all things by His Word out of nothing and continues to sustain, provide for, and rule all He has made for His glory. He is perfectly holy and good and is worthy of all of our love, trust, and obedience.
Gen. 1:1-3; Deut. 6:4; Ps. 103:19; 139:7-10; 145:8; Isa. 6:1-3; 40:28; 43:7; 45:5-7; Jer. 10:10; 1 Kgs. 8:27; Jer. 32:17; Dan. 4:34-35; Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; John 1:1-3; 4:24; 14:15; 1 Cor. 8:4; 10:31; 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 11:3; 1 John 4:8; 1 Pet. 5:6-7.
 
3. Man and Sin
We believe that God created man in His own image so that we might know, love, and enjoy Him. He did not evolve mankind from pre-existing life, but formed the first man from the dust of the ground on the sixth day of creation. He creates us immutably as male and female, grants us equal value, and gives us complementary differences for His glory and our good. The image of God that we bear makes us fully human and valuable from the moment of conception to the natural end of life.
Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7; 9:6; 15-28; Ps. 8:3-6, 139:13; Jer. 1:5; Isa. 43:7; Acts 17:26-31;1 Cor. 11:8.
 
The first man, Adam, was created in innocence; but he rebelled against the revealed will of God and introduced sin into our world. His sin has infected all of creation, and as a result we are sinners by nature and by choice. We are alienated from God, lost, blind, deceived, wicked, and spiritually dead.
Gen. 3:1–7, 17;  Ps. 51:5;  Isa. 59:2; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 1:18-32; 3:10–18, 23; 5:12; 6:23; 8:20-23; Eph. 2:1-3, 2:12; Col. 1:21; 1 Tim. 2:13-14; 1 John 1:8.
 
Our sin makes us guilty before God and deserving of punishment. The Bible teaches that the wages of sin is death and that spiritual, physical, and eternal death is the just consequence of our rebellion. We are children of wrath and incapable of changing our dire situation. Our only hope is the grace of God.
Gen. 2:17; Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:19-20; Eph. 2:3–10; 1 Cor. 15:21-22; Rev. 21:8.
 
4. Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He freely added full humanity to His full deity, having been miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit in a virgin named Mary. He is the promised Messiah, who obeyed God completely and is entirely without sin. He willingly became the perfect, final, and eternal sacrifice for sin by taking our sin on Himself, shedding His blood, and dying on the cross as our substitute.
John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3; Matthew 1:18-21; John 1:14-18; Galatians 4:4; Genesis 3:15, 22:15-18; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 9:1-7; John 15:10; Luke 22:66-71; Mark 14:36; Hebrews 4:14-15; John 10:18; Hebrews 1:3, 7:25; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21
 
Jesus died, was buried, and physically rose from the grave, having conquered sin and death. He ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father, where He continues to serve believers as their High Priest, Intercessor, and Advocate. This good news is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 27:50-28:10; Mark 15:22-16:13; Luke 23:44-24:12; John 19:28-20:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 56-57; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 1:1-3, 7:25, 8:1-2; 1 John 2:1
 
5. Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God to a sinful world. All who hear the Word of God, believe the gospel, and call on the name of the Lord Jesus in repentance and faith are given new life now and forever. They are united with Him and made fully acceptable to the Father. They are forgiven of their sin, credited with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, reborn, and adopted into the family of God.
Romans 6:23; Mark 1:14-15; John 3:16; Romans 10:8-17; Ephesians 1:3-7; Romans 5:1, 18-21; John 3:3; Ephesians 1:3-5
 
We make no contribution to our salvation and can be saved only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Jesus provides all that is necessary for us to be forgiven of our sin, restored to a right relationship with the Father, and kept secure as we persevere in the faith.
Ephesians 2:1-10; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; John 10:27-29; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Hebrews 3:12-14
 
We believe that salvation brings transformation. Those who receive new life in Christ are progressively changed into His image as they submit to His lordship and depend on His power.
2 Corinthians 3:18, 5:14-15, 17; Ephesians 4:21-24; Philippians 4:13; Titus 2:11-14
 
6. Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God. He is not simply a divine force, but the third Person of the triune God. His primary ministry is to bring glory to Jesus Christ. He does this by convicting unbelievers of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and calling them to trust Jesus with their whole lives. He regenerates, seals, indwells, illumines, teaches, guides, assures, and empowers believers so that they are transformed into the image of Christ as they serve and grow in joyful obedience to the Word of God.
Genesis 1:2; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13; Psalm 139:7; Job 33:4; John 16:7-14; John 6:63; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30; Romans 8:9-11; John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 14:26; John 16:13; Romans 8:16; Ephesians 3:16; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18
 
We believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every believer for the glory of Christ and the edification of the church. We teach that the sign gifts such as speaking in tongues and instantaneous healing gradually became unnecessary and ceased as the New Testament was completed and as its authority was established.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 16:14; 1 Corinthians 14:12; Hebrews 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 13:8-11
 
7. The Church
We believe that the church is the body and bride of Christ. Jesus promised to build His church and began fulfilling His promise when the Holy Spirit was given on the Day of Pentecost. All who have been saved from their sin by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ are a part of His church.
Ephesians 2:22-23, 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:1-47??; Ephesians 2:8-22; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Ephesians 3:20-21
 
The purpose of the church is to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ. The church makes disciples by gathering in local assemblies to worship and enjoy God through the preaching and teaching of His Word, prayer, fellowship, the exercise of spiritual gifts, and the observance of the ordinances. The church also makes disciples by dispersing to live out the implications of the gospel in their everyday lives and by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a sinful world which must hear the good news in order to believe and be saved.
Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Romans 10:13-17
 
We believe that the local church is to be self-governed according to the will of God as revealed in the Scriptures. Jesus is the head of the church, and every member is responsible to humbly submit to His lordship. The church is to guard its moral and doctrinal purity by graciously seeking the repentance and restoration of sinning members through the principles of church discipline found in Matthew 18:15-18, 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, and 2 Corinthians 2:1-11.
 
