Our Beliefs
About Our Beliefs
12 Oaks is a part of the Southern Baptist Convention. We desire to instruct and strengthen believers so that they are equipped to love God and evangelize the world. To carry out this ministry, we stand on the fundamental preaching and teaching of the inerrant Word of God. As a Southern Baptist Church, we subscribe to the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 as our key doctrinal statement.
View the Detailed Baptist Faith & MessageWith Scriptural Support
A Summary of Our Beliefs
Scriptures
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were written by men divinely inspired; that they are the only infallible rule of faith and practice and are the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.
The Godhead
We believe that there is only one true and living God, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honour, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
The Fall of Man
We believe that God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from the original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.
The Mediator
We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever liveth to make intercession for His people. He is the only mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
Regeneration
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated or born again. Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickeneth the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and saving to understand the Work of God, and renewing of God’s free and special grace alone.
Repentance
We believe that repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being, by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbleth himself for it, with godly sorrow, hatred of it and self abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk with God so as to please Him in all things.
Faith
We believe that saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart of the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.
Justification
We believe that justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal from all sin of sinners, who believe in Christ, through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.
Sanctification
We believe that those who have been regenerated are also sanctified, by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine Strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in sincere obedience to all Christ’s commands.
Election
We believe that election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is a glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and it is infinitely wise, holy and unchangeable.
Providence
We believe that God, from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.
Perseverance of the Saints
We believe that those whom God hath accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
The Church
We believe a New Testament Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons.
Baptism
We believe that baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he/she is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his/her fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of his/her giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church fellowship, and participation in the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord's Supper
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine (fruit of the vine), and to be observed by His churches until the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him and of their church fellowship.
The Lord's Day
We believe that the Lord’s Day is a Christian institution for regular observance, and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, resting from worldly employments and amusements, works of necessity and mercy only excepted.
Religious Liberty
We believe that God alone is Lord of the conscience and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men.
Resurrection
We believe that the bodies of men/women after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God; the righteous to rest with Him, the wicked to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.
The Judgment
We believe that God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men/women in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in heaven with the Lord.