Statement of Beliefs

Jamaica Seventh Day Baptist Conference

Greater Than Its Parts by Don A. Sanford (1st Edition) Opens in new tab

Introduction

The following statement is not intended to be exhaustive, but is an expression of our common belief, which is derived from our understanding of Scripture.

Our Polity

Seventh Day Baptists consider liberty of thought under the guidance of scripture and the Holy Spirit to be essential to Christian belief and practice. We therefore encourage the unhindered study and open discussion of scripture. We uphold the individual's freedom of conscience in seeking to understand and obey the will of God. Therefore, we have no binding creed.

2 Cor 3:17-18; 2 Tim 2:15; Rom 12:2,6,22-23; Eph. 4:3-6,15; Rom 10:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 John 2:27; Gal 6:7

What We Believe

Our foundational beliefs rooted in Scripture

God

We believe in God, the Supreme Being, personal, perfect, infinite, spiritual, eternal; the Creator, Sustainer of the universe, and Sovereign of the universe; our Heavenly Father who manifests a holy redeeming love toward all mankind, forgiving the repentant, condemning the unrepentant; and who desires to share His love in a personal relationship with everyone.

1 Tim 1:17; Deut 6:4; 1 Kings 8:27; 1 John 1:5; Gen 1:1-2; Acts 17:24-25 & 28; Psalm 90:1-2; Matt 28:19; Isa 57:15; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Cor 8:6; Eph 4:6; Eze 33:11; 2 Thess 1:6-8; John 5:24, 3:16-18; Psalm 18:30; Matt 5:48

The Father

We believe in God the Father, who is sovereign over all, and is loving and just as He forgives the repentant and condemns the unrepentant.

1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8; John 5:24; John 3:16-18

Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, God manifest in flesh. He is our saviour, teacher and guide, who gave Himself on the cross as the complete and final sacrifice for sin and draws to himself all who will come to him in love and trustful obedience, as our risen Lord, seated at the father's right hand, He is the one mediator between us and the father.

John 1:14-18, 34, 3:16, 12:32, 14:6; Heb 1:3; Rom 1:3-5; 1 John 3:16, 2:1-2; Gal 4:4-6; Heb 10:10-14; 1 Cor 15:20-23; 1 Tim 2:5; Eph 1:18-23; 1 Peter 2:24

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, God dwelling within us; the Inspirer of Scripture, the Comforter, active in the hearts, minds and lives of mankind; who convicts of sin, gives spiritual birth to believers, instructs in righteousness, and empowers for witnessing and service.

John 14:16-17, 3:5-8; Rom 5:5; 1 Cor 12:4-7; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 16:7-11; Eph. 1:13

The Bible

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is our final authority in matters of faith and practice. We believe that Jesus Christ, in His life and teachings as recorded in the Bible, is the supreme interpreter of God's will for mankind.

2 Peter 1:20-21; Romans 3:2; 2 Peter 3:1-2, 15-16; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Matthew 5:17-19; Psalm 119:105; John 20:30-31; Hebrews 1:1-2

Mankind

We believe that mankind was created in the image of God and is therefore the noblest work of creation. We believe that human beings have moral responsibility and are created to enjoy both divine and human fellowship as children of God, but because of disobedience he is in need of a Saviour.

Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 8:3-9; Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:44-48; 1 John 1:3; John 1:12

Sin and Salvation

We believe that sin is the transgression of the law of love, disobedience to God, and failure to live according to His will. All who refuse to repent of their sins and receive Christ as their Saviour will be punished at the time of the final judgement. We also believe that salvation from sin and death is the gift of God by redeeming love accomplished by Christ's death and resurrection and is received only by repentance and faith in Him.

We believe that all who repent of their sin and receive Christ as Saviour will not be punished at the final judgment but enjoy eternal life.

