Here we share the core beliefs that shape our identity as Stanthorpe Baptist Church.
These foundational beliefs provide a compass that guides our faith journey and the way we engage with our community.
The following is the minimum statement of faith which must be adhered to for membership at Stanthorpe Baptist Church.
1. The Godhead – Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
We believe there is one God who exists in three Persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God created and rules the universe with infinite power, mercy, justice, wisdom, holiness and love.
2. Jesus Christ:
We believe Jesus Christ the Son, being fully God and fully human, lived a sinless life on this earth. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. Through this He provides the only way of salvation for all people.
3. Holy Spirit:
We believe the Holy Spirit lives in all who turn in repentance to the Father through faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live a new life as followers of Jesus, giving an understanding of spiritual truth and guides us to do what is right. The Holy Spirit equips us for service by giving us spiritual gifts for the building of the church and transforming communities.
4. The Scriptures:
We believe the Bible is inspired by God and is without error in its original form. It is our primary authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
5. All people: fallen state and salvation:
We believe the desire of God is for all people to live in relationship with Him. This relationship is broken through the rebellion and self-dependence (sin) of people and is restored when, by the grace of God, we turn in repentance to the Father through faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
6. The Church:
We believe there is one universal Church which is established by Jesus and all Christians belong to this Church.
7. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper:
We believe Jesus gave us two symbolic celebrations: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism of believers upon their profession of faith in Jesus Christ is best represented by the immersion of believers in water, as a symbol of the fellowship of those saved through His death, burial and resurrection. During the Lord’s Supper we remember the sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
8. Second Coming:
We believe there will be a sudden, personal, visible, bodily return of Jesus Christ.
9. Resurrection of the dead and final judgment:
We believe there will be a resurrection of the dead and a final judgment by Jesus of all people for what they have done on earth. Those who have received Jesus as Saviour and Lord will live with Him forever. Those who have ruled their own life will be separated from Him forever.
Full Statement:
For a fuller statement of beliefs, please refer to the Queensland Baptists Belief Statement and Core Values Statement.
“Know Jesus, make Him known”
Church Life and Ministry – Our Values
A Village of Authentic Disciples
We are passionate about knowing Jesus, being centred around Jesus and becoming more like Jesus. We are led by the Holy Spirit, and through knowing Jesus, know the Father.
We place the Bible and God’s Words as central to our lives. We value prayer as the foundation of all we do. We are committed to living an authentic Christ-like life, every hour of every day in every way.
We are the church. We are a welcoming place for people to connect and to belong. Our focus is toward reaching out to and drawing in the hurt, the broken and those who are seeking Jesus. We prioritize reaching the hearts and souls of the lost over our own desires.
We are committed to authenticity and forgiveness. We respect each other. We encourage each other. We speak positively with and to each other. We walk in grace and love while authentically living out our devotion as a disciple of Jesus. We reflect Jesus by embracing our diversity of generations, race, gender and socio-economic status.
We are generous in our actions and our words. We honour humility. Everyone is valued and respected, fulfilling different roles within the Body of Christ as we love and serve each other.
We believe the key role for the leadership team is serving. The leadership’s role is to empower and encourage our village to be stronger, healthier and more like Jesus as we follow the vision God has given us.
We acknowledge our past without dwelling on it. We trust and hope rather than judge. We believe the best of each other and respect each other’s beliefs as we pursue Jesus together.
We are a community of healing and transformation. We are a safe place where we smile, we laugh and, at times, we cry together. We walk with each other through good days and bad.
And we are gracious to ourselves when we fall short of our goals as we strive to honour Jesus.
We believe in faith, hope and love- the greatest of these is love.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
