Doctrinal Statement

Concerning the scriptures Salem Baptist Church believes:

The Bible is comprised solely of the 66 books of the Old and New Testament. The Bible is the inspired (God breathed) Word of God. God is the author. The Bible was written by holy men as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, inspiration extends to the very words of the Bible so that the entire Bible, and only the Bible, is the Word of God. (The Bible is verbally and plenarily inspired). See 2 Tim 3:16; Deut. 8:3; Matt. 5:18; 2 Peter 1:21.

Since God is the Author of Scripture and can only and always tell the exact truth, everything the Bible affirms is true and factual (The Bible is infallible and inerrant.) See; Psalm 19:7; John 17:17.

The Bible is God’s completed revelation because Christ’s work of redemption is complete. Nothing can be added to Christ’s redemptive work, and nothing can be added to or subtracted from the revelation of that redemptive work. God the Holy Spirit continues to minister to believers, personally and directly through the instrument of His Word, but this continuing speech is not continuing revelation. (The Bible is sufficient) Hebrews 1:1-2; John 16:13-14; 2 Pet 1:3-5; Rev 22:18-19.

Since God is the Author of Scripture, the Bible bears His supreme authority and as such is our only rule for faith and practice. (The Bible is authoritative) See 2 Tim. 4:2; John 10:35; Matthew 5:17-20.

What we believe about God

There is but one living and true God (Deut. 6:4; Is 44:6, 45:5-7; 1 Cor. 8:4) an infinite spirit (John 4:24), one in essence, eternally existing in three equal Persons; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who are one in eternal fellowship (John 3:35, 10:30, 14:31, 17:24, 1 John 4:8,16). They are co-eternal in being (John 1:1-3), co-identical in nature, and co-equal in power and glory (Deut. 6:4; Ps. 90:2; Mat. 3:13-18, 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Cor. 8:6) and each equally deserving worship and obedience.

God is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, immutable and transcendent. He is perfect in all His attributes; He is holy, (Is. 6:3) loving, (1 John 4:8) wise (Rom. 11:33), sovereign (Col.1:16-17), righteous (Deut. 32:4), just (Ps. 89:14), good (Ps. 34:8), true and truthful in all His words (Num 23:19; John 14:6), gracious (Ps 145:8-9), merciful (Lam. 3:22), faithful (Deut. 7:9), and compassionate (2 Cor 1:3).

Man’s Creation, Fall and Nature

God’s Creation of the Universe

God has created all things out of nothing, in six days by the power of His word as recorded in Genesis 1, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible (Gen. 1-2; John 1:3-10; Col. 1:16; Heb 11:3).

God’s Creation of Man

God created Adam and Eve as complete humans, body and soul, by the direct act of God, in the image of God. Thus, every human life from conception is bestowed with divine worth and dignity. (Gen. 1:26-27, 2:7, 15-25, 9:6; James 3:9)

God’s intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God, enjoy God’s fellowship, live his life in the will of God, and by this accomplish God’s purpose in the world. (Gen. 1:28-30; Is. 43:7; Col 1:16; Rev 4:11)

God’s Design for Gender and Marriage

God created man and woman in His own image as two distinct but equal genders, and that He defined separate and complementary roles for each. These roles are not interchangeable as they both reflect truths about Jesus, the gospel and the church. (Genesis 1:26-27; Gen. 3; Ephesians 5:22-24).

God is sovereign in man’s creation, thus gender identity is inseparable from our biological sex fixed inalterably at conception by God. (Gen. 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16; Is 45:9-13).

God established marriage as a life-long, exclusive, voluntary covenant between one man and one woman for the purpose of glorifying God and reflecting Christ’s love. God’s design for marriage is for the husband is to be a servant leader, primarily accountable to God for the spiritual welfare of the home. The wife is called to nurture and support the husband’s scriptural leadership. God has reserved all sexual activity for marriage. (Gen. 2:24; Matt 19:6, Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23).

Man’s Fall and Nature

Adam and Eve were created in innocence and enjoying the blessings of spiritual life in communion with the Lord; able not to sin. God entered into a covenant relationship with man, revealing His will for fellowship, the path of obedience, and the distinction between good and evil. God revealed the punishment for disobedience, physical death (separation of body and soul) and spiritual death (separation of the soul from God). God also revealed the promise of blessing for obedience, life that would not end but continue in communion with God.