Titus 1:5; 1 Timothy 5:17; Ephesians 1:22, 5:23; Colossians 1:18; Luke 9:23
 
We teach that the Lord Jesus commanded His church to observe two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These ordinances do not contribute to the salvation of those who participate in them, but serve as visual reminders of what God has done for His church.
Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Ephesians 2:8-9
 
Baptism is an outward expression of faith that symbolizes the union of a believer with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. We believe that baptism is to be by immersion as it follows the biblical pattern closely and communicates the meaning of the ordinance clearly. All who make a credible confession of faith in Jesus Christ are eligible for baptism.
Romans 6:3-7; Acts 8:36-39; Acts 2:41
 
The Lord’s Supper symbolizes and proclaims the work of Jesus on the cross. The bread represents His body that was broken for our sin, and the cup pictures the New Covenant that was established in His blood. The Lord’s Supper is to be celebrated as believers gather to remember Christ, examine their lives in light of the gospel, and rejoice in the salvation they share.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
 
8. Angels and Satan
We believe that angels are spirit beings created by God to serve and worship Him. They are messengers of God who promote His rule and minister to believers.
Hebrews 1:14; Psalm 148:2-5; Colossians 1:16; Psalm 103:20; Isaiah 6:1-3; Hebrews 1:6; Luke 2:9-10; Psalm 91:11
 
Satan is an angel that led a rebellion against God and was cast out of heaven along with a multitude of angels that followed him. He is the enemy of God and leads the demons in a spiritual war against God and His people. He has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but will continue to fight until he is finally thrown into the Lake of Fire where he will remain for all eternity.
Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-17; Revelation 12:7-9; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Ephesians 6:11-12; 1 Peter 5:8; Genesis 3:15; 1 John 3:8; John 12:31, 16:11; Revelation 20:10
 
9. The Return of Jesus Christ and Eternity
We believe in the personal and bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will gloriously return at any moment to establish His kingdom by delivering the world from the power of Satan and handing it over to the Father. He will raise the bodies of the dead and judge all mankind. Those who remain in their sin will be punished with eternal and conscious torment in the Lake of Fire. All who have been saved by Jesus Christ will be perfected to dwell in the presence of God, where they will fully know, love, and enjoy Him forever.
John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Luke 12:40, 17:24; 1 Corinthians 15:42; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:14-15; Matthew 25:41; John 3:16-18; Revelation 20:11-15; 1 Corinthians 15:35-56; Psalm 16:11; Revelation 22:1-5
 
We teach that the events above will occur in this order. Jesus will return to remove His church from the world, and a seven year time of tribulation will follow. Following this time of wrath, Jesus will descend from heaven with believers to establish a one-thousand-year earthly kingdom. After this millennial period, Jesus will put an end to the work of Satan and create a new heaven and earth, where believers will joyfully dwell with God forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Daniel 9:24-27; 19:11-21, 20:1-6, 20:7-10, 21:1-4, 22:1-5
 
10. Marriage and the Family
We believe that marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship with His bride, the church. God designed it to be the union of one man and one woman in a covenant relationship for a lifetime. It is the God-ordained framework for intimate companionship, the pattern for procreation, and the proper context for sexual expression.
Ephesians 5:22-33; Genesis 2:15-25; Matthew 19:3-9; Genesis 2:18, 1:27-28, 2:24-25; Proverbs 5:15-20
 
We believe God has given husbands and wives complementary roles in marriage. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He is to provide for, protect, and lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband as unto the Lord. She is to respect him and serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.
Gen. 2:15, 18; Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:18-19; 1 Pet. 3:1-2, 7
 
We believe that the family is the foundational institution of human society. Families are made up of individuals who are related to one another by biblical marriage, blood, or adoption. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. God has given parents the responsibility of displaying Christ’s love for His church through their marriage relationship. They are to teach their children spiritual and moral values, model a consistent lifestyle of loving discipline, and demonstrate wise decision making based on biblical truth. Children have a responsibility to honor and obey their parents.
Gen. 1:27-28, 2:24; Ps. 139:13, 127:3, 112:1-2; Prov. 1:8; 20:7; 31:28; Col. 3:20–21; Eph. 6:1-3.
 
Summary
We believe that this Statement of Faith accurately reflects the teaching of the Bible. It summarizes the essence of our faith, shapes our conduct, and unifies us as a church. It is to the praise and glory of God that we hold fast to these truths.
 
 
EAST SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH COVENANT
 
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
 
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to attend its services regularly; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to give faithfully of our time and talent; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the help of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel.
 
We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; to train our children according to the Word of God; to seek the salvation of our relatives, friends, neighbors and acquaintances; to walk carefully and cautiously in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our conduct; to be wise and loving in the exercise of our Christian liberty; to respond to conflict with grace and truth; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
 
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and to seek it without delay.
 
We moreover engage that, if we leave East Side Baptist Church, we will as soon as possible unite with a church of like faith and practice where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.