What We Believe - The Simple Version
If you've come to this page, then you likely are wanting to know where the congregation at Walsh stands on major issues, and likely on some of the finer points of doctrine and practice. Some of you who are visiting this page have a degree or two in theology, and have no difficulty reading very detailed 'doctrinal statements'. But some of you may be confused by the big theological words that are included in those statements. So we will soon include at the end the 'official' doctrinal statement, with all the big words (coming soon) - but first up, we have a few simple statements for those who want to know what we believe in simple terms. (Until I have time to put up the detailed version, I've provided a few big theological words in brackets to satisfy those who are wondering if we believe in the atonement (we do) [1 John 2:2] or whether we are complementarian (we are) [I Corinthians 11:1-16; I Timothy 2:12] etc.)
We believe the whole Bible is true, that it is the actual Word of God and that it is the only book necessary for the church. Let me elaborate on that a bit. (Infalliable, Authoritative, Inspired, Sufficient) [2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21]
When we want to know what about what's wrong with our world, we begin with what the Bible says, and it says we're sinners who would rather run our own lives than submit to God, the rightful ruler of all life. (Sinful, Rebellious, Condemned) [Romans 3:23]
When we want to know what our world needs, we look to the Bible, and discover that the world is in need of salvation, and that God has provided his own Son as a Saviour - he has willingly come as our representative and paid the penalty for our sins. Jesus is both fully God and fully man. (Atonement, Incarnation) [John 3:16; Romans 5:6-11; John 1:1-3, 14]
When we want to know how a person can know God and experience salvation, we look to the Bible and discover that we are saved by repentance and faith - we lay down our attempts to be 'good enough', we confess that God has spoken the truth about our sinfulness and we accept by faith that Jesus has opened the way for our salvation. (Atonement, Justification, Salvation) [Romans 10:8-10; 13:13-14; John 1:12; Titus 3:3-7]
There are many other things that we may want to know, and we can find our answers in scripture.
Scripture contradicts culture at many points - but we don't hesitate to believe the Word of God, even on issues that may seem controversial. We believe what the Bible has to say about men and women, husbands and wives, parents and children. We believe the Bible when it comes to issues of sexual ethics, about marriage, adultery, divorce and homosexuality. [Genesis 1:27; Ephesians 5:22-33; Ephesians 6:1-4; Hebrews 13:4; Genesis 2:24; Matthew 5:27-28; Matthew 5:31-32; I Corinthians 6:9-11]
And we encourage every person to read their Bible, to study it as the most important document they will ever read. (God has given the church pastors and teachers to lead and feed; but he gave you a Bible and a brain - don't neglect them.)
Of course, this little bit can't satisfy your every question, so feel free to drop us a line with a question if you like, or better yet - come join us for Sunday service and ask your questions in person. We welcome everyone, even those who may think differently on matters.
We believe the whole Bible is true, that it is the actual Word of God and that it is the only book necessary for the church. Let me elaborate on that a bit. (Infalliable, Authoritative, Inspired, Sufficient) [2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21]
When we want to know what about what's wrong with our world, we begin with what the Bible says, and it says we're sinners who would rather run our own lives than submit to God, the rightful ruler of all life. (Sinful, Rebellious, Condemned) [Romans 3:23]
When we want to know what our world needs, we look to the Bible, and discover that the world is in need of salvation, and that God has provided his own Son as a Saviour - he has willingly come as our representative and paid the penalty for our sins. Jesus is both fully God and fully man. (Atonement, Incarnation) [John 3:16; Romans 5:6-11; John 1:1-3, 14]
When we want to know how a person can know God and experience salvation, we look to the Bible and discover that we are saved by repentance and faith - we lay down our attempts to be 'good enough', we confess that God has spoken the truth about our sinfulness and we accept by faith that Jesus has opened the way for our salvation. (Atonement, Justification, Salvation) [Romans 10:8-10; 13:13-14; John 1:12; Titus 3:3-7]
There are many other things that we may want to know, and we can find our answers in scripture.
Scripture contradicts culture at many points - but we don't hesitate to believe the Word of God, even on issues that may seem controversial. We believe what the Bible has to say about men and women, husbands and wives, parents and children. We believe the Bible when it comes to issues of sexual ethics, about marriage, adultery, divorce and homosexuality. [Genesis 1:27; Ephesians 5:22-33; Ephesians 6:1-4; Hebrews 13:4; Genesis 2:24; Matthew 5:27-28; Matthew 5:31-32; I Corinthians 6:9-11]
And we encourage every person to read their Bible, to study it as the most important document they will ever read. (God has given the church pastors and teachers to lead and feed; but he gave you a Bible and a brain - don't neglect them.)
Of course, this little bit can't satisfy your every question, so feel free to drop us a line with a question if you like, or better yet - come join us for Sunday service and ask your questions in person. We welcome everyone, even those who may think differently on matters.
