WHAT WE BELIEVE
Baptism
We believe that baptism is an act of obedience to and identification with Jesus Christ. It cannot, alone, or coupled with any other work, save. The Bible teaches that baptism should be done by immersion signifying Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and only those who have accepted Christ should be given this ordinance of the church. (Rom. 6:3-5, Col. 2:12, Acts 2:38, Rom. 6:4,Col.2:12)
Church
We believe that the local church is God’s design and plan to carry out the great commission. The organization of the church is a local body of unified believers who have assembled for the cause of Christ and that the church is an institution ordained and loved by God. God expects and desires all who are saved to participate in His church. (Acts 16:5, Eph. 5:25-32, Mat. 16:18, Heb.10:25)
Creation
We believe that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit created the heavens, and earth and all they contain in six literal, twenty-four hour days. God created the heavens and earth out of nothing and in their entirety. (Gen 1:1,2,26, John 1:1,3,14)
God
We believe that there is one God and that He exists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each member of the trinity is personal with distinct personality and function. God is eternal; He was not created but is self-existent. God is Spirit in nature, immutable, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, holy, righteous, just, love, full of grace, and merciful. (Psalm 106:1, Mat. 28:19,20, John 5:26, John 4:24, Mal. 3:6, Heb. 4:13, Jer. 32:17, Psalm 139:7,8, I Peter 1:16, Psalm 145:17, Zep. 3:5, Eph. 2:8)
Heaven
We believe that heaven is a literal place where all believers go at the moment of death and will spend eternity. (Col.1:5)
Hell
We believe that hell is a literal place where all those who reject Christ will go at the moment of death and will spend eternity. Hell is a place of literal and eternal suffering and was originally created for the devil and his angels. (Luke 16:22,23, Rev. 20:10, Mat. 25:41)
Holy Spirit
We believe in the reality, person, and work of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, indwells the believer, seals the believer, strengthens, directs, gives power in witnessing, and baptizes individuals into the body of Christ at the moment of conversion. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not something to be attained after salvation. (Eph.1:13; 3:16, Rom.8:14, Acts 1:8, John 16:8, John 16;7, I Cor. 6:19, John 1:32-34)
Jesus Christ
We believe in the reality, person, and work of Jesus Christ, the second person in the trinity. Jesus Christ was virgin born, is God’s only son conceived by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was all man and all God and was without sin. He willingly died on the cross for the sins of the world, he was truly dead, buried in a tomb, and resurrected on the third day. Jesus Christ ascended bodily into heaven and will one day return for all who have trusted in Him. (Mat 1:23, Luke 1:35, John 3:16, I Tim 2:5, John 10:30, Heb. 4:15, I Cor. 15:3,4, Acts 1:11)
Last Things
We believe in the pre-tribulation, pre-millennial, rapture of the Church. The millennial reign of Christ, the future judgment at the judgment seat of Christ for the saved and the great white throne judgment for the lost. Satan, his angels, and all who rejected Christ will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. The Christian will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord. (I Thess. 4:15-17, Rev. 20:4, I Cor. 5:10, Rev. 20:12-15, I Thess. 4:17)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is by God’s grace and through faith alone. Salvation was made possible through the shed blood of Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Faith in what Christ did on Calvary is the only means of salvation. Salvation, upon the moment received is eternal. Those who choose salvation through Christ will spend eternity in heaven, while those who reject or do nothing with Christ will spend eternity in hell. (Eph. 2:8, Heb. 9:22, Col. 1:20, Rom. 10:9, John 10:27,28, Rom. 3:23, James 1:14,15, Luke 16:22-24)
Satan
We believe in the reality, personality, and work of Satan. Satan was created as an angel of God, tried to exalt himself to equality with God and was cast out of heaven. Satan tries ensnares men, blinds the minds of men, and opposes God’s servants. His final and eternal destiny is the lake of fire. (Isaiah 14:12-14, Acts 10:38, Heb.2:14, II Tim 2:26, II Cor. 4:4, I Thess. 2:18, Rev. 20:10)
Scripture
We believe that all scripture is given by inspiration of God. The scripture is the only authority in all matters of life. The Scriptures as we have them are complete and accurate. There is no new revelation from God. (II Tim 3:16, II Peter 1:21, Heb. 4:12, I Tim. 3:15)
We believe that baptism is an act of obedience to and identification with Jesus Christ. It cannot, alone, or coupled with any other work, save. The Bible teaches that baptism should be done by immersion signifying Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and only those who have accepted Christ should be given this ordinance of the church. (Rom. 6:3-5, Col. 2:12, Acts 2:38, Rom. 6:4,Col.2:12)