However, in Adam’s disobedience, sin entered the world and passed to all mankind destroying their relationship with God and resulting in death. The image of God in man was marred but not eradicated, persisting to all humanity despite the fall. Sin is moral evil, rebellion against the law of God; enthroning self in God’s place. Sin has encroached on every aspect of man’s existence. Due to Adam’s sin, all are sinners by nature and by choice. All humanity is morally and spiritually dead, unresponsive to God, enslaved by sin and therefore are under just condemnation of God without defense or excuse, and deserving eternal punishment in hell. (Gen. 1-3; Rom. 3:10-12, 23, 5:12, 8:7-8; Eph. 2:1-3; John 6:44; 1 John 4:19; Is. 64:6; Jer. 17:9).

Man is totally unable to redeem himself; the only hope is to look to Christ’s redemption for deliverance from the presence, penalty and power of sin. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)

The Accomplishment of Redemption: The Person & Work of Christ

The Incarnation: Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man; one in being with the Father and the Holy Spirit subsisting in the one Person of God the Son. He existed from everlasting with the Father, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin - a true humanity, yet a new humanity, not sharing our guilt as a sinner so that He might bear our sins as our Saviour in His death. He arose from the tomb on the third day, ascended to the Father where He is exalted as Lord of all, He intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father and will return to earth one day as Judge and King. (John 1:1-3, 18; 5:22-23; 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Heb. 1:3, 6, 8; 9:24; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-20; 2 Cor. 5:21; Mat. 25:31; Rev. 19:11-20:6; 1 John 2:2).

The Work of Christ: In His life, He perfectly obeyed God’s law on our behalf. His death was penal and substitutionary: He bore our penalty as our substitute for our sins in breaking the law of God. (Isaiah 53:5-6, 11; John 1:29; 2 Cor. 5 :21; Gal. 3:13; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).

Upon His return He will gather [rapture] His elect (Mt. 24: 31; 1 Thes. 4:13-17); He will raise the dead; He will judge the world in righteousness: all the peoples of the earth shall stand before Him to receive an eternal sentence (Matt. 25:31-32).

The Application of Redemption:

Salvation by the Grace of God Alone, via Faith in Christ Alone. Faith comes by hearing the Gospel, & repenting of one’s sins & turning in faith to Christ; faith in Christ is the one & only way of salvation. Only Jesus, the Son of God by nature can make us sons of God by grace: justification bestows the status of sons of God; reconciliation bestows the relationship of sons of God, regeneration & sanctification bestow the nature of sons of God. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)

Justification. God imputes [reckons] the righteousness of Christ to the believing sinner (Rom. 3:22-28, 4:1-8, 5:1-2; Gal. 2:16); justification bestows the status of sons of God.

Reconciliation: Christ removed the curse of sin, by His perfect atonement, thus, believers are consequently restored to the fellowship of God by the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 John 1:3; Rom. 8:15, 23, 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5; John 1:13).

Regeneration: [the new birth] the Holy Spirit imparts a new holy nature in union & communion with the risen Christ (John 3:5-8; 1 John 1:3; 1 Peter 1: 8, 23; 2 Peter 1:4; Rom. 6:3-4; Ezek. 11:19-20, 36:25-27; Jer. 31:33-34; Deut. 30:6; Col. 2:11-12). The impartation of this new life in Christ is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18; Galatians 3:2; Rom. 10:8-17; Matt. 13:1-23).

Sanctification: Christ having fulfilled the law of God for believers; the Holy Spirit fulfils the law in believers by imparting holiness as the believer responds in faith to His leading in obedience to His Word (Phil. 2:12-13; Rom. 8:14), although not perfectly in this life (1 John 1:7-10; Matt. 6:12). True believers are kept by God thus continue to abide in Christ and in His Word (Matt. 10:22, 24:13; Heb. 3:14; 1 Jn. 2:19).

At the end of this life believers are perfected in holiness, are immediately received into the Lord’s presence in heaven, (Luke 23:39-43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23) awaiting the full redemption of their bodies. They will then go into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God; whilst unbelievers will be in hell (Matt. 25:46; Lk. 16:26; 2 Pet. 2:9), awaiting the Day of Judgement and eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46; Lk. 16:26; 2 Pet. 2:9). God will make all things new in the new heavens and earth from which evil, suffering & death will be banished and He will be glorified forever. (Matt. 25:1-13; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 19:11-20:15, 21-22).

The church: The company of all true believers redeemed by God’s grace by faith in Christ

The universal Church is made visible in local churches: congregations of faithful disciples of Christ committed to walking together under Christ’s lordship as revealed in His Word.

