WE BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, ETERNALLY EXISTING IN THREE PERSONS: THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE IS AN INTELLIGENT, SPIRITUAL, AND PERSONAL BEING; THE CREATOR, REDEEMER, PRESERVER, AND RULER OF THE UNIVERSE. GOD IS INFINITE IN HOLINESS AND ALL OTHER PERFECTIONS. (1 CORINTHIANS 8:6; MATTHEW 28:19; DEUTERONOMY 6:4; 1 CHRONICLES 29:10-11; GENESIS 1:1; DEUTERONOMY 32:6; MATTHEW 6:9-10; 1 PETER 1:15- 16; ISAIAH 43:15; PSALMS 90:2)

WE BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, BORN OF A VIRGIN, AND THAT HE IS FULLY GOD AND MAN. HE DIED ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS. HE ROSE BODILY FROM THE DEAD, ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, WHERE HE SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER AND IS NOW OUR HIGH PRIEST AND ADVOCATE. (JOHN 1:1; HEBREWS 1:1-9; MATTHEW 1:23; ACTS 3:15; JOHN 19:19; LUKE 24:39; ACTS 1:11; LUKE 24:5-7; COLOSSIANS 3:1; HEBREWS 10:19-21; 1 JOHN 2:1-2; HEBREWS 4:14)

WE BELIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND THAT HE IS CO-EQUAL WITH THE FATHER AND THE SON. HE IS PRESENT IN THE WORLD TO MAKE US AWARE OF OUR NEED FOR JESUS CHRIST. HE LIVES IN EVERY CHRISTIAN AND GIVES EACH ONE SPIRITUAL GIFTS FOR SERVICE FROM THE MOMENT OF SALVATION. HE PROVIDES THE CHRISTIAN WITH THE POWER FOR LIVING, ENABLES UNDERSTANDING OF BIBLICAL TRUTH, AND GUIDES US IN RIGHTEOUS LIVING. (GENESIS 1:1-2; JOHN 4:24; LUKE 1:35; MATTHEW 1:18; PSALMS 139:7-10; LUKE 4:1; MATTHEW 28:19; JOEL 2:28-29; LUKE 11:13; JOHN 14:16-17, 26; JOHN 16:7-14; ACTS 1:8; ROMANS 8:9-11; ROMANS 8:14-16; EPHESIANS 1:13-14; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:3-11)

WE BELIEVE THE HOLY BIBLE IS THE DIVINELY INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, WITHOUT ANY ERROR, THE ALL-SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY IN MATTERS OF FAITH, DOCTRINE AND CHRISTIAN LIVING. (1 PETER 1:25; 2 PETER 1:19-21; 2 TIMOTHY 3:15-17; ROMANS 15:4; PSALMS 119:160)

WE BELIEVE THAT MAN WAS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD BUT FELL INTO SIN AND THEREFORE IS LOST. GOD CHOSE TO PAY THE COST FOR OUR REDEMPTION THROUGH THE BLOOD AND SACRIFICE OF HIS SON, JESUS. HIS PAYMENT FOR OUR SIN AND DISOBEDIENCE IS AN ACT OF “GRACE.” SALVATION COMES BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH AND IS GOD’S FREE AND UNEARNED GIFT TO ALL THOSE WHO ACCEPT IT. THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL BE SAVED. ETERNAL LIFE BEGINS THE MOMENT ONE RECEIVES JESUS CHRIST INTO HIS LIFE BY FAITH. (ROMANS 6:23; EPHESIANS 2:8-9; JOHN 14:6; TITUS 3:5-6; GALATIANS 3:26; ROMANS 5:1, 10:9, 4:3-8, 5:8-10, 8:8-10; ACTS 16:30-31)

WE BELIEVE THAT THE TRUE CHURCH IS COMPOSED OF ALL WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH GRACE BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. IT IS AN AUTONOMOUS BODY AND OPERATES THROUGH DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES UNDER THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST. THE CHURCH MANAGES ITS OWN MATTERS AND SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY OTHER RELIGIOUS BODY, ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL. (MATTHEW 16:15-19, 18:15-20; ACTS 14:23-27, 20:28; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:2, 3:16; EPHESIANS 1:22-23, 2:19-22, 3:21; COLOSSIANS 1:18; 1 PETER 2:4-6, 5:1-4)