Church
We believe that the local church is God’s design and plan to carry out the great commission. The organization of the church is a local body of unified believers who have assembled for the cause of Christ and that the church is an institution ordained and loved by God. God expects and desires all who are saved to participate in His church. (Acts 16:5, Eph. 5:25-32, Mat. 16:18, Heb.10:25)
Creation
We believe that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit created the heavens, and earth and all they contain in six literal, twenty-four hour days. God created the heavens and earth out of nothing and in their entirety. (Gen 1:1,2,26, John 1:1,3,14)
God
We believe that there is one God and that He exists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each member of the trinity is personal with distinct personality and function. God is eternal; He was not created but is self-existent. God is Spirit in nature, immutable, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, holy, righteous, just, love, full of grace, and merciful. (Psalm 106:1, Mat. 28:19,20, John 5:26, John 4:24, Mal. 3:6, Heb. 4:13, Jer. 32:17, Psalm 139:7,8, I Peter 1:16, Psalm 145:17, Zep. 3:5, Eph. 2:8)
Heaven
We believe that heaven is a literal place where all believers go at the moment of death and will spend eternity. (Col.1:5)
Hell
We believe that hell is a literal place where all those who reject Christ will go at the moment of death and will spend eternity. Hell is a place of literal and eternal suffering and was originally created for the devil and his angels. (Luke 16:22,23, Rev. 20:10, Mat. 25:41)
Holy Spirit
We believe in the reality, person, and work of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, indwells the believer, seals the believer, strengthens, directs, gives power in witnessing, and baptizes individuals into the body of Christ at the moment of conversion. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not something to be attained after salvation. (Eph.1:13; 3:16, Rom.8:14, Acts 1:8, John 16:8, John 16;7, I Cor. 6:19, John 1:32-34)
Jesus Christ
We believe in the reality, person, and work of Jesus Christ, the second person in the trinity. Jesus Christ was virgin born, is God’s only son conceived by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was all man and all God and was without sin. He willingly died on the cross for the sins of the world, he was truly dead, buried in a tomb, and resurrected on the third day. Jesus Christ ascended bodily into heaven and will one day return for all who have trusted in Him. (Mat 1:23, Luke 1:35, John 3:16, I Tim 2:5, John 10:30, Heb. 4:15, I Cor. 15:3,4, Acts 1:11)
Last Things
We believe in the pre-tribulation, pre-millennial, rapture of the Church. The millennial reign of Christ, the future judgment at the judgment seat of Christ for the saved and the great white throne judgment for the lost. Satan, his angels, and all who rejected Christ will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. The Christian will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord. (I Thess. 4:15-17, Rev. 20:4, I Cor. 5:10, Rev. 20:12-15, I Thess. 4:17)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is by God’s grace and through faith alone. Salvation was made possible through the shed blood of Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Faith in what Christ did on Calvary is the only means of salvation. Salvation, upon the moment received is eternal. Those who choose salvation through Christ will spend eternity in heaven, while those who reject or do nothing with Christ will spend eternity in hell. (Eph. 2:8, Heb. 9:22, Col. 1:20, Rom. 10:9, John 10:27,28, Rom. 3:23, James 1:14,15, Luke 16:22-24)
Satan
We believe in the reality, personality, and work of Satan. Satan was created as an angel of God, tried to exalt himself to equality with God and was cast out of heaven. Satan tries ensnares men, blinds the minds of men, and opposes God’s servants. His final and eternal destiny is the lake of fire. (Isaiah 14:12-14, Acts 10:38, Heb.2:14, II Tim 2:26, II Cor. 4:4, I Thess. 2:18, Rev. 20:10)
Scripture
We believe that all scripture is given by inspiration of God. The scripture is the only authority in all matters of life. The Scriptures as we have them are complete and accurate. There is no new revelation from God. (II Tim 3:16, II Peter 1:21, Heb. 4:12, I Tim. 3:15)
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Crossroads Baptist Church is an independent, fundamental Baptist church. The name Baptist was born during times of great persecution. Early Baptist (Anabaptists) were persecuted for refusing baptism for their infants. They believed instead that the Bible teaches only born again believers are to be baptized (Acts 2:41, 8:36-38). Along with believers’ baptism, the Baptist church has traditionally been known for the following distinctives that Crossroads Baptist Church holds dear:
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BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES
B – Bible is the sole authority for Faith and Practice
(II Tim. 3:15-16). We reject the authority of tradition and church counsels. We
stand on the authority of God’s Word alone (Is. 8:20).
