What We Believe

The following paragraphs summarize what we believe as a church family. Every belief and teaching of North Star Baptist Church comes from the doctrines and principles laid out in God’s Word.

The Bible

The Bible is the revealed Word of God, fully and verbally inspired by Him. The Scriptures are the inerrant, infallible Word of God, as found within the 66 books from Genesis to Revelation. God not only inspired every word of the Bible, but has also preserved His Word through the ages. The Bible is the complete and final revelation of God to mankind, and the sole authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:19-21; Mt. 4:4, 5:18, 24:35; Ps. 12:6-7, 119:160; Jer. 23:30.)

The Only True God

We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, and co-equal in power and glory. Each person of the Godhead has the same attributes and perfection. They are three persons yet one essence (II Cor. 13:14; Ex. 20:2-3; I Jn. 5:7; Mt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11).

  1. God the Father — We believe in God the Father, perfect in holiness, boundless in love, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and Hell all who come to Him through Jesus Christ, His Son (Deut. 6:4; Mt. 3:16-17, 6:26; Jn. 3:16, 14:6; II Cor. 1:3-4).
  2. God the Son — We believe in Jesus Christ, God the Son, pre-existent with the Father, begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary; sinless in His nature and life, infallible in His teaching, making atonement for the sins of the world by His substitutionary death on the cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into Heaven, His perpetual intercession for His people, and His glorious second coming according to promise (Jn. 1:1-2, 14; Lk. 1:35; Rom. 3:24,
    8:34; Heb. 9:24; Eph. 1:7; I Pet. 1:3-5; I Jn. 2:1-2).
  3. God the Holy Spirit — We believe in the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit. We believe that He came from God to convince and convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, indwell, comfort, and empower those who believe on Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit guides, teaches, and helps believers (Jn. 16:8-11; I Cor. 12:12-14; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13-14, 5:18; Jn. 16:13; Acts 1:8, 5:3).

Mankind and Sin

God created mankind in His own image. Adam and Eve sinned and brought upon themselves not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is conscious and eternal separation from God in hell. All people are born with sinful natures, which are evidenced by sinful acts. If a person is not born again, he or she is eternally lost (Gen. 1:26-27; Ps. 51:5; Jer. 17:9; Lk. 16:23; Rom. 3:10-23, 5:12, 6:23; I Cor. 15:21-22; Rev. 20:11-15, 21:8; Eph. 2:1-3).

Salvation

The salvation of sinners is wholly an act of God's grace, brought about through faith in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. All who accept Christ as their Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become children of God. No rite, ceremony, or work can aid in the sinner’s salvation or make the believer’s salvation more secure. Christ is the only and all-sufficient Savior, and all who are truly saved are kept forever by the power of God.

Salvation is a free gift, not of works. It is instantaneous, not a process, and is forever. Once saved, you can never be lost. (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Jn. 1:12, 5:24, 10:28-29; Rom. 8:35-39, 10:9-13; Acts 4:12, 16:31; II Tim. 1:12; Heb. 10:10; I Pet. 1:5; Ps. 37:28).

The Church

A local, New Testament church is a visible assembly of baptized (immersed) believers banded together under the doctrines and principles found in the Holy Bible (Mt. 16:18, 28:18-20).

  1. The head of the Church is Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:22, 5:27; Col. 1:18; Mt. 28:18).
  2. The two offices of the local church are pastors and deacons, and their qualifications and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures (I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; I Pet. 5:1-4; Acts 6:4, 20:20-31).
  3. The two ordinances of the local church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
  4. The two great tasks of the local church are:
    a. to carry out the great commission of Christ at home and abroad — evangelism and missions (Mt. 28:19-20).
    b. to build up believers through the preaching and teaching of God's Word (Eph. 4:11-13).