Beliefs
THE BIBLE
We believe that the original manuscripts of the Old and New Testament comprise the full, word-for-word, truthful, inerrant word of God which is the supreme and final authority in doctrine and practice.
Isaiah 40:8; Hebrews 4:12
Isaiah 40:8; Hebrews 4:12
THE TRINITY
We believe in one God eternally existing in three equal persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who have the same nature and attributes, but who are distinct in office and activity.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 48:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; II Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 48:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; II Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8
THE FATHER
We believe that as eternal Father, He is the Father of all men in the non-salvation, Creator sense, the Father of the nation of Israel, the father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the disciplinarian of His children.
Exodus 4:22; Psalms 2:7-9; John 5:37; Acts 17:29; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:3-6; Hebrews 12:9; I Peter 1:3
Exodus 4:22; Psalms 2:7-9; John 5:37; Acts 17:29; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:3-6; Hebrews 12:9; I Peter 1:3
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals, and bestows spiritual gifts upon all believers at the time of their conversion. Experientially, He fills, teaches, leads, assures, and prays for believers.
John 14:26; John 16:6-15; Acts 1:5; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 11:1-18; Romans 8:14-16, 26-27; I Corinthians 6:19; 12:7-11,13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 5:18; II Thessalonians 2:1-10; Titus 3:5
John 14:26; John 16:6-15; Acts 1:5; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 11:1-18; Romans 8:14-16, 26-27; I Corinthians 6:19; 12:7-11,13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 5:18; II Thessalonians 2:1-10; Titus 3:5
THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ is God incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, completely God and completely man. We believe in His pre-existence, His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection from the grave, His ascension into heaven, and His bodily return from heaven.
Luke 1:35; John 1:1,14,18; Romans 3:24-26; Ephesians 4:11-16; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 7:23-25; I Peter 2:3-5; I John 2:1-2
Luke 1:35; John 1:1,14,18; Romans 3:24-26; Ephesians 4:11-16; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 7:23-25; I Peter 2:3-5; I John 2:1-2
MAN AND SIN
We believe man was created in the image of God; that he sinned in Adam and thereby incurred both physical and spiritual death (separation from God); and is now a sinner, by nature and by choice; in need of salvation.
Genesis 1:1, Genesis 27; Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:1-19; Isaiah 14:12-14; Luke 20:36; John 1:1-3; 8:44; 12:31; Romans 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:13-14; Hebrews 2:5-8,14; I Peter 2:4; Revelation 20:10
Genesis 1:1, Genesis 27; Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:1-19; Isaiah 14:12-14; Luke 20:36; John 1:1-3; 8:44; 12:31; Romans 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:13-14; Hebrews 2:5-8,14; I Peter 2:4; Revelation 20:10
SALVATION
We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ's substitutionary payment for our sins, not based on human merit, works, or religious ceremony. We believe that anyone who has placed their faith in Christ is eternally secure, has everlasting life, will not come into condemnation, and shall never perish. We believe that assurance comes to the believer from three primary sources: trusting the Word of God's promises, the witness of the Holy Spirit, and a persevering walk with the Lord.
Daniel 12:1-2; Matthew 25:31-46; John 1:12; John 2:3,16; John 3:16,36; John 5:24; John 10:28-29; John 11:25-26; Romans 8:28-39; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; I John 4:11-13; Revelation 20:12-15
Daniel 12:1-2; Matthew 25:31-46; John 1:12; John 2:3,16; John 3:16,36; John 5:24; John 10:28-29; John 11:25-26; Romans 8:28-39; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; I John 4:11-13; Revelation 20:12-15
THE CHURCH
We believe in the church, both universally and locally, as the spiritual body of which Christ is the Head, and in the practices of water baptism of believers and the Lord's Supper as the ordinances of the local church.
Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:5; Acts 11:15; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-16; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 1:18
Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:5; Acts 11:15; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-16; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 1:18
THE GREAT COMMISSION
We believe that those whom God has saved are sent into the world by Christ as He was by the Father. Those so sent are ambassadors, commissioned to go make disciples and make Christ known to the whole world. We also believe that everyone should have an opportunity to carefully examine the facts about Christ and have a chance to make an intelligent decision about Him.
Matthew 28:18-20; John 18:8; John 17:18; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:14-15; II Corinthians 5:18-20; Colossians 4:2-6; II Timothy 2:14-26
Matthew 28:18-20; John 18:8; John 17:18; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:14-15; II Corinthians 5:18-20; Colossians 4:2-6; II Timothy 2:14-26
ETERNITY
We believe in the physical resurrection of the human body (at the second coming of Christ); in the eternal conscious existence of all individuals in either heaven or hell; and in the rewards of the saved and the punishment of the lost for eternity.
Luke 16:19-31; I Corinthians 3:11-15; 15:1-58; II Corinthians 5:8-10
Luke 16:19-31; I Corinthians 3:11-15; 15:1-58; II Corinthians 5:8-10
Values
Click to each value to view message from our sermon series, "We Are".
Position Papers
Our beliefs fall in line with mainstream, evangelical, orthodox biblical teaching. There are many secondary positions, however, that churches must decide upon. At Bay Area, we have worked hard to “accurately handle the word of truth” and have developed Statements of Position (SoPs) for the following:
- Biblical Marriage (Referenced in The Family Manifesto)
- Water Baptism
- The Role Of Men And Women In Church Leadership
- Abortion
- Speaking in Tongues
While not essential beliefs of the Christian faith, these SoPs provide Bay Area’s positions on some topics for which there are numerous positions held by others in the body of Christ and, if Bay Area’s position were not communicated, could lead to divisions and discord. We ask our Ministry Partners to affirm the Statement of Faith and give assent to the SoPs.
Responding to Cultural Tensions
We've laid out some guiding biblical principles for navigating current cultural issues as well as our guide to biblical justice. In other words, this is how our decisions about responding to our current culture are informed. Click the link below to learn more!