A – Autonomy of the Local Church. The church, as a congregation, is responsible for all decisions pertaining to church officers (Acts 6:1-5), dispersement of funds (I Cor. 16:1-3), doctrinal statements (Acts 15), commission of missionaries (Acts 13), and discipline of its members (Matt. 18: 15-17; I Cor. 5). As an autonomous local Baptist congregation, Crossroads Baptist Church is a self-governing congregational assembly not aligned with any denomination or obligated to its oversight.
P – Priesthood of the Believer (I Peter 2:5, 9). The New Testament declares that every born-again believer can access the very throne of God through “one Mediator, the man Christ Jesus” (I Tim. 2:5).
T – Two Biblical Ordinances. 1.) Believer’s Baptism (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 8:36-38) by immersion, and 2.) The Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 11:23-26) as an ongoing remembrance of the sacrifice of the Savior for our sins.
I – Individual Soul Liberty (II Tim. 2:15). Every believer will one day give account for his or her own decisions and actions before the Judgment Seat of Christ (II Cor. 5:10). Therefore we must respect every believer’s right to read, interpret, and practice what is taught in Scripture as he or she lives and walks in the liberties enjoyed through Christ.
S – Saved Church Membership (Acts 2:41f). Every member of Crossroads Baptist Church must profess Christ as personal Savior (Rom. 10:13).
T – Two Church Offices: the pastor and the deacon (I Tim. 3; Phil. 1:1). We believe that the words pastor, elder, and bishop refer to the same office (I Pet. 5:1-4; Acts 20:17, 28-30). Deacons are to be spiritual men who strive to meet the needs of others. They serve under the oversight of the pastors and are elected by the congregation (Acts 6:1-7).
S – Separation of Church and State (Matt. 22:21). Having been persecuted by state churches in England, Switzerland, France, and the American Colonies, the Baptist people advocated the separation of the church from the state. Americans enjoy the freedom of religion because colonial American Baptists demonstrated for religious freedom in Rhode Island and Virginia and finally secured it through the 1st amendment to our constitution. This freedom protects the church from the state, not the state from the church.
Crossroads Baptist Church is pleased to be known as a balanced, Bible-based, evangelistically-fervent, family-friendly Baptist church.
A – Autonomy of the Local Church. The church, as a congregation, is responsible for all decisions pertaining to church officers (Acts 6:1-5), dispersement of funds (I Cor. 16:1-3), doctrinal statements (Acts 15), commission of missionaries (Acts 13), and discipline of its members (Matt. 18: 15-17; I Cor. 5). As an autonomous local Baptist congregation, Crossroads Baptist Church is a self-governing congregational assembly not aligned with any denomination or obligated to its oversight.
P – Priesthood of the Believer (I Peter 2:5, 9). The New Testament declares that every born-again believer can access the very throne of God through “one Mediator, the man Christ Jesus” (I Tim. 2:5).
T – Two Biblical Ordinances. 1.) Believer’s Baptism (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 8:36-38) by immersion, and 2.) The Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 11:23-26) as an ongoing remembrance of the sacrifice of the Savior for our sins.
I – Individual Soul Liberty (II Tim. 2:15). Every believer will one day give account for his or her own decisions and actions before the Judgment Seat of Christ (II Cor. 5:10). Therefore we must respect every believer’s right to read, interpret, and practice what is taught in Scripture as he or she lives and walks in the liberties enjoyed through Christ.
S – Saved Church Membership (Acts 2:41f). Every member of Crossroads Baptist Church must profess Christ as personal Savior (Rom. 10:13).
T – Two Church Offices: the pastor and the deacon (I Tim. 3; Phil. 1:1). We believe that the words pastor, elder, and bishop refer to the same office (I Pet. 5:1-4; Acts 20:17, 28-30). Deacons are to be spiritual men who strive to meet the needs of others. They serve under the oversight of the pastors and are elected by the congregation (Acts 6:1-7).
S – Separation of Church and State (Matt. 22:21). Having been persecuted by state churches in England, Switzerland, France, and the American Colonies, the Baptist people advocated the separation of the church from the state. Americans enjoy the freedom of religion because colonial American Baptists demonstrated for religious freedom in Rhode Island and Virginia and finally secured it through the 1st amendment to our constitution. This freedom protects the church from the state, not the state from the church.
Crossroads Baptist Church is pleased to be known as a balanced, Bible-based, evangelistically-fervent, family-friendly Baptist church.