The Purposes of the Church

Exalting God: The church exists to exalt God corporately through faithful worship, via the sound preaching of the word (2 Tim. 4:1), prayer and praise to God (Col. 3:16), by members exalting God individually through lives offered up in obedience as living sacrifices, to glorify God (Rom 12:1-2; Eph. 3:21; 1 John 1:3).
Edifying believers in the Faith Our fellowship with one another arises from & depends on our fellowship with God in the truth of His Word 1 John 1:1-3. The Holy Spirit who unites us to Christ through His Word establishes our bond of love with other Christians, & our fellowship with God is fed by our fellowship with fellow Christians Fellowship is sustained: [A] Through the Ministry of the Word Eph. 4:11-16; [B] Through mutual encouragement to obey God’s Word. Heb. 10:24-25. Heb. 3:12-13; [C] Through Practical support for the needy, & troubled; & [D] Church discipline - to maintain purity of the church, & the protection of members from sin and for the restoration of the individual (1 Cor. 5:1-13). (Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:11). An individual may be removed from church membership on the grounds of unrepentant persistence in sinful conduct or apostasy, or avoidable withdrawal from church life. A member excluded from the church may be restored upon credible evidence of confession and repentance.
Evangelising the lost: The Great Commission: The church is to evangelise the lost of our community & unbelievers around the world; entailing sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and supporting this in demonstrating the love of Christ through practical acts of love and mercy. (Matt. 28:20; Acts 20:21).

The Order of the Church

Church Offices:

Pastors [Elders=Overseers] teaching, leading & shepherding, elected by the congregation: 1 Tim. 2:12-3:7; Titus 1:5-9
Deacons are elected exemplary servants of the church. They are to support the church and the pastor(s) by serving in the running of the church (1 Tim. 3:8-13).
Church members actively engaging in the work of the church & together ensuring Biblical faithfulness Acts 15. The Church Business Meeting is a corporate effort of uniting and submitting together to God’s Word. (Acts 6:3, 15:22-23; Matt. 18:15-20, 1 Cor. 5:4-5)

Jesus Christ is the Head and Chief Shepherd of the church (Eph. 4:11-16; Col. 1:15-20; 1 Pet. 5:4), and He fills it with His life and leads it spiritually. (Jn. 15:1-8; Eph. 1:10, 22-23; 2:20-22; 4:15; 5 30; Col. 1:18, 2:19, 3:11)

Christ’s authority and Lordship over His church is vested in His Word the Bible Matt. 7:21, 28:18; Luke 6:46, 8:21, 11:28; John 8:31-32, 15:10, 17:17) Pastoral leadership, the expression of Christ’s Lordship of His church, because Pastors are ministers of the Word thus true church leadership is exercised through the faithful teaching, preaching, prayer, counsel & oversight according to His Word 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9)

Pastors [Elders, Overseers] are called & ordained by God to lead the church according to the Word of God: Acts 20: 17-28; 1 Peter 5:1-2; 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:7 & 17 God has ordained that some, qualified men be responsible & answerable to Him in this office 1 Tim. Ch. 2 & 3; 1 Cor. 11 & 14: just as the biblical ideal is that Christian husbands and fathers are called by God to exercise godly leadership in their families, so the Lord calls some godly mature Christian men to be appointed as fatherly leaders in the church 1 Tim. 3:17. This stems from the very creational order in the creation of men & women as complementary to one another 1 Tim. 2:12-15. Both men and women are together recipients of spiritual gifts to equip and enable them for ministry in the local church and beyond; receiving the blessing of the indwelling Holy Spirit all are called to be involved in the work of the gospel (Col. 3:16). Spiritually mature Christian women are called to teach & mentor [disciple] women “teach what is good, and so train the young women” Titus 2:3-4 and, children 2 Tim. 1:5, 3:14-15; 1 Cor. 14:33b-36; likewise mature Christian men are called to mentor men; Christian women are called to be spiritual mothers, sisters & daughters; & Christian men to be spiritual fathers, brothers & sons.

The Ordinances of the Church

Baptism is a symbol of a believer’s union with Christ in his death and resurrection: the believer has died to sin’s penalty & power and risen in Christ to a new life of obedience to God & entry into his Church.: The believer is immersed in water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (Mat. 28:19; Rom. 6:3-4). Candidates for baptism are to show credible signs of new life in Christ [regeneration].

Communion. the Lord's Supper, believers share bread and wine to commemorate Christ’s death as a present celebration of their union and communion with Christ through faith 1 Cor. 10:16, and their expectation of His future return. The bread and wine symbolise the body and blood of Christ as a visible sign that He is present in the Person of His Spirit as believers are gathered in Jesus’ name, the blessings of fellowship with the Lord are received by faith. (Mat. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:23-34)

Ecclesiastical Fellowship

True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the Gospel as presented in the scriptures 1 John 1:1-3; 2 John 9-11; 1 Tim. 6:3-5. Unity in faithfulness to God is incompatible with cooperation or affiliation with churches, or denominations who teach false doctrine, & have fallen away from Biblical morality Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Thess. 3:6-15; 2 John 9-11; 2 Cor. 6:14-18)