Quick Keywords:
Reformed Baptist, The Doctrines of Grace, The Five Solas, T.U.L.I.P, Calvinism

1. Scripture Alone:
The Bible teaches everything we need for faith and practice. Everything God wants us to believe and obey is found within its pages. There is absolutely no need for prophecies, dreams, visions, or signs. God’s written Word is our only authority. There is only one interpretation of Scripture; and we must study the Scriptures to learn what God has said. All doctrine and practice is to be tested by the Scriptures. The Bible alone is sufficient, and equips us for every good work. (2ndTimothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 5:11-14; 2ndPeter 1:19-21; Deuteronomy 29:29)

2. The Trinity (God):
There is only one God, and He exists as three simultaneous, parallel, equal, yet separate individuals: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. The Godhead is equally divine, equally powerful, and equally holy. The Trinity is to be worshiped equally and to the same degree. No one can fully grasp God and His nature; however, we do know what He has revealed about Himself through scripture: One God, three equal Persons. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1stCorinthians 8:4; Matthew 28:19; John 5:21-23; 10:30; 14:7-11)

3. The Sovereignty of God:
God is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-righteous, and all-sovereign. His will, will be done. Everything that happens: life, death, up, down, left, right, forward, backward, in, and out, it all happens at His divine will, purpose, and plan. Man makes real choices, yet every thought and action of creation is in perfect alignment with God’s will. Every atom is under His sovereign rule. (Psalm 103:19; Ephesians 1:11; Job 42:2; Isaiah 45:7; 46:10; Amos 3:6; Genesis 20:6; 50:20; Matthew 10:29; Proverbs 16:23; 21:1; 1stSamuel 2:6-7; James 4:15)

4. The Deity of Christ:
Jesus is, always has been, and will always be fully God. Jesus is God in the flesh. He is equal with God the Father and the Holy Spirit in every way. He is from eternity, to eternity. He has no beginning and He has no end. (Micah 5:2; John 1:1-2,18; 5:18; 8:23-24; 10:30; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Colossians 1:15,19; 2:9; Hebrews 1:6-9; 1stJohn 5:20)

5. The Humanity of Christ:
Jesus is and will always be fully human. Jesus came down from Heaven and was born into this world to die for sinners. Jesus is God in the flesh. God put on flesh so that He could die for sin. (John 1:1-2,14; 1Timothy 3:16; 1stJohn 4:2; 2ndJohn 1:7)

6. Our Impossible Helplessness (Total Depravity):
We cannot do anything to save ourselves. We can't even help. We can't start, keep, finish, or earn our salvation in any way. Even our best, “good,” and “righteous” deeds are filthy, worthless rags to God. Our hands are completly empty. We have nothing to offer for our salvation. We are spiritual beggars. The only thing we contribute to our salvation is sin, helplessness, and failure. We were dead in sin, without hope, and without God; completely and totally sinful, guilty, and helpless. We were God’s enemies, children of wrath, and hostile in our minds toward Him. No one wants God, no one is looking for God, and no one is willing or able to beleive. Our salvation is impossible! (Psalm 49:7-8; Isaiah 64:6; Matthew 5:20,48; Mark 8:37; Luke 18:26-27; Romans 3:9-20,23; 5:6,10; Galatians 3:10; Ephesians 2:1-3,12; Colossians 1:21; James 2:10; 1stJohn 1:8-10)

7. The Perfect Work of Christ:
Jesus’ perfect work consists of His being God in the flesh, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His perfect payment for sins by His sacrificial death, and His bodily resurrection. On the cross, Jesus paid the full penalty and price for the sins of those who believe in Him. Nothing else needs to be done. It is finished. Jesus’ sacrifice is perfect, complete, and final. Jesus completely and eternally saves. He saves believers once and for all. He took our place and He took our punishment. He was our perfect substitute. (Isaiah 53:4-11; 1stCorinthians 15:3-4; Galatians 1:3-4; Colossians 2:13-14; Hebrews 7:25; 9:24-26; 10:10-14; 1stPeter 2:21-24; 3:18)

8. Salvation (What Must You Do To Be Saved?):
Hate sin and turn to Jesus, trusting in Him as your Lord, God, and Savior and you'll be eternally saved. That’s what it means to repent and believe. It’s not just knowing who the savior is, but confessing Him as Lord, bowing to Him as God, and putting your faith, trust, and confidence in Him as your Savior. Be broken with disgust, shame, and sorrow over your sins. Give your allegiance to Jesus, desiring to please and serve Him as your Lord. Proclaim Jesus to be God in the flesh, equal to God the Father in power, glory, and honor. And trust in Jesus as your Savior, putting full confidence in Him alone to eternally save you. Your salvation has nothing to do with trying to keep the Ten Commandments, being a good person, or doing good deeds. You’re saved only because Jesus took your punishment for you by paying the full and final price for all your sins with His death on the cross. He was your substitute, He took your place, and He took your punishment. Jesus paid it all; nothing else needs to be done. Being a good person and doing good deeds doesn’t save you, help save you, or keep you saved in any way. Being obedient to God only proves that you truly believe, love, and belong to Him. You can’t ever lose your salvation because Jesus’ sacrifice was eternal, perfect, complete, and final. Change your mind to be against sin, turn to Jesus and proclaim Him to be your Lord and your God, trust in Him as your Savior and you will be saved, and you will have eternal life! (John 3:16; 6:28-29,40,47; Acts 20:21; Romans 10:9-13)

