Doctrinal Statement

This is the Doctrinal Statement of Berean Bible Church (Barbados).

So many in these latter days have departed from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons; so many have turned away their ears from the truth and turned unto fables; so many are busily engaged in scattering the seeds of fatal error, directly affecting the honour of our Lord and the destiny of the soul, that we ask the assent of all Applicants for Membership into our churches to agree with the following Articles of Faith. See below:

 

Section 1:   THE TRINITY

We believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father (Rom.1:7), Son (Heb.1:3,8), and Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3,4).  These three are one God, each Person being eternal and equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfection. (Mt.28:19,20; 2 Cor.13.14)

 

Section 2:   THE VERBAL INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

We believe the Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the verbally inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of man, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith, life and conduct. (2 Tim.3:16,17; 2 Pet.1:19-21; Acts 1:16; 1 Cor.2:13)

 

Section 3:   THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN

We believe that man was directly created by God in His own image and likeness, but that he fell into sin.  The entire human race became alienated (separated) from God, and is eternally lost.  Thus all people in succeeding generations are born with a sinful nature and no man is able to deliver himself from this natural and sinful condition without the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Titus 3:5; Isa.64:6; Rom.5:12; Ps.51:5)

 

Section 4:   THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN

We believe in the personality of Satan; that he is the author of sin and the cause of man’s fall; that he is the avowed enemy of God and man; and that he is doomed and shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire. (Gen.3:1-15; Rev.20:10)

 

Section 5:   THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST

We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of Mary, a virgin. (Mt.1:18-25)

 

Section 6:   THE BLOOD ATONEMENT OF CHRIST

We believe that without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin, and that when Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed His blood, He made a perfect and complete sacrifice and atonement for the sins of all mankind. (1 Cor.15:3,4; 1 Pet.1:18,19)

 

Section 7:   THE RESURRECTION

We believe that Jesus Christ rose bodily from the grave and that His resurrection provides the only ground of justification and salvation for all who believe; that the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation do at death pass immediately into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of their bodies at His second coming, when said souls and bodies shall be reunited with Him forever in glory. (2 Cor.5:8; 1 Thes.4:13-18)  The souls of those who have not trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation remain after death in misery until the judgment of “the great white throne,” when said souls and their bodies, reunited at the resurrection, shall be cast into “the lake of fire,” which is the “second death” to be “punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.” (Luke 16:19-31; Rev.20:11-15; 2 Thes.1:8,9)

 

Section 8:   THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

We believe in the personal, pre-tribulational, pre-millennial, and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; that the “blessed hope” has a vital influence on the personal life and service of the believer; and that the Lord Jesus Christ will subsequently return to earth with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom. (Acts 1:11; 1 Thes.4:13-18; Rev.20:4; Jude 14:15; 1 Thes.3:13)

 

Section 9:   JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

We believe that men are justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and that only by regeneration of the Holy Spirit can salvation and eternal life be obtained. (Rom.3:24; 5:1; Gal.2:16)

 

Section 10:   THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, who convicts the world of sin, and regenerates, indwells, enlightens, guides and empowers the believer for godly living and service. (Acts 5:3,4; John 16:8; Titus 3:5; Rom.8:9; Zech.4:6; Eph.5:18)

 

Section 11:   THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER

We believe that all “born again” believers, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, are eternally secure in Christ, and shall never come into condemnation for sin.  While it is the believer’s privilege to rejoice in the assurance of his salvation, this is not cause for licence or liberty as an occasion to the flesh (sin). (John 5:24; 1 John 5:11-13; John 10:17-30; Rom.8:38,39)

 

Section 12:   THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

We believe that God gives gifts to all believers. (1 Cor.12; Eph.4:11,12)

 

Section 13:   THE CHURCH

We believe that the Church, which is a spiritual organism made up of all born again believers, of this present age (Church Age) is the Body of Christ of which He is the Head.  Its purpose is to edify believers and to bear witness and testimony to the whole world.  We believe in the establishment of the local church as clearly revealed and defined in the New Testament. (Eph.1:22; Col.1:18; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor.1:2; 1 Thes.1:1

 

Section 14:   SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD

We believe that all the redeemed ones are called to a life of separation from all worldly and sinful practices and associations.  (2 Cor.6:14-18; Gal.5:19-21)

 

Section 15:   THE BELIEVER’S TWO NATURES

We believe that all who are born again possess two natures, with provision made for the new nature to be victorious over the old nature, through the power of the indwelling Spirit.  We believe that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural.  (2 Cor.5:17; Rom.6:6; 1 Cor.2:14)

 

Section 16:   MISSIONS

We believe that it is the obligation of every born again believer to bear witness by life and word to the truths revealed in the Word of God, and to proclaim the Gospel to all the world.  We further believe that there is no other way of salvation than that revealed in the Gospel, therefore we hold all true believers under obligation by their prayers, gifts and personal effort.  (Rom.10:12-17; Mt.28:18-20)

 

Section 17:   DISPENSATIONALISM

We believe in the dispensational view of biblical interpretation, but we reject the extreme teaching known as “Hyper-dispensationalism,” which opposes for this age the ordinances of Water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. (2 Tim.2:15)

 

Section 18:   THE ORDINANCES

We believe that Water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during this present age.  They are, however, not to be regarded as a means of salvation.  We believe that:

(a)  Baptism by immersion is the proper mode.  After one believes and is saved, baptism bears testimony to the world that the believer is identified with Christ.  (Rom.6:3,4; Acts 8:26-39)

(b) The Lord’s Supper, unlike baptism which is to be observed once, is a commemorative sign of identification of and a testimony to the newness of life, and is to be observed often as a memorial to the broken body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ until He comes. (1 Cor.11:23:32)
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