What We Believe

Our Church Covenant is based on the Baptist Faith and Message (2000).


As members of EAST SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, we affirm this covenant with one another

 

by God’s grace, for our good, and for God’s glory. Having been brought by divine grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ1 and to surrender our lives to Him,2 and having been baptized as Christians in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,3 we covenant together to glorify God4 by making disciples5 of all nations6.

 

Together, we will draw near to God in worship.7 We will delight in the glory of God,8

depend on His presence,9 and grow in the knowledge of God,10 as we submit to the

Word of God as the all sufficient authority in our lives and in His church11.

 

Together, we will hold fast to the hope we profess.12 We will regularly participate in communion as we solemnly remember the past work of Christ on the cross, celebrate the present work of Christ at the Father’s right hand, and anticipate the future work of Christ in His return for His bride13.

 

Together, we strive to spur one another on to love and good deeds.14 We will meet with

one another consistently,15 pray for one another regularly,16 and serve one another

selflessly.17 We will share each other’s joys and bear each other’s burdens.18 We will

edify one another with our speech19 and encourage one another with our example.20 We

will humbly and gently confront one another and receive correction from one another in

accordance with a New Testament understanding of church discipline and restoration.21

We will give cheerfully, generously and systematically to support the church, the relief

of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.22

 

We will submit to the leadership, of our Pastors and Elders who have been entrusted

by God to serve and care for this body by teaching the Word of Christ to us and modeling the character of Christ before us, and we will affirm deacons as leading servants in the church.23 If we move from this area and body, we will as soon as possible, unite with another church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.24

 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the

Holy Spirit be with us all.25

 

AMEN

 

Scripture Reference

1 Acts 2:38; 16:31; 20:21; Romans 10:9-10

2 Luke 14:25-33

3 Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:1-4

4 Isaiah 43:7; 1 Corinthians 10:31

5 Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:2

6 Psalm 67:1-2; Revelation 7:9-10

7 Hebrews 10:22; Romans 12:1-2

8 Psalm 16:11; 37:4; 63:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:31

9 Exodus 33:14-18; Matthew 28:20; John 15:5; James 4:8

10 Phillipians3:10; Colossians 1:9-12; 2 Peter 3:17-18

11 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Psalm 19:7-11; 119:105-112; 2 Timothy 4:2-4

12 Hebrews 10:23

13 Luke 22:7-23; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

14 Hebrews 10:24

15 Hebrews 10:25

16 Philippians 1:3-6

17 Romans 12:9-13

18 1 Corinthians 12:26; 2 Corinthians 2:3; Galatians 6:2

19 Ephesians 4:29-32

20 1 Corinthians 10:3; 11:1; Philippians 4:9

21 Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Galatians 6:1

22 2 Corinthians 8-9

23 Hebrews 13:17; Acts 6:1-7; 20: 28-31; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 5:17-20; 1 Peter 5:1-4

24 Hebrews 10:25

25 2 Corinthians 13:14