Southern Baptist Convention
(1925, revised 1963)
I. The Scriptures
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and its theme is the truth without any mixture of error. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be human trial. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
Exodus 24.4; Deuteronomy 4.1-2, 17.19, 8.34 Joshua, Psalm 19.7-10, 119.11, 89, 105, 140, Isaiah 34.16, 40.8, Jeremiah 15.16, 36.1-32, Matthew 5.17-18; 22.29, Luke 21.33, 24.44-46, John 5.39, 16.13-15, 17.17, Acts 2.16 and ff., 17.11, Romans 15.4, 16.25-26, 2 Timothy 3.15-17, Hebrews 1.1-2, 4 .. 12, 1 Peter 1.25, 2 Peter 1.19-21.
II. God
There is a God, and only one living and true. He is an intelligent, spiritual and personal, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is omnipotent and omniscient, and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.
A. God the Father
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is omnipotent, omniscient, all loving and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.
Genesis 1.1, 2.7; Exodus 3.14; 6.2-3, 15.11 and ff.; 20.ly ff., Leviticus 22.2; Deuteronomy 6.4; 32.6, 1 Chronicles 29.10, Psalm 19.1-3, Isaiah 43.3,15, 64.8, Jeremiah 10.10; 17.13, Matthew 6.9 and ff., 7.11; 23.9, 28.19, Mark 1.9-11, John 4.24; 5.26; 14.6-13, 17.1 -8, Acts 1.7, Romans 8.14-15, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Galatians 4.6; Eph. 4.6, Col. 1.15; 1 Timothy 1.17; Hebrews 11.6; 12.9, 1 Peter 1.17; 1 John 5.7.
B. God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption
of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the Lord living and ever.
Genesis 18.1 and ff.; Psalms 2.7 and ff., 110.1 ff., Isaiah 7.14; 53, Matthew 1.18-23, 3.17; 8.29, 11.27, 14.33, 16.16,27, 17.5; 27; 28.1-6,19 , Mark 1.1, 3.11, Luke 1.35, 4.41, 22.70, 24.46, John 1.1-18,29, 10.30,38, 11.25-27, 12.44-50, 14.7-11; 16.15-16,28; 17.1-5,21 - 22; 20.1-20,28, Acts 1.9; 2.22-24, 7.55-56; 9.4-5,20, Romans 1:3-4, 3.23-26, 5.6-21; 8.1-3,34, 10.4; 1 Corinthians 1.30; 2.2, 8.6; 15.1-8, 24-28, 2 Corinthians 5.19-21, 8.9; Galatians 4.4-5, Ephesians 1.20; 3.11; 4.7-10, 2.5-11 Philippians, Colossians 1.13-22, 2.9, 1 Thessalonians 4.14- 18, 1 Timothy 2.5-6, 3.16, Titus 2:13-14, Hebrews 1.1-3, 4.14-15; 7.14-28, 9.12-15, 24-28, 12.2; 13.8; 1 Peter 2.21-25, 3.22, 1 John 1.7-9, 3.2, 4.14-15, 5.9, 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1.13-16, 5.9 -14; 12.10-11, 13.8; 19.16.
C. God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, righteousness, and with justice. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. Their presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Genesis 1.2; Judges 14.6, Job 26.13, Psalm 51.11, 139.7 ff. Isaiah 61.1-3; Joel 2.28-32, Matthew 1.18; 3.16, 4.1, 12.28-32, 28.19, Mark 1.10,12, Luke 1.35; 4.1,18-19, 11.13, 12.12, 24.49, John 4.24; 14.16-17, 26, 15.26, 16.7-14, Acts 1.8; 2.1-4,38, 4.31, 5.3, 6.3, 7.55, 8.17,39, 10.44, 13.2; 15.28, 16.6, 19.1-6, Romans 8.9-11,14-16,26-27 1 Corinthians 2.10-14, 3.16 ; 12.3-11,13, Galatians 4.6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4.30, 5.18, 1 Thessalonians 5.19; 1 Timothy 3.16, 4.1, 2 Timothy 1.14; 3.16, 9.8,14 Hebrews, 2 Peter 1.21; 1 John 4.13; 5.6- 7; Revelation 1.10: 22.17.
