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| Background |
THE PROPOSAL |
| The Proposal | |
| Notes on the Proposal | |
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International Baptist Convention Summary of Basic
Beliefs – The Proposal We
believe… ·
in one God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – co-eternal, co-existent, co-equal and
co-operative, as affirmed in Scripture and as summarized in the ancient
Christian confessions of faith.[1] ·
that the
Bible is inspired by God and is the standard against which all Christian
belief and behavior is measured. ·
that
Christ, through His death and resurrection, has done everything necessary
for us to have a personal one-to-one relationship with God; we begin to
experience the benefits of this when we repent from and confess our sin;
and commit our lives under the Lordship of Christ, our only Savior. ·
that Christ
has, according to the Scriptures, instituted two ordinances of:- o
believer’s
baptism as an
act of obedience and an expression of a personal commitment to Christian
discipleship. The baptism of the believer into and under water “in the
name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” is a symbol of the
Spirit’s work that is already under way and is an outward visible sign
of the of the ongoing and life-long sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit;
and o
the
communion of the Lord’s Table
as a repeated and frequent reminder of our communal life in Christ, whose
death we remember, whose resurrection we celebrate, and whose return we
eagerly await. ·
that
believer’s baptism and church membership are only for those who can
testify personally of God’s saving grace. ·
that each
local church is an autonomous assembly of believing disciples responsible
to discern the mind of Christ for that body of Christ - in the light of
Scripture, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, and under the Lordship of
Christ. ·
that each
local church is to model a better way of life according to the principles
of the ·
that in
every country all people should be entitled to the freedom of religious
expression; while respecting the laws of that country and the beliefs of
others. ·
that we, in
response to the Great Commission[2],
have been sent out[3]
and given the task of making disciples – disciplined followers of Jesus
Christ – from among all ethnic groups (nations). ·
that just
as the Trinity is the model of eternal co-operation so we as IBC churches
are to co-operate together in mission with God; with each other; and with
other like-minded Christian churches and organizations: locally,
nationally, and internationally - so that the world may believe.[4] As the International Baptist
Convention we celebrate and affirm our unity in diversity as part the
worldwide body of Christ. We seek no uniformity in worship or service but
are “many faces, many places, one message” not restricted by national
or cultural bounds. We live and serve together here on earth in
anticipation of our future celebration and service of God in Glory with
the redeemed of every nation and generation.[5]
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