WHAT WE BELIEVE
What we believe as a church is commonly known as church doctrine. Our doctrine is the foundation by which we serve God. Southside’s doctrinal statement has been organized into categories to assist you in understanding what we believe and teach through our various ministries.
Every word in the original writings is inspired by God and is without error. It is accurate in all matters to which it speaks; spiritual, historical, and scientific. The scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the foundation of the faith and practice of Southside Baptist Church. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21)
We believe that there is one God who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three have distinct personalities and yet are of the same substance, one God. (Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 14:6-12; II Corinthians 13:14; I Peter 1:2; I John 5:7)
We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, was born of a virgin, was wholly God and wholly man, lived a sinless life, died in our place as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind, was buried, arose bodily from the grave, and ascended into Heaven. (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 53:1-12; Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 2:4-14, 21; John 1:1-5; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 4:14-15; 9:28; 10:10, 12, 14, 19)
We believe that God the Holy Spirit is active in convincing unbelievers of their need for salvation and is the comforter and guide who lives in every believer from the moment of salvation. (John 14:25-26; 15:26; 16:7-15; Romans 8:14-16; I Corinthians 2:12; II Corinthians 3:17)
We believe that man is a special creation of God, made in His image, but that through the sin of the first man, Adam, mankind as a whole “fell” or became sinners in need of salvation. (Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-19; Romans 3:23; I Corinthians 15:21-33)
We believe that salvation is a gift from God received through faith in Christ. We can never make up for our sins by self-improvement or good works. Only trusting in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. (John 3:16; Acts 16:31l; 17:30; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; II Peter 3:9)
We believe that every person who has accepted God’s free gift of salvation is eternally secure in the Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 3:11-15; II Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30)
We believe that people were created to exist forever. Those persons who die in their sins without Christ spend eternity in Hell, and those persons who die with their sins forgiven through Jesus Christ spend eternity in Heaven. (II Corinthians 5:6-8; I Thessalonians 1:6-9; Revelation 19:5-9, 20-11-15)
We believe that water baptism is an act of obedience to the command of Christ and is by immersion after salvation. It is an outward display of a believer’s internal decision. (Matthew 3:13-17; Colossians 2:12; Titus 3:5)
We believe that the church is a local body of baptized believers with the Lord Jesus Christ as the Head. (Romans 16:5; I Corinthians 16:19; Ephesians 5:23-27, 32)
We believe that each believer has direct access to God through the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 6:9-13; Romans 8:16; II Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 10:19-20)
We believe in the separation of church and state, but not in the separation of God and government. Christians are salt and light in society. (Psalm 62:11; Proverbs 21:1; John 19:11; Hebrews 13:7, 17)