What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Memphis Baptist Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines. We also affirm the Baptist Faith and Message (2000).

We believe that God the Father is Creator and Ruler over all the universe.  God the Father is one God who has eternally existed co-equally with God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He is father to all who are a part of the family of God, and He is fatherly in his attitude toward all men.
 
Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1: 26-27, Genesis 3:22, Deuteronomy 6:4, 
Psalm 90:2, Matthew 6:26, Galatians 4:6.

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God. He has eternally existed co-equally with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless life, yet He was tempted in every way just as we are.  We believe Jesus died on the cross as the propitiation for our sins.  Jesus was raised from the dead to display His power over sin and death. Jesus ascended to Heaven where He is now at the right hand of God.  Jesus is fully man and fully God and He will return to judge and rule over all of creation.  
 
Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-23, John 1:1-4, John 5:16-18, John 20:28, John 20: 30-31, Acts 4:10-11, Romans 5:8, Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 4:14-15, Revelation 22:20

We believe the Holy Spirit is God and has eternally existed co-equally with God the Father and God the Son.  The Holy Spirit is a person who speaks, guides, comforts, warns, and leads.  He dwells in the hearts of believers from the moment of salvation.  The Holy Spirit gives believers “gifts” in which they are to use to build up the body of Christ. Christians should be seeking to live under control of the Holy Spirit which produces “fruit.”
 
Genesis 1:2, John 14:16, John 16:13, Acts 13:2, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, Galatians 5: 16-17, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:18, Hebrews 10:15

We believe the Bible is the Word of God (both the Old and New Testament).  The Scriptures are “alive and active” and “sharper than any double-edged sword.”  We believe the Bible was written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  We believe the Bible has one villain: satan, one hero: Jesus, one theme: redemption, and one purpose: the glory of God!  The Bible is not a random collection of events, but one big story that points to salvation through Jesus Christ. The Bible is all-sufficient, all-inspired and perfectly put together without error by God.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 2 Kings 22:13, Psalm 119, Proverbs 30:5, Matthew 5: 17-19, Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12-13,
1 Peter 1:24-25

We believe that man is created in the image of God.  Every human life is valuable to God with a special plan and purpose for their lives.  God created man to glorify Him and to be in perfect union with Him; however, man, beginning with Adam, is separated from God through sin.  It is the desire of God that all men be saved and reconnect in a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
 
Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6 Psalm 139:13-18, Jeremiah 1:5, Romans 3:23, Romans 5: 12-14, Colossians 1:21, Ephesians 2:1-22

When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time. Since that time, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The punishment for sin is eternal death.

Genesis 3:6, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Galatians 5:19-21, James 1:14-15, 1 John 3:4-6

We believe that salvation is the free gift of God found in Jesus Christ that cannot be earned and is available to all people. Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave to defeat sin and death.  While sin separates us from God, by His death and resurrection Jesus reunites us with God.  To be saved, one must repent of sin and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Accepting Jesus as Lord of your life is the only way to be a part of the family of God. We believe there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we can be saved.  
 
Matthew 28:19-20, John 3:1-21, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, Roman 10:9, Romans 10:13, 2 Corinthians 5:15,
Galatians 3:26, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5

We believe in the local church, which is a body of believers that are “associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel.”  We believe that Jesus Christ is the head of the church. The church is known as the body and bride of Christ.
 
Matthew 16:15-19, Acts 2:41-42,  1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Ephesians 5:21-33, Colossians 1:15-20,
Hebrews 11:39-40, 1 Peter 5:1-5