What We Believe
Statement of Faith
The following statements of faith and doctrine do not exhaust the extent of our beliefs.
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The Bible is the sole and final source of all that we believe. As the inspired and infallible Word of God, Scripture speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind.
The following subparagraphs capture key thoughts from the Baptist Faith and Message, 2000, which is available online for review (click here). The church authorizes the body of elders to be the final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application in matters of faith and doctrine.
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We believe the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its Author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried.
Luke 16:29–31; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; Ephesians 2:20; Hebrews 1:1; 2 Peter 1:19–21; John 16:13–15; Matthew 22:29–31; Psalm 119:1–8; Psalm 19:1–7
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We believe there is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and in all other perfections. God is all-powerful and all-knowing, and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him, we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
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God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and all-wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.
Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2–3; 15:11 ff, Exodus 20:1 ff; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalms 19:1–3; 103:19; Isaiah 43:3, 15; 46:9–10; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9 ff; Matthew 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9–11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14–15; 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7, Psalm 103:19
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Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross, He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever-present Lord.
Genesis 18:1 ff; Psalms 2:7 ff; Psalms 110:1 ff; Isaiah 7:14; 53:1–12; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27; 17:5; 27; 28:1–6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1–18; 1:29; 10:30; 10:38; 11:25–27; 12:44–50; 14:7–11; 16:15–16; 16:28; 17:1–5; 17:21–22; 20:1–20; 20:28; Acts 1:9; 2:22–24; 7:55–56; 9:4–5, 20; Romans 1:3–4; 3:23–26; 5:6–21; 8:1–3; 8:34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1–8, 24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19–21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4–5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7–10; Philippians 2:5–11; Colossians 1:13–22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14–18; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; 3:16; Titus 2:13–14; Hebrews 1:1–3; 4:14–15; 7:14–28; 9:12–15; 9:24–28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21–25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7–9; 3:2; 4:14–15; 5:9; 2 John 7–9; Revelation 1:13–16; 5:9–14; 12:10–11; 13:8; 19:16
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The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination, He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Savior, and He effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration, He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7 ff; Isaiah 61:1–3; Joel 2:28–32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28–32; 28:19; Mark 1:10, 12; Luke 1:35; 4:1, 18–19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16–17; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7–14; Acts 1:8; 2:1–4; 2:38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17; 8:39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1–6; Romans 8:9–11, 14–16, 26–27; 1 Corinthians 2:10–14; 3:16; 12:3–11, 13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13–14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8, 14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6–7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17.
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We believe man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression fell from the holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but by choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to sin; and therefore, under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.
Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7; John 1:23; Genesis 3:4–7; Genesis 3:22–24; Romans 5:12, 14, 19, 21; Romans 7:23–25; Romans 11:18, 22, 32–33; Colossians 1:21
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We believe the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God; who by the appointment of the Father freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by His personal obedience; and by His death made a full atonement for our sins; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven; and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest of sympathies with divine perfections, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all sufficient Savior.
Colossians 1:21–22; Ephesians 1:7–10; Galatians 2:19–20; Galatians 3:13; Romans 1:4; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:30–31; 2 Corinthians 5:21
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We believe the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe on Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood; by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.
Romans 3:24; 4:2; 5:1–2; 8:30; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:30–31; 2 Corinthians 5:21
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We believe the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
Ephesians 1:5; 1 Corinthians 1:30–31; Romans 5:1–9; Revelation 22:17; John 3:16; Mark 16:16
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We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration consists of giving a holy disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life.
John 3:1–8; 1:16–18; Romans 8:2; Ephesians 2:1, 5–6, 8, 10; Ephesians 4:30, 32; Colossians 3:1–11; Titus 3:5
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We believe repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King, and relying upon him alone as the only and all sufficient Savior.
Luke 22:31–34; Mark 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:13; Romans 3:25; Romans 3:27, 31; Romans 4:3, 9, 12, 16–17; John 16:8–11.
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We believe election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end that it is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy and unchangeable; that it utterly excludes boasting and promotes humility, love, prayer, trust in God and active imitation of His free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that it may be ascertained by its effect in all who truly believe the gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence.
Romans 8:30; Romans 11:7; Ephesians 1:10; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17–19; Psalm 110:3; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:5; John 6:44–45, 65; Romans 10:12–15; 2 Timothy 1:9
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We believe sanctification is the process by which according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Healer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means, especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer.
Acts 20:32; John 17:17; Romans 6:5–6; Ephesians 3:16; Romans 4:14; Galatians 5:24; Hebrews 12:14; Romans 7:18–25; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16, 25–26
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We believe such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special providence watches over their welfare, and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
John 10:28–29; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Romans 8:30; Romans 9:11, 16; Romans 5:9–10; Matthew 26:70–75
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We believe the church is both universal and local. The universal church includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. A local church is a congregation of believers, whose members are associated by sincere commitment to one another, and submitted to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. Such a congregation gathers regularly for worship, fellowship, prayer, and edification, while gladly receiving the Word of God and practicing the ordinances. A local church is committed to the mission of extending the gospel to the ends of the earth, making disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, and maturing in holiness together. It practices self-governance with their two scriptural offices being pastor/elder/overseer and deacon. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3.
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We believe Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior; the believer’s death to sin; the burial of the old life; and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to a believer’s faith in the final resurrection of the dead, to his/her desire to follow the example of Jesus, and to publicly associate with and declare himself/herself a new member of the Body of Christ.
We believe the Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience and a means of grace whereby believers, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, with a spirit of sincere self-examination, memorialize the death of the Redeemer, are strengthened in their faith, and anticipate His second coming.
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; Romans 6:3–5; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 21, 11:23–29; Colossians 2:12.
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God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring this present world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous in their resurrected bodies, along with Satan and all evil beings, will be consigned to the lake of fire, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in the new heaven and new earth with the Lord.
Matthew 16:27, 18:8-9, 19:28, 24:27,30,36,44, 25:31-46, 26:64; Mark 8:38, 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48, 16:19-26, 17:22-37, 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11, Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5, 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5, 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, 5:1ff; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-2:12; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff; 1 John 2:28, 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18, 3:11, 20:1-22:13.
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We believe God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26–27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
We believe the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:18–25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2–5; Hebrews 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matthew 15:18–20; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10).
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of University Baptist Church of Beavercreek Ohio as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the UBC members and the community, it is imperative that all members, persons employed by UBC in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14–16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22).
We believe God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19–21; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11).
We believe every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28–31; Luke 6:31). 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 UBC.
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We believe 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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