The Bible - The inerrant, infallible word of God. Written by men inspired by God. It is the complete record of God’s revelation of Himself to man. No other book or record shall be added to or taken away from this completed work.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Tim 3:16-17
God, The Father - He is the intelligent, spiritual, and personal being; the creator, redeemer, preserver and ruler of the universe.
“… for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." - 1 Cor 8:6
God, The Son - Jesus Christ is the eternal incarnate Son of God. Conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He revealed himself and did the will of God on earth. completely identifying with mankind, yet sinless.
“The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ - . 42 And he brought him to Jesus." - John 1:41-42
God, The Holy Spirit - He is the Spirit of God. He inspired man to write the Holy scriptures and enables man to understand all truth.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." - John 14:16-18
The Trinity - God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Three distinct individual beings, yet one God.
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“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." -Eph 4:3-6
Salvation - The redemptive act of the whole man into relationship with God. It is offered by God to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior; who, by His atoning sacrifice on the cross became the sin of man that man might be saved.
“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." - Rom 10:9-11
God’s Grace - Extended to all who have accepted His Son, Jesus Christ, as their personal Lord and Savior. This Grace from God will never fall away from the believer, but shall persevere until the end.
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified."- Acts 20:32
The Church - A New Testament assembly of baptized believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who associated through the fellowship of the gospel to one another. Believers exercise their gifts, rights and privileges through His Word to evangelize the world for Him.
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." - Matt 16:18-19
Baptism - The full immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father and the Son and theHoly Spirit. It is a symbolic act of the believers faith in the birth, death resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. This act is the full consummation of the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Lord’s Supper - The partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine in a symbolic remembrance of the death of the redeemer (Jesus Christ - and His anticipated second coming.)
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Heaven - A literal place whereby the righteous (in their glorified bodies - will receive their rewards and dwell forever in the presence of God and the Son, Jesus Christ.)
“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it." - Rev 4:1-2
Hell - A literal place whereby the un-righteous will be condemned in torment because of their failure to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is a place of eternal separation from God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Sheol – (place of the dead - Old Testament)
Hades – (underworld; or region of the departed - New Testament)
Gehenna – HELL (the eternal state of the lost after resurrection.)
(From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c - 1988.)
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to help putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;" - 2 Peter 2:4
For the current Southern Baptist Faith and Message go to the SBC web site located here: http://www.sbc.net/bfm
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