Statement of Faith

1. COVENANT

As a company of believers saved by God’s sovereign grace and baptised as believers in the Triune Name of the Deity, we covenant ourselves together in church membership and fellowship as an independent and self-governing body in Christ, to be known as Letterkenny Baptist Church. We desire unitedly to walk worthy of our profession and seek by the aid of the Holy Spirit to bear one another’s burdens, both spiritual and practical, and to be tender-hearted and forgiving, avoiding all harsh criticism, recognising in each other a member of the mystical body of which our Lord is the risen head. We pledge ourselves to come together for the preaching of God’s word, the observance of his ordinances, and for such labours as may bring about the salvation of our fellow-men and the well being of the world as God by his grace may lead and enable us to undertake.

2. STATEMENT OF FAITH

The statement of faith is the basis of doctrine of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland. It is a summary of basic bible doctrines and is regarded as subordinate to Scripture. We accept all our members to accept without reservation and to adhere to these doctrines as understood in a straightforward evangelical sense, viz:-

1.The Scriptures

The verbal inspiration and total inerrant of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as originally given by God;

their sole-sufficiency and final authority in all matters of faith and practice.

2.God

One God in three persons, the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-equal, co-eternal, sovereign and active in

creation, providence and redemption.

3.The Lord Jesus Christ

The essential deity and humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and men;

His virgin birth, sinless life and sacrificial death on the cross as the only substitute for sinners;

His burial, bodily resurrection and ascension to heaven;

His high priestly ministry and personal return.

4.The Holy Spirit

The work of the Holy Spirit in regenerating the sinner and indwelling, sanctifying and empowering the believer.

5.The Devil

The personality of the Devil; his evil activity and final doom.

6.Man

The creation of man in the image of God;

the entrance of sin through Adam’s disobedience;

the fallen and totally depraved state of all men;

their subjection to God’s wrath and condemnation;

their responsibility to repent and believe the gospel.

7.Justification

The justification of the sinner by God’s grace through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ; the eternal security of the

believer.

8.The Church

The local church as a company of baptised believers gathered under the headship of Christ for worship, fellowship,

instruction and evangelism;

the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s supper;

baptism being the immersion of believers on profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a symbol of their

identification with him in His death, burial and resurrection;

the Lord’s supper being a remembrance of Christ until he comes and a renewal of commitment to Him;>

the offices of elder and deacon;

the gifts of evangelist and pastor-teacher;

the priesthood of all believers and their unity in the Body of Christ;

the separation of church and state.

9.The Future State

The unconditional immortality of the soul;

the resurrection of the body;

the eternal joy in heaven of the believer;

the conscious eternal punishment in hell of those who die impenitent.

10.Christian Behaviour

The responsibility of all believers to obey and serve the Lord and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives;

the duty of each church to exercise godly discipline in a loving and caring fashion.