WE BELIEVE IN THE ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER. BAPTISM IS BY IMMERSION AND IS AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF THE INWARD CHANGE BROUGHT BY SALVATION. THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A REMEMBRANCE OF OUR LORD’S DEATH AND BURIAL AND A CELEBRATION OF HIS RESURRECTION AND PROMISED RETURN. (MATTHEW 3:13-17, 26:26-30, 28:19-20; MARK 1:9-11, 14:22-26; LUKE 3:21-22, 22:19-20; JOHN 3:23; ACTS 2:41-42, 8:35-39, 16:30-33, 20:7; ROMANS 6:3-5; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:16,21, 11:23-29; COLOSSIANS 2:12)

WE BELIEVE THAT HUMANITY, MALE AND FEMALE, IS THE SPECIAL CROWNING WORK OF GOD’S CREATION MADE IN HIS OWN IMAGE. GOD CREATED BOTH GENDERS AS AN ACT OF HIS GOODNESS AND IN ORDER TO POPULATE THE WORLD. THESE TWO DISTINCT, COMPLEMENTARY GENDERS TOGETHER REFLECT THE IMAGE AND NATURE OF GOD. REJECTION OF ONE’S BIOLOGICAL SEX IS A REJECTION OF THE IMAGE OF GOD WITHIN THAT PERSON. IN THE BEGINNING HUMANITY WAS PERFECT AND ENDOWED BY GOD WITH THE ABILITY TO REASON AND MAKE CHOICES. TRAGICALLY, THE FIRST HUMANS CHOSE TO DISOBEY GOD, AND AS A RESULT OF THEIR SIN, THEY CEASED TO BE PERFECT AND WERE SEPARATED FROM THEIR CREATOR. THE SACREDNESS OF HUMAN PERSONALITY IS EVIDENT IN THAT CHRIST DIED IN ORDER TO BRING HUMANITY, OF EVERY RACE, TRIBE AND TONGUE, BACK INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, THE FATHER. EVERY HUMAN IS EQUAL AND IS WORTHY OF RESPECT AND CHRISTIAN LOVE AND MUST BE AFFORDED COMPASSION, LOVE, KINDNESS, RESPECT, AND DIGNITY. HATEFUL AND HARASSING BEHAVIOR OR ATTITUDES DIRECTED TOWARD ANY INDIVIDUAL ARE TO BE REPUDIATED AND ARE NOT IN ACCORD WITH SCRIPTURE NOR THE DOCTRINES OF SARDIS BAPTIST CHURCH. (GENESIS 1:26-31, 2:5,7,18-22, 3:1-24, 9:6; PSALMS 1:1-6, 8:3-6, 32:1-5, 51:5; ISAIAH 6:5; JEREMIAH 17:5; MATTHEW 16:26; MARK 12:28-31; LUKE 6:30; ACTS 17:26-31; ROMANS 1:19-32, 3:10-18,23, 5:6,12,19, 6:6, 7:14-25, 8:14-18,29; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:21-31, 15:19,21-22; EPHESIANS 2:1-22; COLOSSIANS 1:21-22, 3:9-11)

WE BELIEVE THAT ALL HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED AND CREATED BY GOD IN HIS IMAGE. HUMAN LIFE IS OF INESTIMABLE WORTH IN ALL ITS DIMENSIONS, INCLUDING PRE-BORN BABIES, THE AGED, THE PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY CHALLENGED, AND EVERY OTHER STAGE OR CONDITION FROM CONCEPTION THROUGH NATURAL DEATH. WE ARE THEREFORE CALLED TO DEFEND, PROTECT, AND VALUE ALL HUMAN LIFE. (PSALM 139)

