Statement of Faith

The following are the core beliefs of West Rockport Baptist Church based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these Biblical doctrines.

We believe the Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to  be the verbally inspired Word of God, without error in the original  writings, the complete revelation of God's will for the salvation of  man, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith, life,  and conduct (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). We believe in the  literal interpretation of the Bible, the distinction between Israel and  the Church, and all things done to God's glory.

We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary; that He died on the cross, thereby  being a perfect and complete sacrifice for the sins of all mankind; and  that He rose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven, where He is  now seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high and ever lives to  intercede as our High Priest and Advocate (Luke 1:35, Hebrews 4:14-16).

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person, who convicts the world  of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates, baptizes, seals,  indwells, fills, enlightens, guides, and empowers the believer for godly  living and service (John 16:8, 13-14; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12;  3:16; 12:13; Ephesians 5:18).

We believe that without the shedding of blood there is no remission for the sins of all mankind (Romans 3:24-26; Hebrews 9:22).

We believe in the personhood of Satan; that he is the author of sin  and the cause of man's fall; that he is the avowed enemy of God and  man; and that he is doomed and shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Job 1:6-7; Ephesians 6:11-12; Revelation 20:10).

We believe that Jesus Christ rose bodily from the grave and that the resurrection provides the proof of our imputed justification  for all who believe. We believe in the physical resurrection of all  people: the saints to everlasting joy and bliss, and the wicked to conscious and eternal torment (Romans 4:24; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Corinthians  15:21-22; Revelation 14: 9-11; 20:14-­15).

We believe that man was directly created by God in His own image  and likeness, but that he fell into sin. The entire human race became  alienated from God and is therefore eternally lost. The natural  man of himself is utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Romans  3:10, 23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-2).

We believe that people are justified solely on the basis of their belief in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and that only through  regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and eternal life be  obtained (John 3:3-5; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 3:24-25; 5:1, 9; Colossians  1:14).

We believe that all born again believers, regenerated by the Holy  Spirit, are eternally secure in Christ and shall never come into  condemnation for sin. While it is the believer's privilege to rejoice in  the assurance of salvation, this is not cause for license or liberty as  an occasion to the flesh (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 1:13-14).

We believe that all who are born again possess two natures, with  provision made for victory over the old nature through the death of  Christ and by the power of the indwelling Spirit. We believe that all  claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Romans 6:13; 7:14-8:4; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians  4:22-24; Colossians 3:1-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).

We believe that all redeemed ones are called into a life of separation from all worldly and sinful practices (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 6:14; James 4:4; 1 John 2:16).

We believe that the Church, which is a spiritual organism made up  of all born again believers of the present age, is the Body of Christ of which He is the head. Its purpose is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ and gather believers into local churches for worship and edification,  to equip believers for service, and to plant new congregations  throughout the world (1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-16).
We believe that the New Testament teaches that local churches are  to establish their own government, make their own decisions, and  determine their own procedures. We also believe that fellowship and/or working relationships with other churches of similar faith and practice is often appropriate and proper when such situations are consistent with the Holy Scriptures and with the purpose and goals of this church.

We believe that water baptism by immersion and the Lord's table  are ordinances to be observed by the Church during this present age.  They are, however, not to be regarded as a means of salvation (Acts  8:12, 38; 10:48; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28).

We believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every believer at the moment he is regenerated, and that these gifts are to be used for the edification and perfecting of the believers in the church. We believe that the miraculous and sign gifts were given for the  unique purpose of authenticating new revelation to the first century  church and have since ceased with the completion of Scripture (Romans  12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:13-14; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 1:1-2;  2:3-4). We believe that the Holy Spirit glorifies neither Himself nor His gifts. He does glorify Christ by implementing His work of redeeming  the lost and building up the believer (John 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

We believe in the imminent and personal return of Jesus Christ for His church which is our blessed hope; that when He has by the  resurrection of the dead and translation of the living removed from the earth His waiting church, He will then pour out the righteous judgments of God upon the unbelieving world and afterwards descend in the clouds  of the sky with power and great glory to establish His glorious and literal kingdom over all nations for 1,000 years (1 Corinthians  15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; James 5:8; Hebrews 10:37; Revelation  19:11-16; 20:4-7).

We believe that it is the obligation of every born again believer to bear witness by life and word to the truths revealed in the Word of God and to proclaim the Gospel to all the world (Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20; Matthew 28:18­-20).