Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of Elk Neck Baptist Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
God
There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise. God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Revelation
God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself.
Mankind
Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin and appointed as caretakers of the rest of God's creations.
The Fall
When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. Through Adam Eve's rebellion, sin enter the world resulting in all creation needing redemption.
Salvation
Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers as a free gift eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.
The Church
The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Ressurection
Jesus Christ is returning one day to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth.
Our Statement of Faith
1. We believe in the inspiration and preservation of God's Word. We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and has been preserved for all generations. (Psalms 12:6-7. Therefore it is sufficient to supply all of the direction we need in this life and to prepare us for the life to come (2 Peter 1:3).
2. We believe in the Genesis account of creation.
3. We believe in the personal triune God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, equal in power and authority (John 10:30, John 15:26, Revelation 22:17).
4. We believe Satan is a fallen angel, the arch enemy of God and man, the un-holy god of this world, whose main task is to steal, to kill and to destroy (John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8).
5. We believe that all mankind is guilty before God, dead in their sins, and has no true life within them. In this current state without forgiveness of sin, hell is their eternal destiny (Romans 3:19, 23, 6:23).
6. We believe in the virgin birth and the sinless life of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:18-20).
7. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, that He is fully God. We believe that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (John 10:30, Hebrews 13:8).
8. We hold that the gift of salvation is freely given to those who confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe he died for our sins, that God raised Him from the dead, and that He will come again (Romans 5:8-9, 10:9-10, 13).
9. We believe that the Holy Spirit seals the believer in Jesus Christ at the moment of conversion
(Ephesians 1:13).
(Ephesians 1:13).
10. We believe that the Holy Spirit empowers the believer to carry out the great commission of Jesus Christ, to unify His church, and to overcome sin (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8).
11. We believe that the gifts of the spirit are to edify the church and to be a witness to a lost world. We believe that the Holy Spirit will never lead contrary to the Word of God (Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 John 5:7-9).
12. we believe that there are two divine ordinances to be observed by the church. Baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper. We believe that once an individual has confessed their sins and has been born again, they need to be baptized (Matthew 28:18, Romans 6:3-6, Mark 1:4-5). The Lord's Supper may be taken by those who are saved to proclaim the Lord's death until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26).
13. We hold to the belief that there two distinct leadership positions in the church, Elders and Deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9). Most importantly, these are positions of servitude, first to Christ and then to the congregation.
14. The elders are overseers and Pastors, and are responsible for the spiritual feeding and nurturing of the congregation (1 Peter 5:1-4, Acts 20:17, 28).
15. The Deacons support the Elders in the ministry and tend to the physical and material concerns of the church (Acts 6:1-7, 1 Timothy 3:8-13).
16. We believe in the pre-millennial, personal, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign for one thousand years on earth.