The Scriptures

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God. They the only sufficient, certain, authoritative, infallible, and inerrant rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.

God

There is but one God—the creator, preserver, and ruler of all things. In and of himself, God is all perfection and is infinite in them all. All creatures owe to him the highest love, reverence, and obedience.

The Trinity

In the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; each fully God, and yet the Godhead is one and indivisible; each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

Providence

From eternity, God decrees or permits all things that come to pass. He perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events. Yet he is not in any way the author or approver of sin, nor does he violate the free agency or responsibility of created beings.

Election

Election is God’s eternal choice of some individuals to everlasting life—not because of anything foreseen in them, but by his mercy alone in Christ. As a result of God’s choice, the elect are called, justified, and glorified.

The Fall of Man

God originally created man in his own image. Though man was free from sin, Adam transgressed the command of God through the temptation of Satan, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness. Thus, his descendants inherit a corrupt nature, wholly opposed to God and his law. All mankind is under condemnation and is in bondage to sin and Satan. People lost all moral ability to convert themselves, prepare themselves, or do any spiritual good acceptable to God.

Christ, the Mediator

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and mankind. Jesus, eternal God and the second person of the Trinity, took upon himself human nature—yet without sin. He perfectly fulfilled the Law, suffered, and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended to his Father to sit at his right hand and make intercession for his people. He is the only mediator, prophet, priest, and king of the Church. He is the sovereign of the universe.

Regeneration

Regeneration is a work of the Holy Spirit by which the hearts of those dead in trespasses and sins are brought to life. In regeneration their minds are also enlightened to spiritually understand, savor, and savingly embrace by faith the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to love and practice holiness. Regeneration is a work of God’s free and special grace alone. It is the duty of all who hear the gospel to instantly believe on Christ without looking for any qualification from within. However, none will do so apart from regenerating grace.

Repentance

Repentance is a gracious gift of God when a person, through the work of the Holy Spirit, is made aware of both the evil of his sin against God, as well as the mercy of God freely offered to him in Christ. Repentance is accompanied in a person by godly sorrow and hatred of their sin, resulting in turning from sin to God, and seeking to walk before him in unqualified obedience.

Faith

Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatever is revealed in his Word concerning Christ. Saving faith is accepting and resting on him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life. It is brought about in a person’s heart by the Holy Spirit, is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.

Justification

Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners from all sin through the satisfaction that Christ has made. Justification is granted not because of anything in them or done by them, but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, in whom they receive by faith and rest on him and his righteousness by faith.

Sanctification

Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification, which began at conversion, is progressive through the continuing supply of divine strength, by which the children of God are enabled to grow in grace and pursue holiness in the fear of God.

Perseverance of the Saints

Those whom God has elected in Christ and sanctified by his Spirit will never totally nor finally fall away from the saving grace of God, but will persevere to the end. They may fall through neglect and temptation into sin, thus grieving the Holy Spirit, bringing reproach on the Church, and incurring temporal judgments on themselves—but they will be renewed yet again through repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

The Church

The Lord Jesus is the head of the Church and in him is invested all supreme power for its government. According to his commandment, Christians are to join themselves with local churches in which the following duties are carried out: preaching the Word, the administration of the ordinances, and discipline.

Baptism*

Every believer is obligated by the Lord Jesus to be baptized by immersion into water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as a sign of the following: the believer’s fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ through faith, forgiveness of sins through Christ, and giving up of oneself to God in order to live and walk in newness of life. Baptism is a prerequisite to participating in the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is an ordinance that must be continued in the church to the end of the world.

The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ to be administered with the elements of the bread and the cup, that must be observed by his churches until the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate his death and to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians. It is to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with him, and of their fellowship with the church.

The Lord’s Day*

The Lord’s Day is a Christian institution for weekly observance on the first day of the week. It should be used for worship and spiritual devotion (both public and private). Believers should rest from worldly employments and amusements, except to do works of necessity and mercy.

Liberty of Conscience

God alone is Lord of the conscience. He has left it free from human doctrines and commandments that are in any way contrary to his Word or not contained in it. However, liberty of conscience must at all times be governed by an earnest desire to walk in the fear of God, a loving regard for the consciences of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, a sensitivity for the unregenerate, and regard for the health of one’s own soul.

The Resurrection

After death, the bodies of mankind will return to the earth, but their spirits will return immediately to God: the righteous return to rest with him; the wicked return to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead—both just and unjust—will be raised.

The Judgment

God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world by Jesus Christ. At this day everyone will be judged according to their deeds: the wicked will go into everlasting punishment; the righteous will go into everlasting life.

* Mercy Baptist Church allows members to hold certain views on the Lord’s Day and baptism that differ from the ones described here (and in the 1689 London Baptist Confession), yet still be considered members in good standing and thus participate in the Lord’s Supper.

I believe in God the Father Almighty
Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended into hell*.
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic* Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

* lit. “Hell” refers to Hades or the grave

* “Catholic” refers to the universal church, and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who, for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets; and we believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

* “Catholic” refers to the universal church, and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.