What do Baptists Believe?
Blessed Hope Baptist Church is a Baptist church by conviction and principle, not by affiliation. As Baptists we believe the following:
- Jesus Christ is the Founder and Head of all Baptist churches, which are patterned after the first church at Jerusalem.
- The King James Bible alone is the sole authority for all matters of faith and practice.
- Baptist churches are autonomous and self-governing.
- Believers do not need priests, other than Jesus Christ, to come boldly before God in prayer.
- Priesthood of the believer: Every Christian has equal rights and equal access to God.
- The biblical order of commandments is: (1) Repentance, (2) Faith, (3) Baptism, and (4) The Lord’s Supper
- Jesus gave only two ordinances to churches, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
- Believers’ Baptism by immersion, which is the door to church membership.
- The Lord’s Supper is observed by church members of each local church.
- Each person is individually responsible for their decision to accept Christ as Saviour.
- The believer is eternally secure and cannot lose salvation.
- Separation of church and state is biblical.
- There are two offices within each church, pastors and deacons.
- Baptists throughout history have never persecuted others for their beliefs but have always been persecuted and spoken evil against everywhere.