A statement of belief – Beverly Hills Baptist Church

Christians hold beliefs on which they build their relationship with God. At the heart of our faith: Jesus Christ died and rose again to pay the penalty for our sin. The Bible is clear that all have sinned – disobeyed God. We believe that living in harmony with God and one another means loving God and loving our neighbour. The practical outworking of that faith is gratitude – expressed in changed lives, guided by God, that seek not to offend Him or others.

God One God, eternal and personal. Infinite in power, wisdom, holiness and love. Triune in being: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The deity and humanity of Christ Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Godhead, is eternally one with the Father. To become man, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary – fully God and fully man in one Person.

The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, is eternally one with the Father and Son, and is sent by Them to fulfil God’s purpose in the world and in the Church.

The Scriptures The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the infallible Word of God, written by holy men inspired by the Holy Spirit. They hold supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

The sinfulness of man God made humanity in His image, for fellowship with Him. By disobeying God’s command, mankind fell – corrupted in nature, spiritually dead, under Satan’s dominion and subject to God’s judgement. Apart from God’s grace, we are helpless.

Christ’s atonement To redeem us from sin’s guilt, penalty and power, Jesus became man and died as our substitute. His resurrection confirmed God’s acceptance of that atoning death. This atonement is sufficient for all – effective for those who receive it by faith, not by merit.

The Holy Spirit in salvation The Holy Spirit is essential to salvation. He convicts sinners, leads them to faith in Christ, brings them to new birth as God’s children, and works within believers to make Christ’s presence real – witnessing to their relationship with God, leading into truth, bestowing gifts for service and producing graces for holy living.

The Church The Church is all whom God has called out of the world through faith in Christ. Believers form the universal Church, expressed locally wherever groups gather for worship, fellowship and service. All believers are called to priestly ministry and sent as witnesses. God calls individuals to oversight, leadership or special ministry – recognised through ordination, commissioning and appointment, following New Testament practice.

Baptism Baptism is an ordinance of Jesus Christ – a public declaration of faith in Him as Lord and Saviour. Following New Testament practice, it is administered by total immersion, symbolising the believer’s union with Christ in death, burial and resurrection, the forgiveness of sins, and dedication to a new life.

Communion The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be celebrated with bread and wine by believers until the end of the age. It commemorates and gives thanks for His substitutionary death, and expresses our fellowship with Christ as members of His body.

The return of Christ Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory at the end of this age, as He promised. The full consummation of God’s kingdom awaits His return.

The resurrection of the dead At the end of the age, both the righteous and the unrighteous will be raised. After death, the body returns to dust; the spirit returns immediately to God – the righteous to be with Him, the unrighteous to await judgement.

Final judgment God has appointed a day of judgement for all. Jesus Christ will judge every person according to their deeds. The righteous, in resurrected and glorified bodies, will dwell forever with the Lord in Heaven. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell – the place of everlasting punishment.