This Statement of Faith presents the doctrinal position of West Park Baptist Church. These core beliefs are foundational to our church as a whole and individually as Bible-believing members.

Section 1

The Bible

We believe in the Bible as the verbally (every word) and plenary (completely) inspired Word of God as contained in the original manuscripts; that all portions of Scriptures are equally inspired and contain no contradiction; that the Scriptures are to be the only rule of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ; and that the Canon, the sixty-six books of the Bible, is complete. Nothing shall be added to it nor taken from it. II Timothy 3:16, 17; Hebrews 1:1; II Peter 1:20, 21; Revelation 22:18, 19.

Section 2

Doctrine of God

We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections; and are worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence, and obedience. Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:25; John 1:1; John 14:16, 17; I Timothy 3:16.

Section 3

Doctrine of Jesus Christ

We believe in the essential deity and virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ; that He was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, not having a human father, and is true God and true man; that He is man’s only hope of salvation from sin, being the only mediator between God and man; that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day for our sins according to the Scriptures; that His return for His Church, the Body of Christ, which He will take with Himself into Heaven is imminent; and that He will come to the is earth to see up His millennial reign. Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-4; John 10:30; John 14:6; I Timothy 2:5, 6; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:4-6.

Section 4

Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son. He is a Person. He came to this earth as the fulfillment of Christ’s promise. He convicts, regenerates, indwells, seals, infills, empowers, and guides the believer. John 16:7-13; John 3:3-5; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13, 14; Ephesians 5:18.

Section 5

Doctrine of Man

We believe that God created man in His own image and that man sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is conscious and eternal separation from God. We believe that all men are born with a sinful nature, evidenced by sinful acts; that man is totally depraved; and that if he is not born again, he is eternally lost. Genesis 21:8; Romans 3:10-23; Romans 5:12; I Corinthians 15:21, 22; Revelation 10:11-15; Revelation 21:8.

Section 6

Doctrine of Salvation

We believe that a person is saved when he repents of his sin and exercises faith by accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. The believer is kept by the power of God and is eternally secure in Christ. The basis of our salvation is the precious blood of Christ according to I Peter 1:18-10, which states that we are redeemed … “with the precious blood of Christ, as of the lamb without blemish and without spot.”

We believe that the scope of salvation includes forgiveness of all our sins, past, present, and future; a perfect standing before God as in Jesus Christ; and the changing of our earthly body to be conformed like unto the body of our Lord at His return for His own.

We believe that the attitude either of reconciliation or enmity toward God is eternally fixed at death. We further believe that there is an appointed day for the judgment of the wicked when they will be cast into the Lake of Fire, there to remain in everlasting conscious punishment and torment. John 1:12; John 5:24; John 10:28, 29; Romans 6:23; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8, 9; I John 5:17; Romans 8:19-23; I John 3:2; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Hebrews 9:27; II Peter 2:9; Revelation 20 20:12-15; Revelation 21:8.

Section 7

Doctrine of the Church

We believe that the local church is composed of:

1. A local group of believers who are autonomous and self-governing with no ecclesiastical organization in authority over them and who practice the Biblical guidelines of the separation of the church and state;
2. Believers who are baptized by immersion;
3. Believers who are organized; they have for their officers, pastors, deacons, and such other leaders as God has given special gifts to render as a ministry to the church;
4. Believers who meet regularly for fellowship, worship, and Bible study;
5. Believers who observe the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper;
6. Believers who carry out the Great Commission.

I Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 12; Hebrews 10:25; I Corinthians 11:23, 24; Matthew 28:18-20.

Section 8

Doctrine of Satan and Fallen Angels

We believe that Satan is a person. He is a created being who sinned and became the arch-enemy of God and His creation. He is the chief adversary of God’s children. He seeks to keep man from the Lord, and when he cannot succeed in this, he seeks to weaken the testimony of Christians. He has at his command a great host of fallen angels and demons to carry out his purposes. He is not omnipotent and can be overcome by the power of God. His doom is sealed in the Lake of Fire forever and ever. Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah 14:12-14; Revelation 12:10; Revelation 20:10.

Section 9

Doctrine of Last Things

We believe there will be a resurrection of all: first, the just at the coming of Jesus Christ, and finally, the unjust after the millennium. The saints are raised to be forever with the Lord, and the unsaved will be confined in the Lake of Fire for eternity. We believe in the “Blessed Hope,” which is the personal, bodily, pre-tribulational, and imminent return of our Lord and Savior for His Church (the rapture) and His later return to the earth in power and glory with His saints to set up His Kingdom (the millennium). John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9; Acts 1:11; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15:3-20; Philippians 3:30; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 7:25; I John 2:1, 2; Revelation 21:1-8.

Section 10

Doctrine of Separation

We believe that God commands Christians to be a separated people according to II Corinthians 6:17-18 and 7:1: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

The West Park Baptist Church will be separated from all forms of apostasy and religious inclusivism. We reject the ecumenical movement joining all churches into one body regardless of doctrine or practice and the charismatic renewal movement with its unscriptural emphasis on tongues and healing. The church will enjoy fellowship with churches of like faith and order but will have no part in any council of churches that is ecumenical in nature and thrust.

We believe Christians are to be personally separated from all worldly practices that hinder spiritual growth and stability. We believe that God’s people should not love the world or the things that are in the world (I John 2:15-16). We believe a Christian should live a holy life and maintain a testimony consistent with the New Testament.

Section 11

Doctrine of Christian Practice

The West Park Baptist Church believes a Christian should live a Holy life, be separated from the world, and maintain a testimony consistent with the New Testament. We also believe that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we all should walk together in Christian love; strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and godliness; hold a conviction that Christianity is a way of life; and, therefore should be propagated through Bible-centered and Christ-centered Christian schooling; promote the prosperity and spirituality of this church; sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; contribute cheerfully, and regularly support the church with our tithes and offerings, so that the ministry is supported, expenses are met, the poor are helped, and the Gospel is spread throughout all nations.

This church encourages all of its members to maintain family and private devotions; to rear the children with Christian schooling from kindergarten through twelfth grade and then encourage the attending of a Christian college; to seek the salvation of kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings; to be zealous in our effort to win souls to Christ; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; and to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage; and from the improper sale and use of narcotics.

We further encourage each member to show brotherly love toward one another; to remember each other in prayer, to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation; and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.

Should the will of God direct any to move from this area, we encourage each, as soon as possible, to unite with some other church of like faith and practice, and thereby continue living a testimony for Christ and living the principles of God’s Word.

Section 12

Doctrine of Christian Education

The West Park Baptist Church believes that the children of our families need an education that trains children not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly (Psalm 1:1). The families need to obey Colossians 2:8: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Therefore, the West Park Baptist Church believes it must provide a Christian School to train young people and encourage all member families to enroll their children in a Christian school. We believe that we must see that our children are protected according to Proverbs 19:17: “Cease, my son, to hear the instructions that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.”

If you would like a copy of our Statement of Faith, you can print one here.

Feel free to contact us if you have questions about our Statement of Faith. Want to learn more about West Park Baptist Church? click here.