III. The man
Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created man and woman as the crown of creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God's creation. In the beginning man was innocent and was endowed by God with the freedom to choose. For his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man, therefore, each person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1.26-30, 2.5, 7.18-22, 3, 9.6; Psalms 1, 8.3-6, 32.1-5, 51.5, Isaiah 6.5; Jeremiah 17.5; Matthew 16.26, Acts 17.26-31, Romans 1.19-32, 3.10 -18.23; 5.6,12,19, 6.6; 7.14-25; 8.14-18,29 1 Corinthians 1.21-31; 15.19,21-22, Ephesians 2.1-22, Colossians 1.21-22, 3.9-11.
IV.
Salvation Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.
Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the total personality Him as Lord and Savior.
B. Justification is the work of God's grace and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.
C. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart for God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life.
D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. 3.15
Genesis, Exodus 3.14-17, 6.2-8, Matthew 1.21; 4.17; 16.21-26, 27.22-28.6, Luke 1.68-69, 2.28-32, John 1.11-14,29; 3.3-21,36; 5.24 ; 10.9,28-29, 15.1-16, 17.17, Acts 2.21; 4.12; 15.11, 16.30-31, 17.30-31, 20.32, Romans 1.16-18, 2.4, 3.23-25, 4.3 ff., 5.8-10; 6.1-23; 8.1-18,29-39; 10.9-10,13, 13.11-14, 1 Corinthians 1.18, 30; 6:19-20; 15.10, 2 Corinthians 5.17-20, Galatians 2.20, 3.13, 5.22-25, 6.15 , Ephesians 1.7, 2.8-22, 4.11-16, 2.12-13 Philippians, Colossians 1.9-22, 3.1 ff., 1 Thessalonians 15.23-24, 2 Timothy 1.12; Titus 2.11-14, Hebrews 2.1-3; 5.8-9, 9.24-28; 11.1-12.8,14, James 2.14-26, 1 Peter 1.2-23, 1 John 1.6-2.11, Revelation 3.20; 21.1-22.5.
V. The Purpose of God's grace
The choice is the purpose of the grace of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. Is consistent with the free will of man, and includes all media related to the end. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy and unchangeable. Excludes boasting and promotes humility.
All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall from grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves, but they will be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Genesis 12.1-3, Ex 19.5-8, 1 Samuel 8.4-7,19-22 Isaiah 5.1-7, Jeremiah 31.31 ff., Matthew 16.18-19, 21.28-45, 24.22,31, 25.34, Luke 1.68 -79, 2.29-32, 19.41-44, 24.44-48, John 1.12-14, 3.16, 5.24; 6.44-45,65, 10.27-29, 15.16; 17.6,12.17-18: Acts 20.32, Romans 5:9-10; 8.28-29, 10.12-15; 11.5-7,26-36 1 Corinthians 1.1-2, 15.24-28, Ephesians 1.4-23, 2.1-10, 3.1-11, Colossians 1.12-14, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, 2 Timothy 1.12; 2.10,19; Hebrews 11.39-12.2, James 1.12; 1 Peter 1.2-5,13, \u200b\u200b2.4-10, 1 John 1.7-9, 2.19; 3.2.
VI. The Church
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges which have been endowed by his word, and trying to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Jesus Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. Although both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all the redeemed of all ages, believers from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Matthew 16.15-19, 18.15-20, Acts 2:41-42, 47, 5.11-14, 6.3-6, 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, Col. 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.
VII. Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried and resurrected, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life and resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testament to his faith in the resurrection of the dead. As an ordinance of the church, is a prerequisite to the privilege of being a member of the church and participate in the Lord's Supper.
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, commemorate the death of the Redeemer 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 3.23; 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.
