We aspire to hold to the Bible as our standard for all thinking and
acting.
At Bogue Falaya Baptist Church, we believe real people in history wrote the Bible, but
God himself inspired the message. Thus, it is God’s revelation of himself to humanity. The
Bible not only applied to the original recipients, it also applies to us today. Because of this,
the Bible is our basis for the way we think, make decisions, and act. We believe the Holy
Bible is the word of God, and God’s word does not err.
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the
prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the
human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried
along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter1:20-21, (NIV)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, for rebuking, correcting, and
training in righteousness.”2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
We aspire to trust in God’s desire to restore a right relationship
with people rather than condemn or destroy them.
We believe that, because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the relationship
between God and people, once broken by sin, has been made possible again. Jesus is God’s
gift to reestablish that right relationship. One who believes in Jesus Christ and commits
their life to follow him is forgiven, saved, and has direct access to God and his leadership.
Therefore, the role of the church and its ministers is not to rule over believers’ lives but to
help them understand God’s word and mentor them.
“…The Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s lives, but to save them.”
Luke 9:56 (NIV)
“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the
people of Israel and Judah, …I will put my law in their minds and write it on their
hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach
their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will know me,
from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their
wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 10:16 (NIV)
We aspire to devote ourselves to Christ personally.
We believe everyone must make their own commitment to believe in and follow Jesus
Christ. No one else can make this commitment for them. God may use the church, family,
friends, or circumstances to direct people to himself, but everyone must choose for
themselves whether they will believe in and follow Christ.
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right
to become children of God.” John 1:12 (NIV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)
We aspire to express our devotion to Christ publicly through
Believer’s Baptism.
We believe that baptism (water immersion) is a symbolic, public pledge of allegiance to
Jesus for someone ready to accept Jesus’ saving work on the cross and commit
themselves to follow him. The physical act of baptism does not save anyone. Only Jesus
saves. Baptism is a pledge of a good conscience toward God. For some, Believer’s Baptism
is their first public commitment to Jesus Christ. For others, it is the reasonable next step
and personal affirmation of the faith journey their parents began for them when they
were children.
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just
as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live
a new life.” Romans 6:4 (NIV)
“And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of
dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ.’” 1 Peter 3:21 (NIV)
We aspire to be a place for training and resourcing people to
follow Jesus Christ and accomplish what God desires for them in
life.
We believe a church is a fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ. Collectively, it is Jesus’
body and his instrument for fulfilling his purpose in the world today. Church membership
does not save anyone. Only Jesus saves. However, church membership is a commitment of
believers to one another to encourage, support, pray for, and cooperate with one another
to understand how God’s word applies to their lives and to realize more significant
successes for God’s work on earth than they can alone. Life is complicated. That’s why at
BFB Church we’re committed to coming alongside each other and walking with each other
through the complexities of faith, relationships, and finances.
Bogue Falaya Baptist Church is a congregational church. Thus, as a body, the members
make the decisions about how our church operates.
“…Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not overpower
it.” Matthew 16:18 (NIV)
“Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage
one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
(NIV)
We aspire to be gracious, tolerant, and compassionate toward
one another.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
“…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely
humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort
to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)
For More detailed statements of our faith, read the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.