Mexia Baptist Church is a part of the Southern Baptist Convention that holds to the values and beliefs of The Baptist Faith and Message 2000. In particular, this congregation holds to these beliefs of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, man, salvation, the Bible, and the role of the church:
God
We believe that God is the sovereign creator and sustainer of the universe and all that dwells within the universe. God is holy, meaning that He is set apart from His creation. There is no other created being like God, for He is righteous and perfect in all His ways. We believe that God is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (everywhere at all times). Finally, we believe that God is triune, meaning that He is three persons yet one God. The three persons of the Trinity are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity works in different ways towards the same providential plan, yet each person works in perfect harmony as one divine being.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:14; 1 Corinthians 8:6
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God. Jesus is the promised Messiah who came to take away the sins of the world. Jesus is fully God and fully man, showing the power of His divinity through His authoritative teaching and miracles during His earthly ministry and showing His complete humanity by going through the physical experiences that we experience. He overcame the temptation and bondage of sin, thereby living a life without sin. Jesus humbly gave Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sin by dying on a cross. Three days later, He rose from the dead, having victory over sin and death.
Scripture References: Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; Hebrews 1:1-3
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. As the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 states, the Holy Spirit calls men to repentance and exalts the name of Christ. He effects regeneration in a believer and grows the believer in a relationship with the Lord. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every believer and cultivates a desire to live in godly character according to the commands God has given. Simply stated, The Holy Spirit is the presence of God that dwells within every believer in Christ.
Scripture References: John 4:24; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8
Man
We believe that mankind was created by God on the sixth day of creation. Man is God's special creation which He created in His image. Man was initially created without sin, and man was also created with the freedom of choice. With this freedom of choice, man sinned against God in the Garden of Eden which ultimately brought sin to the rest of the human race. This sin brought forth eternal separation from God. It is only by God's gracious gift of salvation that man can have a restored relationship with Him through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:26-30; Psalm 8:3-6; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:10-18
Salvation
We believe that salvation can only be found in God's grace. God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die in our place so that we might have the forgiveness of our sin debt. Salvation is a free gift from God. There is nothing we can do to earn our way to heaven, but instead salvation is offered by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Scripture References: Matthew 1:21; John 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:1-10;
The Bible
The Bible is the inspired Word of God. We believe that the Word of God was written by approximately forty different men through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is living and active and is able to pierce the hearts of men. We believe that the Word of God is completely inerrant and infallible, meaning that it is without mistake.
Scripture References: Psalm 19:7-10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25
The Role of the Church
The church is not simply a building, but the church a body of believers with Jesus Christ as the head of the church. The church exists to encourage and equip Christians as well as carry out the mission in which God has intended.The mission of the church can be simply stated in Matthew 28:18-20 which says, "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" (ESV)
Scripture References: Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; Colossians 1:18