VIII. The Lord's Day
the first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution to be observed regularly. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities in the Lord's Day should be consistent with Christian conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Exodus 20.8-11, Matthew 12.1-12, 28.1 and ff., Mark 2.27-28, 16.1-7, Luke 24.1-3,33-36, John 4.21-24; 20.1,19-28, Acts 20:7, Romans 14.5-10, 1 Corinthians 16.1-2, Colossians 2.16; 3.16, Rev. 1.10.
IX. The United
The Kingdom of God includes both general sovereignty over the universe and its particular dominion over men voluntarily recognize him as King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter through their commitment to Jesus Christ through faith and confidence similar to that of a child. Christians must pray and work for the coming of the kingdom and God's will be done on earth. The final consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this era.
Genesis 1.1, 9.6-7 Isaiah, Jeremiah 23.5-6, Matthew 3.2; 4.8-10,23, 12.25-28, 13.1-52, 25:31-46; 26.29, Mark 1.14-15, 9.1; Luke 4.43, 8.1; 9.2; 12.31-32, 17.20-21, 23.42, John 3.3, 18.36, Acts 1:6-7, 17.22-31, Romans 5.17, 8.19, 1 Corinthians 15.24-28, Colossians 1.13; Hebrews 11.10,16; 12.28, 1 Peter 2.4-10; 4.13; Revelation 1.6,9, 5.10; 11.15; 21 to 22.
X. Last Things
God in his own time and in its own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to his promise, Jesus Christ will return to earth in glory personally and visibly, the dead rise, and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of eternal punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
Isaiah 2.4, 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, 14.10 Romans, 1 Corinthians 4.5; 15.24-28,35-58, 2 Corinthians 5.10; 3.20-21 Philippians, Colossians 1.5, 3.4, 1 Thessalonians 4.14-18, 5.1 ff. 2 Thessalonians 1.7 and ff., 2, 1 Timothy 6.14, 2 Timothy 4.1,8, Titus 2.13; Hebrews 9.27-28, James 5.8; 2 Peter 3.7 and ff. 1 John 2.28, 3.2, Jude 14, Revelation 1.18; 3.11; 20:1-22.13.
XI. Evangelism and Missions
is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man's spirit by the Holy Spirit God means the birth of love for others. The missionary effort of all, therefore, depends upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressed and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost for Christ through personal testimony, supported by a Christian lifestyle, and other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.
Genesis 12.1-3, Ex 19.5-6, Isaiah 6.1-8, Matthew 9.37-38, 10.5-15; 13.18-30,37-43, 16.19, 22.9-10, 24.14; 28:18-20, Luke 10.1-18 , 24.46-53, John 14.11-12; 15.7-8,16; 17.15, 20.21, Acts 1.8; 2., 8.26-40, 10.42-48, 13.2-3, Romans 10.13-15, Ephesians 3.1-11, 1 Thessalonians 1.8; 2 Timothy 4.5, Hebrews 2.1-3, 11.39-12.2, 1 Peter 2.4-10, Revelation 22.17.
XII.
Education Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. In Jesus Christ live all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All basic knowledge is, therefore, a part of our Christian heritage. The new birth opens all human faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge. Moreover, the cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is coordinated with the causes of missions and charity, and should receive along with these support liberal churches. An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to complete the program's spiritual body of Christ.
In Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. Freedom in any orderly human relationship is always limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a Christian educational institution, school, college, university or seminary, is always limited by the preeminence of Jesus Christ, the authoritative nature of Scripture, and by the distinct purpose for which the school exists. Deuteronomy
4.1,5,9,14, 6.1-10, 31.12-13, Nehemiah 8.1-8; Job 28.28; Psalms 19.7 ff. 119.11, Proverbs 3.13 and ff., 4.1-10; 8.1-7,11, 15.14; Ecclesiastes 7.19, Matthew 5.2, 7.2 and ff., 28:19-20, Luke 2.40, 1 Corinthians 1.18-31, 4.11-16 Ephesians, Philippians 4.8; 2.3,8-9 Colossians, 1 Timothy 1.3-7, 2 Timothy 2.15; 3.14-17, Hebrews 5.12-6.3, James 1.5, 3.17.
