The Word of God – We believe that the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are the divinely inspired Word of God in its entirety, written by men as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, and that it is the sole authority for the Christian’s faith and conduct. We use the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) for all of our services. (Psalm 12:6-7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
2. The Godhead– We believe in one God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that they are equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17; Revelation 4:1)
3. God the Son – We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary, a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men; that He is both the Son of God and God the Son. (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-28; 2 Corinthians 5:2).
4. God the Holy Spirit – We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. It is He who convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgement. He is the restrainer of the Evil One until God’s purpose is fulfilled. He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel and is the agent in the new birth, baptizing all true believers into the body of Christ. We believe the indwelling person of the Holy Spirit empowers the believer to do those works consistent with the Word of God. (John 14:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:30; Galatians 5:22-23)
5. Man – We believe that man was created in the image and after the likeness of God, but he by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy estate. The resulting consequences are that all men are now sinners by nature, choice and action and are therefore under the just condemnation of God, without excuse or defense. Man, by redemption, becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit, enabled to live a holy life consistent with the desire of God for Man. (Genesis 1:26; 3:6; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Peter 1:16).
6. Atonement – We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, was buried and arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, made a substitutionary sacrifice for man’s sin and that all who believe in Him are justified on the merits of His shed blood. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 9:22; Galatians 2:20)
7. Salvation – We believe that the salvation of sinners is accomplished by God’s grace alone through faith alone and that Jesus is the only way of salvation. We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free by the Gospel and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel. The true possession of salvation is evidenced by a voluntary obedience to the Word of God, through fruits of repentance, faith and newness of life. (Acts 20:20-21; John 3:16-18; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:8-9)
8. Security – We believe that those who receive Jesus Christ as Saviour are eternally secure. Their security rests in the finished work of Jesus Christ and all of the redeemed are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 10:28; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 5:12; Jude 1)
9. Sanctification – We believe that the believer is established in a position of holiness at the moment of redemption. We believe the Holy Spirit in applying the truths of the Word of God accomplishes a progressive sanctification in the life of the believer. We further believe in complete sanctification at the Lord’s return.(1Corinthians 6:11; John 17:17; Hebrews 10:10; Jude 1:24)
9. Second Coming – We believe in “The Blessed Hope,” the personal, pre-tribulational and pre-millennial, imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, at which time all believers will be gathered together unto Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:41-4, 51-54 ; Revelation 20:1a, 3, 6)
10. Israel – We believe in the literal fulfillment of the prophecies and promises of the Scriptures, which foretell and assure the future regeneration and restoration of Israel as a nation. (Micah 4:6-8; Romans 11:25-27)
11. Bodily Resurrection – We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost. (1 Corinthians 15:50-52)
12. Scriptural Ordinances – We believe that the scriptural ordinances of the church are Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper, that they are to be administered to believers only as a symbol of the believer’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and as a testimony to the world of that belief and of their death, burial and resurrection with Him; and that the Lord’s Supper should be partaken by believers only to show forth His death, “till He come.” (Acts 8:36; 16:33; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
13. The Church – We believe that the visible church is a congregation of baptized believers practicing the New Testament principles, believing its doctrines, observing its ordinances and exercising its autonomy. We believe it is the responsibility of the local church to propagate the Gospel to the world. (Acts 2:41-47)
14. The Devil, or Satan – We believe in the reality of Satan, created by God, but who by his own pride and rebellion became the enemy of God. We believe that Satan is “the god of this age; the prince of the power of the air” who is full of all subtlety and mischief, who seeks continually to frustrate the purposes of God and ensnare the sons of man. We believe that the works and end of Satan are clearly taught in the Word of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4; Jude 1:9; Revelation 20:10)
North Shore Baptist Church 