|
OUR PURPOSE:
E 3 Evangelism: To share the gospel of Jesus Christ in our community and around the world, leading every believer to Baptism, then equipping every believer with the truths of Scripture, and training every disciple to share their faith with their friends and family.
OUR BELIEFS:
This statement of faith seeks only to provide the basic foundations of what we believe at Pleasant Plains Baptist Church to be true. For a fuller understanding, you can read the Baptist Faith and message, affirmed by the SBC.
Concerning God
There is one God, who exists as three persons living in perfect community – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Father
God the Father created everything and keeps everything going by his strength and goodness. He is holy, all-powerful, all-knowing, totally consistent and reliable, and is full of mercy and grace.
Jesus Christ, the Son
Jesus Christ, God’s son, became fully human when he was born to the virgin Mary. He was fully human and fully God, which is a great mystery. He lived a perfect life in place of our imperfect lives; died, as our substitute, the death we deserved to die because of our selfishness; and rose physically from the dead. He offers us full life by the promise of his resurrection. He ascended into heaven and today is our representative and advocate with God the Father.
Holy Spirit
We experience the full life and presence of God in our relationship with the Spirit, who convicts us of sin, points us to Christ, and applies Christ’s work to our lives. He gives gifts and power to the church and he is the one who creates biblical community in the church. He reveals truth and guides our lives, individually and together.
Concerning the Bible
We believe that the Old and New Testament Scriptures are God-breathed, since their writers spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Hence, they are fully trustworthy in all that they affirm and are our highest authority for faith and life.
Concerning Salvation
We believe that though God made us in His own likeness and image, conferring on all people dignity and worth, we now are members of a fallen race. We have all sinned and come short of his perfect standard.
We believe that only by responding in repentance and faith to God’s grace, demonstrated in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, can we have the confidence of sins forgiven, deliverance from evil, restoration of relationship with God and life forever with Him.
We believe that in this world the Devil does exist. He is a fallen angel exercising influence over all that is fallen.
We believe there will come a day when Jesus will return to earth, not to save but to judge. All evil powers, along with those who ignore God’s offer of salvation will be shut out eternally from the presence of the Lord.
Concerning the Christian Life
We believe that good works are the fruit of our salvation, not the means to it.
We believe that a person’s Christian faith should be accompanied by water baptism.
Christians are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ, loving and obeying him as Lord over their lives in a personal relationship. Among those evidences that a Christian is growing in this relationship are holiness of life, prayer, faith, stewardship, sharing God’s good news with others, right relationships and commitment to and serving in the local church.
We believe that the greatest response to God’s love is expressed in our love for Him and for others.
Concerning the Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit in dwells all Christians and is active to produce Christlikeness, empowerment for witness and spiritual gifts in the lives of those who seek to walk in openness and obedience to Jesus Christ.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is necessary for the Church’s life, power and mission and that all the gifts of the Spirit are to be part of the Church’s life and ministry.
Concerning the Church
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church.
We believe that the Church is Christ’s Body on earth; the universal fellowship of all those who have faith in Jesus Christ and is composed of many local congregations. We are to work together in unity with the various expressions of the Body of Christ.
We believe that the Church is to be “community”, nurturing and developing the disciples of Jesus Christ.
We believe in having a regular celebration of the Lord’s Supper, open to all believers.
We believe in the priesthood of all believers. Some are called to exercise leadership and authority in the Church but all are called to a life of service in exercising the gifts God has given them. Those who are called by God and affirmed by the Church to leadership should exercise that authority in the spirit
of service and accountability to the rest of the Body.
We believe that the mission of Jesus is now the mission of the Church; displaying and declaring the glory of God, his victory and authority over all that is evil, and reconciling others to him. We are called to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel” in the power of the Holy Spirit with words and deeds; bringing the wholeness and freedom of the Kingdom of God to individuals, families, ethnic groups and at every level in society.
Pleasant Plains Baptist Church accepts candidates for membership in the following ways:
- By receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, followed by believer's baptism.
- By Transfer of Membership from another Southern Baptist Church.
- By Statement of Your Faith in Jesus Christ and Baptism by immersion.
We encourage all new members to attend our new member’s class to assist in ministry involvement at PPBC.
|