XIII. Stewardship
God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual, all we have and are we owe to Him spiritually Christians are indebted to all the world, a holy order in the gospel, and a binding stewardship its possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents and possessions materials, and should recognize all these as entrusted to them for use for the glory of God and to help others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute what they have, cheerful, regular, systematically, proportionately and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on earth.
Genesis 14.20, Leviticus 27.30-32, Deuteronomy 8.18; Malachi 3.8-12, Matthew 6.1-4,19-21, 19.21, 23.23, 25.14-29, Luke 12.16-21,42, 16.1-13, Acts 2:44-47 , 5.1-11, 17.24, 25.20-35, Romans 6.6-22; 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, 6:19-20, 12, 16.1-4, 2 Corinthians 8-9; 12.15; Philippians 4.10-19; 1 Peter 1.18-19.
XIV.
Cooperation Christ's people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions that can ensure the best possible cooperation necessary to achieve the great objectives of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary organizations to advise, to elicit, combine and direct the energies of our people in the most effective. Members of the New Testament churches should cooperate with other ministries in carrying out the missionary, educational and benevolent to extend the Kingdom of Christ. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation common ends by various groups of Christ's people. Cooperation between the Christian denominations is desirable when the purpose to be achieved is justified in itself, and when such cooperation does not include any violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.
Exodus 17.12, 18.17 ff., Judges 7.21, Ezra 1:3-4, 2.68-69, 5.14-15, Nehemiah 4, 8.1-5, Matthew 10.5-15, 20.1-16, 22.1-10, 28:19-20; Mark 2.3, Luke 10:1 ff.: Acts 1:13-14; 2.1 and ff., 4.31-37, 13.2-3, 15.1-35, 1 Corinthians 1.10-17, 3.5-15, 12, 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, Galatians 1.6-10, 4.1-16 Ephesians, Philippians 1.15-18.
XV. The Christian and Social Order
All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ is sovereign in our own lives and in human society. The means and methods used to improve society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness and vice, all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality and pornography. We must work to provide for the orphans, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless and the sick. We must speak up for the unborn and fight for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government and society as a whole are governed by the principles of justice, truth and brotherly love. To promote these ends Christians should be willing to work with all men of good will in any case, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.
Exodus 20.3-17, 6.2-5 Leviticus, Deuteronomy 10.12, 27.17, Ps 101.5; Micah 6.8; Zechariah 8.16; Matthew 5.13-16,43-48, 22.36-40, 25.35, Mark 1.29-34, 2.3 ff., 10.21; Luke 4.18-21, 10.27-37, 20.25, John 15.12, 17.15, Romans 12-14, 1 Corinthians 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.
XVI. Peace and War
is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men based on the principles of justice. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do everything in their power to end the war.
The true remedy the warrior spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the relations of men and nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the world should pray for the reign of Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 2.4; Matthew 5.9,38-48, 6.33, 26.52, Luke 22.36,38, Romans 12.18-19, 13.1-7, 14.19, Hebrews 12.14, James 4.1-2.
XVII. Religious Freedom
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained therein. The church and state should be separate. The state owes protection and complete freedom every church in the exercise of its spiritual ends. Providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state over others. As the civil government is ordained by God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry out their work. The gospel of Christ believes only spiritual means to achieve their ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. The Christian ideal is that of a free church in a free state, and this implies the right for all men of free and unhindered access to God, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power. 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, 12/04/1919.
XVIII.
Family God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. Is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood or adoption.
Marriage is the union of a man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for man and woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel for sexual expression according to biblical standards, and means procreation of the human race.
Husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband should love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide, protect and lead his family. A wife should submit graciously to the leadership as a servant of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being created in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.
Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents should show their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents should teach their children spiritual and moral values, and lead by example of a lifestyle consistent and loving discipline, to make decisions based on biblical truth. Children must 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, Psalm 51.5, 78.1-8, 127, 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
0 comments:
Post a Comment