DOCTRINAL STATEMENT OF FAITH AND PRACTICE

SALEM UNION BAPTIST CHURCH
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT OF FAITH AND PRACTICE

We acknowledge that the Bible itself is our sole and final source and authority of all that we
believe and that our DOCTRINAL STATEMENT OF FAITH AND PRACTICE accurately
represents the teaching of the Bible.

We Believe: –
1 )The Holy Bible: In the Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, as the inspired Word of God,
entirely trustworthy, without error in the original writings, and complete revelation of His will for
the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life (2 Tim. 3:16-
17; 2 Peter 1 :20-21 ; John 10:35; Psa. 119:89).

2) Godhead: In one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three
persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; Psa. 90:2; Rev. 4:8,11; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor.
13:14).

3) Lord Jesus Christ: In the Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man, who was conceived of
the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins
according to the Scriptures. He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and is at the
right hand of the Majesty on High. He is now our High Priest and Advocate (John 1:1, 14; Matt.
1 :18-25; Rom. 1 :4; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 4:14-16; 7:24-25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1-2).

4) Holy Spirit: In the Holy Spirit, co-equal with the Father and the Son, whose ministry is to
glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men of sin, regenerate the believing
sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service (John
14:16-26; 16:7-15; Rom. 8:9-14; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Gal. 5:22-23).

5) Man: That man, who was created in the image of God sinned, that all men have sinned, are
guilty and can receive salvation and eternal life only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit
(Gen. 2:4-3:24; Rom. 3:9-26; 5:12-21; John 3:3-8; Titus 3:4-7).

6) Redemption Through Christ: That the vicarious atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ and
His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and
that only those who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are redeemed by His blood and are
born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become children of God. That those regenerated and sealed by
the Holy Spirit, have eternal life, are kept by the power of God and shall never perish (Rom.
3:21-26; 4:25; 5:1-11; 8:1,28-29; John 3:1-18,36; 5:24; 10:27-29; Eph. 1 :7-8,13-14; 2:8-10;
Titus 3:4-7; Heb. 7:25; 1 Peter 1 :3-5, 23).

7) Justification: That the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is
justification; that justification include 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 favour with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time
and eternity ( Isa. 44:22; Rom. 3:28; 4:5 1 Cor. 1 :30; Rom. 3:1-19; Eph. 2:8-10; Col. 2:9-10;
Jam. 2:14-26; 1 John 1 :7).

8) Sanctification: That 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 Sealer, and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means,
especially, the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer (Co I. 3:1;
Eph. 5:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:7; Rom. 12:2; 6:12; John 17:17; 1 Peter 1 :2; Psa. 51 :6; 1 Cor. 6:11;
Philip. 1 :1; Heb. 1 :1; 1 Thess. 3:12-13).

9) Last Things:
(a) Return of Christ: In the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ from the right hand of the
Father in Heaven to take all believers to be with Himself for eternity; His Millennial reign on the
earth; and as judge of all believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ and of all unbelievers at the
Great White Throne Judgment; and His eternal reign on earth (Matt. 24:1-44; Mark 16:19; John
14:2-3; Acts 1 :11; 1 Cor. 15:23-25; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1: 3;8:1;
10:12; 12:2; Rev. 20:4-5, 11-15; 22:5).                                                                                                        (b) Resurrection of the Dead: In the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, of the unbeliever to everlasting conscious
judgment; and in the reality of Heaven and Hell as taught by our Lord ( John 3:36; 2 Thess. 1
:6-10; 1 Cor. 15:1-58; Heb. 9:27-28; Luke 16:19-31; 23:39-43; John 5:24-29; 14:1-3).

10) Ordinances:
(a) That baptism is taught in the Scriptures, both by example and by command, as the
identification of a believer with Christ, and is Scripturally expressed in the form of immersion.
Although it is not a means of salvation, nor a prerequisite to fellowship at the Lord’s Table, it is
expected of all believers as an initial act of obedience to our Lord (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:3-4; Col.
2:12; Acts 8:12, 35-39).
(b) The Lord’s Supper: The Lord’s Supper is taught in the Scripture by example and
command for all Christians in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 11 :24-34; Acts 2:42;
Matt. 26:26-29; Luke 22:15-20).

11) The Church:
(a) Universal: That the true Church is composed of all those who through saving faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body
of Christ of which He is the Head (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:13-22; Col. 1 :13-18).
(b) Local: That the Lord has called believers to fellowship together in local congregations.
These congregations are to obey their Lord in the regular observance of the Lord’s Supper, the
administration of believer’s baptism, the ministry of the Word of God, and evangelism at home
and abroad. The local congregation exists in vital union with all other groups of believers, and
yet is autonomous in government, submitting only to the Lord Jesus Christ as Head of the
Church (1 Cor. 1:1; Philip. 1:1; Acts 2:42-47; Heb. 10:24-25; Eph. 4: 11-13).

12) Christian Vocation: That it is the responsibility of Christians to love God and their neighbour,
to worship the Father in Spirit and in truth, to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, to be filled with the
Holy Spirit, to share the good news of salvation through Christ, to encourage one another in the
faith, and to look expectantly for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20; Luke
10:25-37; John 4:23-24; 5:23; 15:16-17; Acts 1 :7-11; 1 Cor. 10;31; Gal. 5:16-6:2; Eph. 5: 18-
21; Col. 1 :18; Titus 2:11-15; Jude 20-25; Rev. 22:20-21; Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Eph.
4:11-13).

13) Civil Government: That civil government is of Divine appointment, for the interest and good
order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honoured,
and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only
Lord of the conscience and the prince of the kings of the earth (Rom. 13:1-7; Matt. 22:21; 1
Tim. 2:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Titus 3:1).

14) Marriage: That marriage is the union of one man and one woman bound by the ties of
matrimony; it is a covenant based upon promises between one man and one woman and finds
its divinely intended expression in the “one flesh” covenant union of husband and wife; it is an
institution ordained by God and established by God for procreation and sexual fulfilment within
the bounds of marriage; that Jesus Christ honoured the celebration of marriage by His
presence at the wedding in Cana of Galilee; that Scripture commends marriage as a worthy
institution. We further believe that God’s intended options for mankind in their human sexual
behaviour after creation was to enjoy the gift of marital life, or the gift of celibacy. Therefore,
marriages are to be celebrated, and celibacy likewise is to be celebrated and affirmed. (Gen. 1
:27-28,2:18-25; Matt. 19:4-9; Mark 10:5-9; Eph. 5:31-33; 1 Cor. 7:1-8; 1 Tim. 5:1-2; John 2:1-
11; Heb. 13:4; Luke 14:20; Isa. 62:5; 1 Cor. 7: 1-9; 1 Tim. 5:14; 1 Cor. 12:12-13).

We believe that sexual redemption is available to all who have fallen short of the glory of God
in their sexuality. We therefore encourage all to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ by
grace alone through Christ alone and live lives unto Christ. (Matt. 11: 28-30; Rom. 3:23; Eph.
2:1-10; 1 Cor. 10:13; Heb. 2:17-18, 4:14-16).

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