Dear Friends,

The Church of our Lord Jesus, as founded and passed on to us, is a doctrinal body. That means we hold certain fundamental beliefs as delineated and taught in the Scripture. This 2022 edition of our Statement of Faith clarifies some of our doctrinal positions and addresses contemporary issues in light of Scriptural teaching. Maintaining distinct historic Baptist beliefs, including local church governance and offices, believer’s baptism, and religious liberty, we seek to affirm what is of primary scriptural importance while permitting broad interpretations on other issues where Christian brothers and sisters can lovingly disagree within our body. Furthermore, one need not agree with every tenet in this statement to attend our services or participate in our ministries. We have faithful attendees and supporters of Gateway’s ministries who are not formal members here at Gateway, and we are honored and blessed to have them. While we desire to see new members join our body, we are patient enough in Providence to see God do this in His time and His way, whether that happens in this lifetime or not. While we hold our convictions deeply, we keep them lovingly, knowing that God, by grace through faith, will populate heaven with many more than just like-minded Baptists. We are happy to worship alongside you in the interim!

The Pastors/Elders of Gateway Community Church

GATEWAY’S CONFESSION OF FAITH

THE BIBLE: The Bible is God's Word to the human race. Its human authors wrote under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, and it testifies to Jesus Christ, the focus of divine revelation. It contains the knowledge of God sufficient for faith unto salvation. The Bible is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living, and because God inspired it, it is truth without any mixture of error. The Bible is the supreme standard by which Christians should evaluate all human conduct and religious opinions. (Luke 24:25–27; 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Psalm 119:105, 160; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)

GOD: There is one—and only one—living and true God. He is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He eternally exists as three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are distinct, co-equal, and exist in unity with one nature, will, and essence. The Triune God is infinite in love, holiness, and all other perfections. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present. To Him, we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

MAN: The human race—created by God as male and female—is made in the spiritual image of God to be like Him in character. Humans are the supreme object of God's creation. Every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and love. The gift of biological gender is part of the goodness of God's creation. Man has tremendous potential for good. However, "sin," a disposition of pride and disobedience toward God, entered the world through Adam and marred the entire human race. This sinful condition dwells within the human heart, manifests itself in our attitudes and behaviors, and separates man from God. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3–6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1–2)

ETERNITY: God created man to exist forever. Man will exist eternally separated from God because of His righteous anger against sin or united with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Both heaven and hell are places of eternal existence. (John 3:16; 1 John 2:25, 5:11–13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15)

JESUS CHRIST: Jesus Christ is the eternal begotten Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. He took human nature upon Himself, and as fully God and fully man, he was born to the virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin by dying on a cross. After three days, God raised him from the dead to demonstrate His victory over sin and death. He ascended to heaven's glory, sits at the Father's right hand, and will return visibly and physically to reign on earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22–23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1–5, 14:10–30; Hebrews 4:14–15; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Romans 1:3–4; Acts 1:9–11; 1 Timothy 6:14–15; Titus 2:13)

THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to enable men to understand truth, make them aware of sin and their need for salvation, and lead them to faith in Jesus Christ. He fully dwells in every believer from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, correct spiritual understanding, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live and operate under His control daily. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7–13, 14:16–17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18)

SALVATION: Salvation is a gift from God to man and is available only through faith in Jesus Christ. Man can never make up for his sin through self-improvement or good works. God's work of grace brings men to repentance of sin and faith in Christ. Only then can one be saved from sin's penalty and adopted into God's family. Eternal life begins when one receives Jesus Christ into one’s life by faith (justification), continues as one matures in Christ through discipleship (sanctification), and is made complete in heaven (glorification). (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8–9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1)

THE BELIEVER'S SECURITY IN CHRIST: Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. God maintains a believer's salvation by His grace and power, which produces the good works and evidence of salvation in those God genuinely saves. One does not maintain salvation through self-effort. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security. (John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10–14; 1 Peter 1:3–5)

THE CHURCH: The New Testament speaks of the church in two senses. First, it describes a church as an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers bound together by covenant in gospel faith and fellowship. The local church observes Christ's two ordinances and operates under his Word, authority, and rule. Members in the local church meet regularly for worship, exercise the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Spirit and Word, and seek to extend the gospel locally and worldwide. Scriptural officers in the local church are pastors/elders and deacons. While God has gifted both men and women for service in the church, He has limited the office of pastor/elder to men as qualified by Scripture. The New Testament also describes the church as the "Body of Christ." This universal church includes God's redeemed of all time from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. They will ultimately be gathered together in God's presence in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3)

