OUR BELIEFS
In a culture of changing values, it is important to base one's beliefs on that which will not change. At Memorial Baptist Church, our beliefs are founded on the Bible, the eternal Word of God.
The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, without error or contradiction in the original manuscripts. It is God's completed revelation to man and is the sole authority on matters of faith and conduct. (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
God
We believe in one eternal God in three distinct and equal persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is a personal and compassionate Being, but His dealings with created beings are regulated by His holiness. (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 6:3; 1 John 5:7)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ, as the second part of the Godhead, is the virgin-born Son of God. He lived a sinless life, died as God's sacrifice for man's sin, and rose from the grave after three days. He is now at the right hand of the Father as our only High Priest. (Matthew 1:21-23; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4;
2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:14-15)
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the triune Godhead, and He deals with both the saved and the lost. We also believe that one of His principle functions is to exalt, not Himself, but the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 16:7-11, 14; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
Angels
We believe that angels are created beings. Good angels are God's ministers; fallen angels serve Satan (himself a fallen angel), influencing men to do evil. (Isaiah 6:1-2; Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Hebrews 1:14)
Humanity
We believe that God created man (each and every human being) in His own image. Because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, the human race fell into sin and needed to be redeemed in order to restore fellowship with God. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22)
Christ's Death
We believe that because of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man, a sacrifice had to be made satisfactory to God's justice. This sacrifice was Jesus Christ. We also believe that man's only hope of eternal salvation rests in repentance and faith in Christ. (Isaiah 53:10-11; Acts 20:21; Ephesians 2:8-9)
The Church
We believe in the church of Jesus Christ, both the local and universal. During the Church Age the emphasis should be upon the local church. However, the fact of the universal church during this age cannot be denied. It consists of all believers during the Church Age. (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-27)
The Future
We believe that Jesus Christ could rapture His church at any moment. This is the next great event of this age. We also believe that the saved and the lost will be judged in separate judgments.
(2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:11-15)
Christian Living
We believe that Christians should not maintain religious fellowship with either ecclesiastical non-believers, or flagrantly disobedient Christians. There is a need for both ecclesiastical and personal separation if the church as a whole, and we as individuals, are to remain pure. (2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:11; 2 John 9-11)