What We Believe - the articles of our faith
A More Theological Look at What We Believe and Teach at Walsh Baptist Church
The sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspired Word of God. It is without error as originally written and completely trustworthy as the final authority in all matters of Christian faith and practice. [2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21]
There is one living God, the Creator, Preserver, the Governor of all, who is holy, sovereign, eternal spirit, and existing in three equal Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. [Deuteronomy 6:4; Genesis 1:1; Matthew 10:29; Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 95; John 4:24; Matthew 28:19]
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully Man. He existed eternally with the Father, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death, and rose again bodily on the third day. He ascended to the Father's right hand, where He lives to intercede for His people, and will triumphantly and gloriously return on the last day. [John 1:1-18; Colossians 1:15-20; I Timothy 2:5-6]
God, the Holy Spirit, convinces of sin and righteousness, applies Christ's saving work to believers, baptizes them into Christ's Body, and indwells them. He continues His work in believers by assuring, and empowering them for godly living and service. [John 14:16-17; 16:8-11; I Corinthians 12:3-13]
Humanity was created by God in His Image, but rebelled against God. As a result, humanity is alienated from God, condemned to physical and spiritual death, and unable to change their condition. [Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12-19]
Due to God's love for His creation, God initiated a plan to rescue humanity from its predicament through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Only those who turn and trust Christ alone are rescued from the penalty of their sin, born anew, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and given eternal life. Such persons shall be divinely preserved and finally perfected in the image of Christ. [John 1:12; 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Jude 24.
The Church universal is the Body of Christ, and it consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation. Individual believers demonstrate their union with Christ by participating in the local church. The ordinances of the Church are baptism by immersion and the Lord's Table. [Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:6-12; Acts 2:41; I Corinthians 11:25-28; Matthew 28:19-20]
The Lord Jesus Christ will return personally, bodily, and gloriously on the Day appointed by God. God will raise the just to eternal blessedness with Him, and the unjust to eternal punishment in hell. [Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16; Acts 24:15; Matthew 25:46]
(Accepted by the Congregation June 2001)
There is one living God, the Creator, Preserver, the Governor of all, who is holy, sovereign, eternal spirit, and existing in three equal Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. [Deuteronomy 6:4; Genesis 1:1; Matthew 10:29; Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 95; John 4:24; Matthew 28:19]
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully Man. He existed eternally with the Father, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death, and rose again bodily on the third day. He ascended to the Father's right hand, where He lives to intercede for His people, and will triumphantly and gloriously return on the last day. [John 1:1-18; Colossians 1:15-20; I Timothy 2:5-6]
God, the Holy Spirit, convinces of sin and righteousness, applies Christ's saving work to believers, baptizes them into Christ's Body, and indwells them. He continues His work in believers by assuring, and empowering them for godly living and service. [John 14:16-17; 16:8-11; I Corinthians 12:3-13]
Humanity was created by God in His Image, but rebelled against God. As a result, humanity is alienated from God, condemned to physical and spiritual death, and unable to change their condition. [Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12-19]
Due to God's love for His creation, God initiated a plan to rescue humanity from its predicament through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Only those who turn and trust Christ alone are rescued from the penalty of their sin, born anew, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and given eternal life. Such persons shall be divinely preserved and finally perfected in the image of Christ. [John 1:12; 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Jude 24.
The Church universal is the Body of Christ, and it consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation. Individual believers demonstrate their union with Christ by participating in the local church. The ordinances of the Church are baptism by immersion and the Lord's Table. [Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:6-12; Acts 2:41; I Corinthians 11:25-28; Matthew 28:19-20]
The Lord Jesus Christ will return personally, bodily, and gloriously on the Day appointed by God. God will raise the just to eternal blessedness with Him, and the unjust to eternal punishment in hell. [Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16; Acts 24:15; Matthew 25:46]
(Accepted by the Congregation June 2001)
Our Church Covenant
Having been led by the Holy Spirit to receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, and to be baptized into the Name of the FAther, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we solemnly and joyfully covenant with God and with one another as one Body in Christ.
With the help of the Holy Spirit we determine to live in Christian love, and give ourselves to Christ's service and advancement of this church. Therefore, we will uphold and support the doctrines, ordinances, purity, work, and union of this church by our love, worship, prayer, discipline, encouragement, and contributions in order that the love and grace of Christ will be known in our community and to the ends of the earth.
We also determine to encourage spiritual growth in ourselves and our families, to train our children in the faith, and to reflect the presence of Christ in our life and words as we seek to be salt and light in the world around us.
We further determine to show Christina love to one another in our life and conversation, to pray for one another, to assist one another in every way possible, to be slow to take offense but quick to make reconciliation, and to live a life worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus.
Moreover, we determine that when we move we will unite with another congregation in order to continue to carry out the spirit of this covenant and the teachings of God's Word.
This covenant we determine to fulfil to the glory of God. AMEN.
(Accepted by the Congregation June 2001)
With the help of the Holy Spirit we determine to live in Christian love, and give ourselves to Christ's service and advancement of this church. Therefore, we will uphold and support the doctrines, ordinances, purity, work, and union of this church by our love, worship, prayer, discipline, encouragement, and contributions in order that the love and grace of Christ will be known in our community and to the ends of the earth.
We also determine to encourage spiritual growth in ourselves and our families, to train our children in the faith, and to reflect the presence of Christ in our life and words as we seek to be salt and light in the world around us.
We further determine to show Christina love to one another in our life and conversation, to pray for one another, to assist one another in every way possible, to be slow to take offense but quick to make reconciliation, and to live a life worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus.
Moreover, we determine that when we move we will unite with another congregation in order to continue to carry out the spirit of this covenant and the teachings of God's Word.
This covenant we determine to fulfil to the glory of God. AMEN.
(Accepted by the Congregation June 2001)