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AS SET FORTH IN SCRIPTURE, WE BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS ORDAINED THE FAMILY AS THE FOUNDATIONAL INSTITUTION OF HUMAN SOCIETY. WE BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS ORDAINED MARRIAGE AND DEFINED IT AS THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MAN, A WOMAN, AND HIMSELF. WE BELIEVE AND RECOGNIZE MARRIAGES BETWEEN A BIOLOGICAL MAN AND A BIOLOGICAL WOMAN ONLY. THEREFORE, THE PASTORAL STAFF OF THIS CHURCH SHALL ONLY PARTICIPATE IN WEDDINGS AND SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGES BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN. WE BELIEVE THAT “MARRIAGE” MEANS THE UNITING OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN IN A SINGLE, EXCLUSIVE UNION, AND THAT GOD INTENDS SEXUAL INTIMACY TO OCCUR ONLY BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN WHO ARE MARRIED TO EACH OTHER. WE BELIEVE THAT ANY FORM OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY THAT DISRESPECTS, DEGRADES, AND DEBASES ANY HUMAN BEING IS OFFENSIVE TO GOD. CHILDREN, FROM THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION, ARE A BLESSING AND HERITAGE FROM THE LORD.  PARENTS ARE TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN SPIRITUAL AND MORAL VALUES AND TO LEAD THEM, THROUGH CONSISTENT LIFESTYLE EXAMPLE AND LOVING DISCIPLINE, TO MAKE CHOICES BASED ON BIBLICAL TRUTH.  CHILDREN ARE TO HONOR AND OBEY THEIR PARENTS.  WE BELIEVE THAT THE CHURCH, THE SPIRITUAL FAMILY, MUST WORK TO COMPLEMENT THE PARENTS’ EFFORTS AND ENCOURAGE GODLY LIVING WITHIN THE HOME. (GENESIS 1:26-28, 2:15-25, 3:1-20; EXODUS 20:12, 14; EXODUS 22:19; LEVITICUS 18:2, 22, 23; DEUTERONOMY 6:4-9; JOSHUA 24:15; 1 SAMUEL 1:26-28; PSALMS 51:5, 78:1-8, 127, 128, 139:13-16; PROVERBS 1:8, 5:15-20, 6:20-22, 12:4, 13:24, 14:1, 17:6, 18:22, 22:6,15, 23:13-14, 24:3, 29:15,17, 31:10-31; ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12, 9:9; MALACHI 2:14-16; MATTHEW 5:28, 31-32; 15:18-20; 18:2-5, 19:3-9; MARK 10:6-12; ROMANS 1:18-32; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:8, 7:1-16; EPHESIANS 5:21-33, 6:1-4; COLOSSIANS 3:18-21; 1 TIMOTHY 5:8,14; 2 TIMOTHY 1:3-5; TITUS 2:3-5; HEBREWS 13:4; 1 PETER 3:1-7; 1 JOHN 2:16)

WE BELIEVE THAT, AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, GOD CALLS US TO BECOME SPIRITUALLY MATURE, EXHIBITING THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST AND EXEMPLIFYING THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT. IN OUR DAILY WALK OF FAITH, WE MUST INVITE GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT TO LIVE THROUGH US. OUR ACTIONS MUST GLORIFY GOD, THUS ENCOURAGING OTHER PEOPLE TO KNOW CHRIST AND SEEK HIS SAVING GRACE. (MATTHEW 5:13-16, 43-48, 22:36-40, 25:31-46, 28:19-20; MARK 1:29-34, 10:21; LUKE 4:18-21, 10:27-37, 20:25; JOHN 15:12-13; ROMANS 12-14; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-17, 3, 6:1-7, 12, 10:23-11:1; 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-7, 9:1, 11; GALATIANS 3:26-28; EPHESIANS 4:1-16, 6:5-9; PHILIPPIANS 1:15-18; COLOSSIANS 3:12-17; 1 THESSALONIANS 3:12-13; PHILEMON 4-21; JAMES 1:27, 2:8)

THIS STATEMENT OF FAITH DOES NOT EXHAUST THE EXTENT OF OUR BELIEFS. THE BIBLE ITSELF, AS THE INSPIRED AND INFALLIBLE WORD OF GOD THAT SPEAKS WITH FINAL AUTHORITY CONCERNING TRUTH, MORALITY, AND THE PROPER CONDUCT OF MANKIND, IS THE SOLE AND FINAL SOURCE OF ALL THAT WE BELIEVE. FOR PURPOSES OF SARDIS BAPTIST CHURCH’S FAITH, DOCTRINE, PRACTICE, POLICY, AND DISCIPLINE, OUR SENIOR PASTOR, BODY OF DEACONS, AND ULTIMATELY THE MEMBERSHIP IS SARDIS BAPTIST CHURCH’S FINAL INTERPRETIVE AUTHORITY ON THE BIBLE’S MEANING AND APPLICATION. (2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17; ROMANS 8:9; 1 TIMOTHY 3:1-12)