The Gospel
We affirm the truths that are essential to expressing Jesus and the Apostles’ original message, aka “the gospel.” These are consistent with the ecumenical (universal) creeds that were written in the early centuries of Christianity and are now widely accepted as the parameters of authentic Christian faith (The Apostles Creed, The Nicene Creed, The Creed of Chalcedon). These truths include:
- The Trinity: There is only one God, and He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- The Person of Jesus: Jesus, the eternal Son of God, is both fully God and fully human in one person.
- The Work of Jesus: Through his historic incarnation, death, and resurrection Jesus accomplishes salvation for his people and inaugurates the Kingdom of God. He will one day return to complete the Kingdom.
- Humanity: All people are created in God’s image, but all (Jesus excluded) have sinned and fallen short of his glory. Based on their response to Jesus in faith, they will be raised to eternal life with God or confirmed in eternal punishment apart from him.
- Salvation: We need to be reconciled to God and set free from sin. Jesus does this for us through his life, death, resurrection, and return. We don’t have to earn this or be “good enough.” We simply receive it as a gift of grace through faith in Jesus alone.
- The Bible: Scripture is God’s inspired and inerrant word, and so it is also true, authoritative, and sufficient for our lives. The whole Bible points us to Jesus, his gospel, and its implications for our world.
For a more thorough explanation of the truths we affirm, see our expanded Statement of Faith
What if I don't believe or understand all of this yet?
That is why Bayless Baptist is here. We exist to help people understand, love, and apply the gospel. Even if you affirm the gospel, there’s still plenty more to learn and plenty more to apply to your life.
Therefore, we don’t put forth these belief-statements as a way of saying, “You have to understand and agree with all of this to be part of us.” Rather, we want to be upfront about where we’re coming from. These are the kinds of things you’ll hear taught and discussed in our midst.