General Association of General Baptists
  The movement of churches today called "General Baptist" began in America in 1823 when founder Benoni Stinson organized the Liberty Church (now Howell General Baptist Church) in southern Indiana. In 1870 the General Association of General Baptists was organized, bringing together General Baptist local associations of churches in cooperative efforts.  
 

General Baptist

Statements of Faith

I. GOD

    We believe that there is only one true, living, and eternal God and that the Godhead is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

  1. One true and eternal God
    Deuteronomy 6:4, 33:27; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 3:15, 16; 28:19; John 14:9-11; 10:30; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2:5; 6:17; Hebrews 1:1-13; 3:12; Mark 12:29
  2. The Godhead
    1. God as Father
    Genesis 1:1; Matthew 6:9; Ephesians 4:6
    2. God as Son
    Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 16:16; John 1:1; 3:14, 16; 14:28; 1 Corinthians 15:28; Hebrews 1:8
    Virgin Birth of Jesus
    Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38
    3. God as Holy Spirit
    John 14:16, 26; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:1-4; Romans 8:16

II. THE BIBLE

    We believe that the Holy Scriptures are the Old and New Testaments; the inspired and infallible Word of God and therein is found the reliable guide of Christian faith and conduct.

  1. The Inspired Revelation
    Luke 24:44-46; Romans 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:20-21

  2. The Infallible Word
    Isaiah 40:8; Luke 21:33; John 17:17; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:25

  3. The Reliable Guide
    Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:105, 140; John 5:39; Acts 17:11-12; Romans 10:14-15; 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

III. MAN

    We believe that God created man in His own image to bring Him honor through obedience, and that when man disobeyed, he became a fallen sinful creature, unable to save himself. We believe that infants are in the covenant of God's grace and that all persons become accountable to God when they reach a state of moral responsibility.

  1. Man's Origin
    Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; Psalms 8:5

  2. Man's Purpose
    Genesis 1:28-31; 2:15-25; Isaiah 43:7

  3. Man's Sin
    Genesis 3:1-24; Psalms 51:5; Jeremiah 13:23; Romans 1:18-3:23; 5:12-21; 7:1-25

  4. Man's Accountability
    Matthew 19:13-15; Romans 4:15; 5:13; 6:16; Hebrews 11:24-26

IV. SALVATION

    We believe that Salvation (regeneration, sanctification, justification, and redemption) has been provided for all mankind through the redemptive work (life, death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession) of Jesus Christ, and that this Salvation can be received only through repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

  1. Salvation
    Hebrews 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 1 Peter 1:9; Hebrews 7:25

  2. Regeneration
    John 3:3-8; 1:11-13; 1 Peter 1:23; Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:4; Titus 3:5

  3. Sanctification
    1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 10:9-10, 29; 2 Timothy 2:21; Hebrews 13:12; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:2

  4. Justification
    Romans 3:20-24; 5:1-2, 18; 8:30-33; Acts 13:38-39; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21

  5. Redemption
    Matthew 20:28; Isaiah 53:6; Colossians 1:14; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9

  6. Christ's Redemptive Work
    John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Hebrews 2:9; Revelation 22:17; 2 Peter 3:9; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9

  7. Life and Death
    Romans 5:10; Hebrews 9:12-15; John 10:11; 1 John 3:16

  8. Resurrection
    Romans 4:25; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:14, 17

  9. Ascension
    Hebrews 4:14-16; 6:19-20; 9:24; 10:11-12

  10. Intercession
    Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:15; Isaiah 53:12; 1 Timothy 2:5

  11. Repentance
    Isaiah 55:6-7; Luke 24:47; Luke 13:3-5; Acts 2:38; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

  12. Faith
    John 3:16-18; Hebrews 11:1,6; 1 Peter 1:5

V. ASSURANCE AND ENDURANCE

    We believe that those who abide in Christ have the assurance of salvation. However, we believe that the Christian retains his freedom of choice; therefore, it is possible for him to turn away from God and be finally lost.

  1. Assurance
    Matthew 28:20; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 5:9

  2. Endurance
    Matthew 10:22; Luke 9:62; Colossians 1:23; Revelation 2:10-22; 3:3-5

  3. Warnings
    John 15:6; Romans 11:20-23; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12; 10:26-29; 2 Peter 2:20-21

  4. Finally Lost
    John 15:6, 1 Corinthians 9:27; Hebrews 6:4-6

VI. CHRISTIAN DUTIES

    We believe that Christians should live faithfully by serving in and through the local church, praying diligently, witnessing earnestly, practicing tolerance, showing loving kindness, giving as God prospers, and conducting themselves in such a way as to bring glory to God.

  1. Faithful Service
    1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 101:6; Matthew 28:18-20; John 15:7-14; Romans 12:14; 1 Corinthians 13 - 2 Corinthians 8:9; Ephesians 4:6; Hebrews 12:1

  2. Prayer
    2 Chronicles 7:14; Daniel 6:10; Matthew 6:1-13; 26:41; Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17

  3. Witnessing
    Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8

  4. Tolerance
    Matthew 18:15-17; Luke 10:27; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:5-9

  5. Loving Kindness
    John 13:35; 1 John 3:11; 4:7, 11-12

  6. Financial Stewardship
    Matthew 23:23; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

VII. THE CHURCH

    We believe that the Church Universal is the body of Christ, the fellowship of all believers, and that it's members have been called out from the world to come under the dominion and authority of Christ, it's head. We believe that a local church is a fellowship of Christians, a part of the Body of Christ, voluntarily banded together for worship, nurture, and service.

  1. The Church Universal
    Matthew 16:18; John 10:10; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:12-14, 27; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18, 24; Hebrews 12:23

  2. The Local Church
    Matthew 18:17; Acts 2:38-47; 11:19-30; Revelation 1:4; 3:22
        1. Worship and Service
    Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 14:12, 23-25; Hebrews 10:25; James 1:26-27
        2. Nurture
    Ephesians 4; 2 Peter 1:2-8; 3:18

VIII. THE ORDINANCES

    We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances instituted by Christ to be observed by Christians only. We also believe that the Biblical mode of baptism is immersion and that participation in the Lord's Supper should be open to all Christians.

  1. Baptism
        1. Instituted
    Matthew 3:13-15; 28:19
        2. Subjects
    Acts 2:41; 8:12, 37-38; 10:47-48; 16:30-33; 19:5
        3. Biblical mode
    Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12
        4. Purpose
    Matthew 3:14; 1 Peter 3:21

  2. Communion
        1. Instituted
    Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
        2. Subjects
    1 Corinthians 11:27-29
        3. Purpose
    1 Corinthians 11:26

IX. THE LORD'S DAY

    We believe in the sanctity of the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, and that this day ought to be observed by worshipping God, witnessing for Christ, and ministering to the needs of humanity. We believe that secular work on Sunday should be limited to cases of necessity or mercy.

  1. Sanctity
    Exodus 20:8; Isaiah 58:13-14

  2. Observance
    Mark 2:27-28; Luke 4:16; 16:1-6; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10

X. LAST THINGS

    We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ, and in the bodily resurrection of the dead. We believe that God will judge all mankind by Jesus Christ; that He will reward the righteous with eternal life in heaven, and that He will banish the unrighteous to everlasting punishment in hell.

  1. Return
    Matthew 24:25; Luke 12:40; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7

  2. Resurrection
    John 5:25, 28-29, 6:40; 11:24-25; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6

  3. Judgment and Reward
    Matthew 25:21; Mark 9:43-48; John 5:27; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16; 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 10; Revelation 2:7; 14:13; 20:10-15; 22:12