THE ORDINANCES: Christ has commanded two ordinances, baptism and communion. Christian baptism is a believer's immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience that symbolizes the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin and former way of life, and the believer's commitment to walk in newness of life in Christ. It also testifies to faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Communion (The Lord's Supper) is a symbolic act of remembrance and obedience. By sharing the bread and the cup, believers remember Jesus' death, celebrate His spiritual presence with His gathered people, and anticipate His second coming. (Matthew 3:13–17; 26:26–30; 28:19–20; Mark 1:9–11; 14:22–26; Luke 3:21–22; 22:19–20; John 3:22-23; Acts 2:41–42; 8:35–39; 16:30–33; 20:7; Romans 6:3–5; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 21; 11:23–29; Colossians 2:12)

THE FAMILY: God has designed the family as the foundation for human society. It comprises people related to each other by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the union of a man and a woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. God's unique gift of marriage reveals the relationship between Christ and the church. Marriage also provides the basis for intimate companionship, the true context for God's gift of sexuality, and the procreation of the human race. The husband and wife have equal value before God because He has created both in His image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. Husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the church. They have a sacred responsibility to provide for, protect, and lead their families with a humble, gracious, and loving spirit. Wives should submit themselves graciously to their husbands' servant leadership as the church willingly submits to Christ's leadership. They have a sacred responsibility to respect their husbands and work together to manage their households and nurture the next generation. Honor and mutual submission should mark the marriage relationship. From the moment of conception, children are a blessing and a heritage from the Lord. Parents are to model God's pattern for marriage to their children and teach their children spiritual and moral values. Parents should teach their children to make choices based on biblical wisdom and truth through example and loving discipline. Children are to honor and obey their parents. (Genesis 1:26–28, 2:15–25, 3:1–20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26–28; Psalms 51:5, 78:1–8, 127:3-5, 128, 139:13–16; Proverbs 1:8, 5:15–20, 6:20–22, 12:4, 13:24, 14:1, 17:6, 18:22, 22:6,15, 23:13–14, 24:3, 29:15,17, 31:10–31; Ecclesiastes 4:9–12, 9:9; Malachi 2:14–16; Matthew 5:31–32, 18:2–5, 19:3–9; Mark 10:6–12; Romans 1:18–32; 1 Corinthians 7:1–16; Ephesians 5:21–33, 6:1–4; Colossians 3:18–21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3–5; Titus 2:3–5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1–7)

LAST THINGS: God will bring the world to its appropriate end in His own time and way. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth. God will raise the dead, and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will receive just punishment in hell for eternity. The righteous in Christ will receive their reward and dwell forever in heaven with the Lord in their resurrected and glorified bodies. (Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13)

CHRISTIANS AND THE SOCIAL ORDER: All Christians are obligated to seek to make Christ's will supreme in our own lives and human society. Means and methods used to improve and establish righteousness among the human race can be truly and permanently helpful only when rooted in personal regeneration by God's saving grace in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, including drunkenness or impairment from recreational overindulgence or reckless self-medication with legal, controlled, or illicit substances. Likewise, Christians should oppose the practice of all forms of sexual immorality, including pornography, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and rejection of biological gender. Believers should work to provide for the orphaned, the poor, the marginalized, the abused, the aged, the disabled, the helpless, and the sick. Christians should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Christian calling seeks to bring industry, government, and society under the sway of moral principles, including truth, justice, and brotherly love. Christians should be ready to work with all those of goodwill in any good cause to promote these ends. Yet believers must always be careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth. (Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:13-16,43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3ff.; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Romans 12–14; 1Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8)

CHRISTIAN CONSCIENCE AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: God alone is Lord of the conscience. He has liberated it from human doctrines and impositions that are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate, but the state owes protection and freedom to every church so that its people may pursue spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom, the state should favor no ecclesiastical group or denomination above any other. The state has neither the right to impose penalties for religious opinions, whatever they may be, nor the right to impose taxes to support any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal. Such implies the right of all to freely exercise their faith according to conscience and the right to form and propagate religious opinions without interference from civil authority. Because God has ordained civil government, Christians should render loyal obedience to it in all things consistent with God's revealed will. The church should not resort to civil authorities to carry on its work because Christ's gospel legitimizes spiritual means alone to pursue its ends. (Genesis 1:27; 2:7; Matthew 6:6-7,24; 16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Romans 6:1-2; 13:1-7; Galatians 5:1,13; Philippians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19)