  
Sage Avenue Baptist Church Faith and Doctrine
The Scriptures
We believe in the complete, verbal inspiration of the Scriptures and the Word of God as
the sole standard of our faith and practice. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21).
The True God
We believe that there is one and only one true God, an infinite sovereign Spirit and
that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
equal in every divine perfection but executing distinct offices in the work of redemption.
(Exodus 20:2; II Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; I John 5:7).
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God, the Father, and God
the Son. (John 14:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26).
The Devil or Satan
We believe in the personality of Satan, the unholy God of this age whose eternal
destination is the lake of fire. (Matthew 4:1-11; II Corinthians 1:16-17; John 1:3).
Creation
We believe the Genesis account of creation and the fact that man was created by a
direct act of God, not by evolution. (Genesis 1 and 2; Colossians 1:16-17; John1:3).
The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence and that by voluntary choice he
transgressed God's law, in consequence of which all men are born in sin and are under the
just condemnation of God. (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 5:12, 19).
The Virgin Birth
We believe that Jesus was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary, a
virgin. (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:1-25).
The Atonement of Sin
We believe that salvation is divinely initiated and is wholly of grace through the
voluntary, vicarious atonement of Christ. (Jonah 2:9; Acts 2:11; John 3:16; Ephesians
2:8).
Resurrection and Priesthood
We believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ; His ascension into heaven and His high
priestly ministry. (Matthew 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27).
Grace in the New Creation
We believe that sinners must be born again in order to be saved; that the new birth is
an instantaneous act brought about by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with the
revealed truth of the Holy Scriptures. (John 3:3; I John 5:a; II Corinthians 5:17).
Justification
We believe that justification is the judicial act of God whereby believers are declared
righteous solely through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. (Acts 13:39; Isaiah
53:11; Zechariah 13:1-2; II Corinthians 5:18-21).
Saving Faith
We believe that "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ" is the only condition of salvation, repentance and faith being wrought by the
Holy Spirit because of God's matchless grace toward sinners. (Ephesians 2:8, 9:2;
Romans 2:4; Acts 20:20-21).
The Security of the Saints
We believe that those who are born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. (Philippians
1:6; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39).
The Local Church
We believe that a local church is an organized self-governing body of born again
believers baptized by immersion; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws
and that its officers are pastors and deacons. We believe the true mission of the church
is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all mankind. (Ephesians 3:1-6; I Corinthians
12:12-13; Acts 2:41; I Corinthians 11:2; Acts 20:17-28; Acts 2:42).
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
We believe in baptism by immersion to show our identification with Christ in His death,
burial and resurrection. We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of
Christ's death until He returns. (Acts 8;36-39; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-6; Matthew 3:16;
Colossians 2:12; I Corinthians 11:23-28).
Separation
We believe in obedience to Biblical commands to separate entirely from worldliness and
ecclesiastical apostasy unto God. (I Timothy 6:3-5; Romans 16:17; II Corinthians 6:14;
7:1; I Thessalonians 1:9-10; II John 9-11).
Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for our interest and good. (Romans
13:1-7).
Separation of Church and State
We believe in equal religious liberty for all and the separation of church and state. (Mark
12:17).
The Rapture and Subsequent Events
We believe in the imminent, personal, visible, premillennial return of Christ and His
church. We believe that the great tribulation, which follows the rapture of the church,
will be culminated by the revelation of Christ and the establishment of His millennial
reign. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Daniel 9:25-27; I Corinthians 15:42-44; Matthew
24:29-31; Revelation 20:1-4,6).
The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that only those who have been justified by faith in Christ are righteous in
God's sight; those who continue in unbelief are under the curse and face everlasting,
conscious suffering. (Malachi 3:8; Genesis 18:23; Revelation 20:14-15; Romans 6:17-18;
Romans 6:23).
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