1. We believe that the Bible, the Old and New Testaments, is the inerrant, inspired, infallible Word of God. God’s Word is the final authority for faith and life. It is the revelation of God to man. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.
2. We believe there is only one God who is infinite, eternal, almighty, and perfect in holiness, truth, and love; existing in three co-existent, co-equal, and co-eternal Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe that man is created in the image of God and had a relationship with God. Then through rebellion, humans fell into sin that it marred the image of God and separated us from God. This sin prevents us returning to God apart from a special work of God’s grace in salvation.
4. We believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world. He was born of the Virgin Mary and conceived by the Holy Spirit. He lived a perfect life without sin in full obedience to the Father. He then died on a cross, in our place, to pay the penalty for our sin. He was resurrected physically on the 3rd day before ascending to Heaven.
5. We believe the only way of salvation is through the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by repentance and personal faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ alone. Those who are truly redeemed are kept by God’s power and thus truly secure in Christ forever.
6. We believe in bodily return of Jesus Christ to judge the living and the dead. At this point, Jesus will defeat Satan once and for all and establish the New Heaven and New Earth.
7. We believe the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers on mission to enlarge God’s kingdom. The local church is autonomous, free of any external authority of control.
8. We believe that the church has been given two ordinances to practice: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is to be done by immersion into water in obedience to the command of Jesus. Baptism does not save, but it is the first act of obedience to be done by a person who has placed their faith in Christ. The Lord’s Supper is to be taken by baptized believers. The bread and the cup symbolize Jesus’ body being broken and his blood being poured out on the believer’s behalf.
We are in cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Wilmington Baptist Association and affirm the Baptist Faith & Message 2000.
Atkinson Baptist Church 