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Read our Full Doctrinal Statement

Our Beliefs

 

We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments to be the full record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. Different men, while writing according to their own styles and personalities, were supernaturally moved along by the Holy Spirit to record God’s very words, inerrant in the original writings. Therefore, those applying themselves to study its literal, historical-grammatical context can accurately understand God’s Word. Scripture is fully trustworthy as our final and only sufficient authority for all of life (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

 

We believe in the one living and true God, eternally (John 17:3) existing in perfect unity as three equally and fully divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). Each member of the Godhead, while executing distinct but complementary roles in redemptive history, has precisely the same nature, attributes, and being, and is equally worthy of the same glory and honor and obedience (John 1:1-4; Acts 5:3-4).

 

We believe God the Father created all things for His glory according to His own will (Revelation 4:11), through His Son, Jesus Christ. He upholds all things by the Word of His power and grace, exercising sovereign headship over all creation, providence, and redemption (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3).

 

We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, moved by love in accordance with the will of the Father, took on human flesh (John 1:1, 14, 18). Conceived through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the virgin Mary. He, being fully God and fully man (John 14:8-9), lived a sinless life and sacrificially shed His blood and died on the cross in our place accomplishing redemption for all who place their faith in Him. He arose visibly and bodily from the dead three days later and ascended into heaven, where, at the Father’s right hand, He is now Head of His Body the Church, the only Savior and Mediator between God and man, and will return to earth in power and glory to consummate His redemptive mission (1 Timothy 3:16).

 

We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ during this age. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He encounters the unredeemed in repentance and faith, and at salvation imparts new spiritual life to the believer, bringing that person into union with Christ and the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit sanctifies, seals, fills, guides, instructs, comforts, equips, empowers, permanently indwells at salvation, and bestows spiritual gifts to the believer for Christ-like living and service (John 16:8; 13:15; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:22; 4:11-12; Romans 8:9-17; 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:4-5, 11-13, 19; Galatians 5:25; Hebrews 2:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12).

 

We believe that, in the beginning, God created mankind in His own image and likeness, male and female, free of sin, to glorify Himself and enjoy His fellowship (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:7-8). However, tempted by Satan, but in the sovereign plan of God, man freely chose to disobey God, bringing sin, death, and condemnation to all mankind. Alienated from God without defense or excuse, and subject to God’s righteous wrath, all of mankind is in desperate need of the Savior (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 1:18, 32).

 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as the substitutionary atonement in our place, and that salvation is found in none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ's death on the cross was the sole and complete payment for sins, fully satisfying God's righteous wrath, for each person that turns from sin in repentance and places their faith in Christ alone by grace alone. At salvation each person is made a new creation by the Holy Spirit, declared righteous before God, Genuine faith continues in obedience and love for Jesus Christ with a life eager to glorify God (Romans 8:37-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 12:13).

 

We believe that Christian baptism is a public declaration of the believer’s salvation in Christ, identifying with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection(Acts 2:38-41; Romans 6:3-6; Matthew 28:19).

Our Core Values

 
At Community, we believe that the hope for our lives is the message of truth that God has given us in His Word, the Bible. In all of our ministries, we will pursue to present and promote the truths of the Bible and not our opinions and thoughts. God’s thoughts are what matter!

At Community, we understand that our calling is to make disciples who make disciples. We do this through sincere evangelism, helping new believers learn to take the initial steps to follow Jesus and teaching them what the Christian life is all about.

At Community, we understand that no two people in our congregation are just alike. We come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We choose to unite as a church family around the unchangeable, essential truths taught in the Bible. When we have disagreements in areas of less importance, we extend understanding, grace and love!

At Community, we are thrilled to embrace the role of loving the community where God has called and placed us! Franklin, Indiana is an amazing place to live and is full of wonderful people. But, the people in this city are also loved by God and He wants to have a relationship with them through Jesus Christ. So, our church is here to love this city on behalf of Jesus.

At Community, we know that before God ever established the church, he created the family! As a church, we are committed to honoring the importance of helping families grow in their faith and in their love for one another. Our goal is to never get in the way of family, but to come along side each family that God sends our way and help them live for Christ!

At Community, we believe in the importance of the local church. In the New Testament, we see that the local church was always reaching out beyond themselves to multiply churches by seeing new faith communities established all over their local area and region. We desire to do the same thing! Community Baptist will never be a megachurch, but will always strive to see new churches planted out of ours.

At Community, we know that pure religion that is undefiled before God is to care for those who have no one to care for them. The work of God is accomplished through the generous giving and sacrificial living of the people of God. We know that money isn’t a god to be served, but the gift of the one true God to meet our needs and to flow through our hands as stewards to meet the needs of the needy and fund the ministry of the Gospel. We believe that a tithe is a good start, but we strive to give out of our love for God above and beyond 10%. God will always bless a generous life!

At Community, we believe that we serve a God with a heart to love and redeem people from every tribe, tongue and nation. He has given the task of reaching them to the local church, OUR local church. We desire to pray, give and go to accomplish the Great Commission that God has given us to preach the Gospel, baptize those who believe and disciple them in all the truths that God has given us in His Word. It is vital that we reflect in our church the heart of our Missionary God!