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Osoyoos
Baptist
Church
Statement
Of Faith
Continued...
6.
We believe the Church is the body of which Christ is the head and all who believe in Him are members
(Ephesians 1:22-23; Romans 12:4-5). Christians are commanded to be baptized upon profession of faith and to unite with a local Church for mutual encouragement and growth in discipleship through worship, nurture, service and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world
(Acts 2:41-42; Luke 24:45-48). Each Church is a self-governing body under the lordship of Christ with all members sharing responsibility
(Acts 13:1-3, 14:26-28). The form of government is understood to be congregational
(Matthew 18:17; Acts 6:3-6, 15:22-23).
The ordinances of the Church are baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
(Matthew 28:18-20). It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's identification with the death, burial and resurrection of the Savior Jesus Christ
(Romans 6:3-5). The Lord's Supper is the partaking of the bread and of the cup by believers together as a continuing memorial of the broken body and shed blood of Christ. It is an act of thankful dedication to Him and serves to unite His people until He returns
(I Corinthians 11:23-26).
To express unity in Christ, local Churches form associations and a conference for mutual counsel, fellowship and a more effective fulfillment of Christ's commission
(Acts 15; I Corinthians 6:1-3).
7.
We believe religious liberty, rooted in Scripture, is the inalienable right of all individuals to freedom of conscience with ultimate accountability to God
(Genesis 1:27; John 8:32; II Corinthians 3:17; Romans 8:21; Acts 5:29). Church and state exist by the will of God. Each has distinctive concerns and responsibilities, free from control by the other
(Matthew 22:21). Christians should pray for civil leaders, and obey and support government in matters not contrary to Scripture
(I Timothy 2:1-4; Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-16). The state should guarantee religious liberty to all persons and groups regardless of their religious preferences, consistent with the common good.
8.
We believe Christians, individually and collectively, are salt and light in society
(Matthew 5:13-16). In a Christ like spirit, they oppose greed, selfishness and vice; they promote truth, justice and peace; they aid the needy and preserve the dignity of people of all races and conditions
(Hebrews 13:5; Luke 9:23; Titus 2:12; Philippians 4:8-9; I John 3:16-17; James 2:1-4).
We affirm the family as the basic unit of society and seek to preserve its integrity and stability
(Genesis 2:21-25; Ephesians 6:1-4).
9.
We believe God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring all things to their appropriate end and establish the new heaven and the new earth
(Ephesians 1:9-10; Revelation 21:1). The certain hope of the Christian is that Jesus Christ will return to the earth suddenly, personally and visibly in glory according to His promise
(Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:7, 3:11; John 14:1-3). The dead will be raised, and Christ will judge mankind in righteousness
(John 5:28-29). The unrighteous will be consigned to the everlasting punishment prepared for the devil and his angels
(Matthew 25:41, 46; Revelation 20:10). The righteous, in their resurrected and glorified bodies, will receive their reward and dwell forever with the Lord
(Philippians 3:20-21; II Corinthians 5:10; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Adopted by the North American Baptist Conference delegates, August 10-15, 1982,
at Niagara Falls, New York.
Statement of Faith
Page 1
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For More Information Contact:
Osoyoos Baptist Church
8506 - 92nd Ave.
Tel: 250-495-6581
FAX: 250-495-6581
Internet:
obc@otvcablelan.net
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