Core Beliefs
As a Baptist Church, NSBC adheres to a conservative set of beliefs consistent with others in our tradition. If you would like further clarification or have questions regarding an aspect about the beliefs of the church, please contact us. We'd love to have a discussion with you. Below you will find the major tenets of our faith, along with supporting scriptures.
We believe everything begins with God
We believe everything begins with God …
He is the eternal, perfect, personal creator, sustainer, and ruler of the universe. He is the only true God. He is one in His essence but has revealed Himself to mankind as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, 26; Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 19:1)
He is the eternal, perfect, personal creator, sustainer, and ruler of the universe. He is the only true God. He is one in His essence but has revealed Himself to mankind as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, 26; Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 19:1)
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God
He was crucified on the cross for the sins of mankind, he was resurrected from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. His life, teachings, death, and resurrection offer the only true hope for all people. (John 1:14; John 3:16-17; John 14:6; Acts 4:7; Romans 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:20-21)
We believe the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God
He convicts people of sin and draws them to Jesus. He indwells the life of each believer. He guides us into truth and seals us for eternity. He gifts each follower of Jesus to be useful in God’s hands in service to the church and world. He empowers the people of God to face the rigors of life on earth. (John 14:5-15; John 14:25-27; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 12:1-11; Ephesians 1:13-14)
We believe the Bible is the Word of God
The Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God, completely true and authoritative in all areas of faith and practice. The human authors of the Bible were uniquely inspired by the Spirit of God. The Bible has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
We believe salvation is God’s gift of eternal life
All human beings are created in the image of God. However, each person is a sinner and is separated from God. Only through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can a person be restored into a relationship with God and receive the gift of eternal life. (Romans 1:16 -18; 3:23; 6:23; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-9)
We Believe in the Security of the Believer
All true believers endure to the end. This is a combination of two great Biblical doctrines of the faith – Preservation of the Saints and Perseverance of the believer. He holds us by causing us to hold Him. (John 10:27-29; 1 Peter 1:2-5; Romans 5:9-10; Colossians 1:12-14)
We believe the Church is the Body of Christ on earth today
A New Testament church is an autonomous local congregation of regenerated and baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; and observing the two ordinances of Christ. Jesus established the church and is the head of the church as it exists to perform God’s will on earth. Believers are to invest themselves in the life and work of the church. (Matthew 16:17-18; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 12:27; Hebrews 10:25)
We believe baptism is a sign of discipleship
Baptism is for believers only. Each believer is to be immersed in water as an act of obedience and humility. It symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It also is a sign of the new life each believer has discovered in Jesus. It is a requirement to be a member of our church. (Matthew 3:13-17; 28:18-20; Acts 8:36-38; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12)
We believe the Lord’s Supper symbolizes the sacrifice of Jesus
The elements of the Lord’s Supper represent the body and blood of Jesus. This ordinance is for believers only. It also is a celebration of the community we experience through the new covenant established by Jesus himself. (Luke 22:14-23; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
We believe reaching lost people is the responsibility of each follower of Christ
Believers are to share the Gospel message with those who are lost. We begin in our own communities, however, Jesus commanded us to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. We are to join our efforts with other believers to ensure all nations hear the good news of Jesus. (Matt. 10:32; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16-17; Colossians 1:6)
We believe each follower of Jesus is on a path of spiritual formation
Progressive Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is grown into the image of Christ. We are to be disciplined in learning spiritual truths and integrating them into our daily lives. This process leads to our transformation and offers us a life of spiritual productivity. (John 3:3, 7; 14:6; Romans 8:28-30; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Colossians 3:1-10)
We believe stewardship of our earthly goods is a God-given responsibility
God has blessed us with earthly resources. We are to honor Him in how we handle our money and our possessions. As obedient stewards we are to invest our time, talents, and treasures regularly in the work of God’s Kingdom. (Psalm 24:1-2; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4; Luke 16:13-21; 2 Corinthians 8:1-7)
We believe in the return of Jesus Christ
In God’s perfect timing and in God’s perfect way, Jesus Christ will return to the earth as Lord. His return will be the fulfillment and final consummation of the purposes of the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; Revelation 21:1-4; 22:1-16)