1 John 1:3-5, 8-10; John 1:12; John 3:16-18, 36; John 14:6; Rom 3:21-25; Romans 5:6-8, 10; Romans 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Thess. 1:5-9; 1 Peter 1:3; Hebrews 10:10-14; Matthew 25:41-46

Eternal Life

We believe that Jesus rose from the dead and lives eternally with the Father, and that He will come again with power and great glory. We believe that eternal life begins in knowing God through a commitment to Jesus Christ. We believe that because He died and lives again, resurrection with spiritual and imperishable bodies is the gift of God to believers.

We believe that eternal life is available to us only through our Saviour Jesus Christ and is granted on one's acceptance of salvation in Him. He, having paid sin's death penalty for us, and conquered death, will gather together, not only those who have died righteous, but also the living righteous, and will bestow upon them immortality in glorified bodies at His return in heavenly power and glory.

John 3:14-16; John 6:40, 64; John 10:27-28; John 14:1-3; John 17:1-3; Rom 6:23; Romans 5:14-17; Luke 24:1-6; Matt 24:12, 13, 30; Matt 25:31-34, 46; Matt 28:1-8; 1 Cor 15:3-4, 20-23, 42-44, 53-54; 1 John 5:11-13; Col 3:1-4; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13

The Church

We believe that the church of God is all redeemed believers gathered by the Holy Spirit and joined into one body, of which Christ is the Head. We believe that the local church is a community of believers organized in covenant relationship for worship, fellowship and service, practicing and proclaiming common convictions, while growing in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We believe in the priesthood of all believers and practice the autonomy of the local congregation, as we seek to work together for more effective witness.

Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 12:13-14 & 27; Rom 12:4-5; Col 1:18; Acts 2:42; Eph. 2:19-22; Rom 15:5-7; Eph. 4:11-16; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Matt 18:20; Heb. 10:24-25

Baptism

We believe that baptism of believers by immersion is a witness to the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. We believe baptism is a symbol of death to sin and a pledge to a new life in Christ, affirmed by the example, teachings, and practice of Jesus Christ.

Rom 6:3-4; Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-41; Col 2:12; Rom 6:11; Gal 3:26-27

The Sabbath

We believe that the Sabbath of the Bible, the seventh day of the week (Saturday), is sacred time, a gift of God, instituted at creation, affirmed in the Ten Commandments, and re-affirmed by Jesus and the apostles. We believe that the gift of Sabbath rest is an experience of God's eternal presence with His people. We also believe that, in loving response to God's grace towards us, as revealed in Christ, the Sabbath should be faithfully observed as a day of rest and worship and that it is a reminder of God's presence in time and His pledge of eternal rest in the paradise of God.

Gen 2:2-3; Exodus 16:23-30; Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 58:13-14; Ezekiel 20:19-20; Matt 5:17-19; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 4:16; Luke 23:56; John 14:15; Acts 13:14, 42-44; Acts 16:11-13; Acts 17:2-3; Acts 18:4-11; Heb. 4:9-10

Evangelism

We believe that Jesus Christ commissions us to proclaim the Gospel, to make disciples, to baptize and to teach observance of all that He has commanded. We are called to be witnesses for Christ throughout the world and in all human relationships.

Matthew 24:14; Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5-6; 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Ephesians 6:14-20

The Lord's Supper

We believe that the Lord's Supper commemorates the suffering and death of Jesus Christ our Redeemer until He comes. It is a symbol of Christian fellowship and a pledge of renewed allegiance to our risen Lord.

Mark 14:22-25; Matt 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 1 Cor. 11:23-30

The Ten Commandments

We believe that the Ten Commandments are ten divine precepts - applications of the eternal and universal principle of love; established by God, written by His 'finger' at Mt Sinai, magnified by Jesus Christ, and shown by him to be the moral code for all mankind.

Gen 2:2, 4:8-13, 31:32; Exodus 20:1-17, 31:18; Matt 19:16-19; Deut 6:5-6; Matt 22:36-39, 5:28; James 2:8-12; John 14:15-21