9. The Lordship of Christ:
Jesus is Lord of all. You must hate your sins, bow to Jesus, and give Him your allegiance. You cannot cling to your sins and have Christ too. By the grace of God, through the Holy Spirit, we will grow in our hatred for sin and we will grow in our obedience to Christ. You'll never be a perfect slave of Christ, but true believers want to be. Your obedience doesn't get, help, or keep you saved in any way, but only proves that you truly believe and belong to Him. Your desire and allegiance must belong to Jesus. (Romans 10:9; Luke 5:32; Acts 20:21; 2ndPeter 3:9)

10. Faith Alone:
Our salvation is by faith and not by works. Our good works have nothing to do with it. Faith is putting your trust, reliance, and confidence in someone else. We are completely helpless in salvation, therefore, our hope and trust is in Jesus and not in ourselves. (Acts 20:21; Galatians 2:16)

11. Grace Alone:
Salvation is a free and undeserved gift from God. His sacrifice and His mercy are given to those who do not deserve it. You can’t earn what only God can buy. You can’t keep what only God can give. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23-24)

12. Christ Alone:
Salvation is only found in Christ. He is the only mediator and substitution for our sins. No one or nothing else has anything to do with it, not even you. Jesus is the only mediator between God and Men. (Acts 4:12; John 10:7-9; 14:6)

13. Glory to God Alone:
God gets all of the credit for your salvation. If you think that your good works, obedience, and or faithfulness has anything to do with your salvation, then you’ve destroyed faith and grace and the glory for your salvation instead of going to God, now goes to you. Pat yourself on the back because God only helped you. That couldn’t be further from the truth. From start to finish, God did it all. The only thing we can do is be thankful. (1stCorithians 1:29-31)

14. Eternal Security / Once Saved, Always Saved:
Jesus paid it all. His sacrifice was perfect, eternal, final, complete, and unable to fail. Nothing else needs to be done. If you think that you can lose or forfeit your salvation then the success of your salvation is in your hands and not in Christ’s. That's not grace or faith. Jesus completely saves! Put your trust in Him. (1stJohn 2:25; 1stPeter 1:3-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 7:25; John 10:27-29)

15. Unconditional Election:
We are totally and completely helpless and dead in sin. No one will believe or turn to God in faith; no one can and no one is willing (see #6). However, before time and creation, God chose those whom He would show mercy to, saving them from sin and themselves. God chose who He would cause to repent and believe. He chose who He would cause to come to Him for salvation. God didn’t look into us or the future to see which of us would be good candidates for salvation. His choice had nothing to do with anything in us, how "good" we are, our "good" intentions, what we would do, or our "potential." God’s choice was totally outside of us and according to His own will, purpose, and plan. No one deserves His mercy. We all deserve eternity in Hell. He had mercy on whoever He chose to give mercy. (John 6:44, 65; Romans 3:10-11; 8:28-30; 9:15-16; Ephesians 1:3-9; 2ndTimothy 1:8-10; Acts 13:48)

16. Irresistible Grace:
In His grace and mercy, God gives His elect repentance and faith. He changes their will and their desire, turns their hearts towards Him, moves them to come to Him in faith and repentance, saves them, and keeps them eternally. They cannot resist Him. God is sovereign even in our salvation. If it were not for God's irresistible grace, none would come. Our salvation from start to finish is His doing, all by Himself. (Philippians 1:29; 2:13; Ephesians 2:10; 1stCorinthians 1:26-31; John 1:12-13; 6:37; 10:26-27; Acts 16:14)

17. Limited Atonement:
Jesus’ sacrifice didn’t pay for everyone’s sins; but only for those who have put faith in Him for salvation. They are God’s elect, undeservingly predestined and mercifully chosen for grace, repentance, faith, and therefore also eternal salvation. (Romans 3:22; John 14:6)

18. Baptism:
Just as our Lord Jesus died and resurrected to life, after our profession of faith in Christ, we are fully immersed into and out of water representing and picturing our own death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ. Baptism is only for believers and has absolutely no salvific value. (Romans 6:1-11)

19. Communion:
When we come together to take communion we are remembering and proclaiming Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins together as one body. The bread and juice doesn't in any way forgive sins, but only pictures the body and blood of Jesus and represents the offering of His flesh and blood through His death for our sins. Communion is a ceremony that reminds us of what our God and Savior gave to save us (Himself). Communion is only for believers and has absolutely no salvific value. (1stCorinthians 11:23-34)