Peacehaven Baptist Church

I. The Bible

We believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired word of God.  It is infallible and inerrant.  I believe that the King James Version is the preserved Word of God for the English-speaking peoples of the world.  The Bible should be the final authority for a Christian’s faith and conduct and should effect all aspects of life.  (Psalm 12:6-7; II Peter 1:20-21)

II. The Trinity

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.  I believe that they are equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

(Genesis 1:26  Matthew 3:16-17)

III. God the Father

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God and infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth that in the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 1 John 5:7, 1 John 3:1, Matthew 5:48)

IV. God the Son

We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary, a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men; that He is both the Son of God and God, the Son.  (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-28; II Corinthians 5:21)

V. God the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son, and of the same nature.  It is He who convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.  He is the Restrainer of the Evil One until God’s purpose is fulfilled.  He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel and is the Agent in the new birth, baptizing all true believers into the body of Christ.  (John 14:7; I Corinthians 12:12-13)

VI. Man

We believe that man was created in the image and after the likeness of God, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy estate.  The consequences of which, all mankind are now sinners not by constraint, but by choice; and therefore, under the just condemnation of God, without excuse or defense.  (Genesis 1:26, 3:6; Romans 5:12)

VII. Atonement

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood.  (I Corinthians 15:3-4 1; John 2:1-2)

VIII. Salvation

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through faith and that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.  We believe that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel.  The blessings of salvation are free.  (I Peter 1:18-19; John 1:12; 5:24; Romans 6:23; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8, 9; I John 3:2; Hebrews 9:27; II Peter 2:9; Revelation 21:8)

IX. Security

We believe that those who receive Jesus Christ as Saviour are eternally secure. Our security rests in the finished work of Jesus Christ, and that all the redeemed are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.  (John 3:16; 10:28, 29; I John 5:12)

X. Christ’s Resurrection

We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His ascension into Heaven and in His present life there as High Priest and advocate. (Acts 1:9; I Corinthians 15:3-20)

XI. Second Coming

We believe in “that blessed hope”- the personal, premillenial, pretribulational, and imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, when the church will be “gathered together unto him.”  (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Acts 24:15; Philippians 3:20; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 7:25; Revelation 21:1-8)

XII. Israel

We believe in the literal fulfilment of the prophecies and promises of the Scriptures, which foretell and assure the future regeneration and restoration of Israel as a nation.

(Ezekiel 36:24-28, Jeremiah 30:3, Matthew 19:27-28, Revelation 7:4-8)

XIII. Bodily Resurrection

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost.  (I Corinthians 15:3-20; I Corinthians 15:50-52)

XIV. Scriptural Ordinances

We believe that the Scriptural ordinances of the church are Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper and are to administered to believers only as a symbol of their belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; and as a testimony to the world of that belief and of their death, burial and resurrection with Him; and that the Lord’s Supper should be partaken of by believers only to show forth His death, “till He come.”  (I Corinthians 11:23-26; Acts 8:26-39; Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:12-13)  

XV. The Church

We believe that the visible church is a congregation of baptized believers, practicing the New Testament principles, believing its doctrines, observing its ordinances and exercising its autonomy.  We believe that it is the responsibility of the local church to propagate the Gospel to the world.  Every church and Christian should have a part in this ministry.  (Acts 2:41:47: Matthew 28:18-20)

XVI. Marriage

We believe that this is between one biological man and one biological woman as has been set forth in the book of Genesis, and reconfirmed in the book of Mark. This union is sacred as God intended and should be permanent till parted by death. ( Genesis 2:20-25; Mark 10:6-12 1 Corinthians 7:39)

XVII. Church Leadership

We believe that The Church has two offices directly named that is pastor and deacon. The qualifications claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. These must be biological men of Biblical faith and be suitable for the tasks at hand. (I Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9).