The Lordship of Christ
Jesus is Lord is the distinctive confession of faith. As individuals and as churches, Baptists seek to make Jesus Christ Lord of every aspect of their lives.
The authority of the Bible
Baptists believe that the Bible shows us God’s way for living. As radical believers, Baptists seek to root their lives in the revelation of God’s truth.
Believers’ Baptism
On the basis of the New Testament, Baptists claim that baptism is for believers only. Baptism is only for those who are able to declare “Jesus is Lord”. As a symbol of Jesus’ claim on our lives, Baptists practice baptism by immersion, in which candidates symbolise their desire to ‘die to self’ and live for Christ.
A Believers’ church
Baptists understand the church as a community of believers who gather together for worship, witness and service.
The priesthood of all believers
In the Baptist model of a believers’ church every member has a role to play, whether in teaching, faith-sharing, evangelism, social action, pastoring, guiding, service, prophetic insight, praying, healing, administration or hospitality.
The church meeting
In a Baptist church, one expression of the ‘priesthood of all believers’ is the church meeting. This is the occasion when members come together to prayerfully discern God’s will for their life together. In Baptist churches the final authority rests not with the ministers or leaders, but with the members gathered together in church meetings.