Download
the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message in PDF Format. You
can quickly reference this handy guide using a PDF reader on your PC, Mac,
PocketPC, or Palm pilot. (Note: You must have the appropriate PDF reader
installed.)
FOR A BRIEF EXPLAINATION OF THE HISTORY AND USAGE OF FOLLOWING ABSTRACT OF
PRINCIPLES PLEASE CLICK ON THIS BUTTON 
This Abstract Of Principles is an old document which means
some of the language may seem unusual if not antiquated. However, the
statements recorded here remain doctrinally sound and Biblically
conservative. They offer a thorough and historic statement of Southern
Baptist doctrinal heritage.
THE SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS WERE GIVEN BY
INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND ARE THE ONLY SUFFICIENT, CERTAIN AND AUTHORITATIVE RULE
OF ALL SAVING KNOWLEDGE, FAITH AND OBEDIENCE.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Exodus
24:4;
Deuteronomy4:1-2;Psalms19:7-10;119:11,89,105
Isaiah
40:8;Matthew
5:17-18;Romans
15:4;2Timothy
3:15-17; Hebrews
1:1-2;4:12;
1Peter
1:25;2Peter
1:19-21
Return
To Top Of Page
THERE IS BUT ONE GOD, THE MAKER, PRESERVER, AND RULER OF ALL THINGS,
HAVING IN AND OF HIMSELF, ALL PERFECTIONS, AND BEING INFINITE IN THEM ALL;AND TO
HIM ALL CREATURES OWE THE HIGHEST LOVE, REVERENCE AND OBEDIENCE.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Genesis
1:1;2:7;Exodus
3:14;6:2-3;15:11ff;20:1ff;Leviticus
22:2;Deuteronomy
6:4;32:6;1
Chronicles 29:10;Psalms
19:1-3; Isaiah
43:3,15;64:8;Jeremiah
10:10;17:13;Matthew
6:9ff;7:11
; 23:9;Mark
1:9-11; John
4:24;5:26
14:6-13;
17:1-8;
Acts
1:7; Romans
8:14-15; Ephesians
4:6; Colosians
1:15;Hebrews
11:6
Return
To Top Of Page
GOD IS REVEALED TO US AS FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT EACH WITH
DISTINCT PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES, BUT WITHOUT DIVISION OF NATURE, ESSENCE OR BEING.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Psalms
2:7ff;110:1ff;Isaiah
7:14;Isaiah
53; Matthew
1:18-23; 3:17;John
1:1-18,29;Hebrews
1:1-3; Genesis
1:2; Psalm
51:11; Matthew
1:18;John
4:24; Ephesians
1:13-14; 1
John 4:13;5:6-7
Return
To Top Of Page
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 WISE TO BE THE AUTHOR OR APPROVER OF SIN NOR TO DESTROY THE
FREE WILL AND RESPONSIBILITY OF INTELLIGENT CREATURES.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Hebrews
1:3; Daniel
4:34-35; Psalms
135:6; Proverbs
15:3 Matthew
10:29-31; Acts
17:25-28; Romans
1:24,26,28;
James
1:13,14,17
Return
To Top Of Page
ELECTION IS GOD'S ETERNAL CHOICE OF SOME PERSONS UNTO EVERLASTING
LIFE-NOT BECAUSE OF FORESEEN MERIT IN THEM, BUT OF HIS MERE MERCY IN CHRIST-IN
CONSEQUENCE OF WHICH CHOICE THEY ARE CALLED, JUSTIFIED, AND GLORIFIED.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Exodus
33:19;Deuteronomy
7:6,7;Psalms
33:12;65:4;
Matthew
11:27; 22:14;24:22,24,31;
Luke
18:7; John
15:16; Romans
8:28-30;8:33;9:11-13,16;10:20;1Corinthians
1:27-29; Ephesians
1:4,5,12;2:10;
Revelation 13:8;17:8
Return
To Top Of Page
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 HIS ORIGINAL HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS; WHEREBY HIS POSTERITY INHERIT A
NATURE CORRUPT AND WHOLLY OPPOSED TO GOD AND HIS LAW, AND UNDER CONDEMNATION,
AND AS SOON AS THEY ARE CAPABLE OF MORAL ACTION, BECOME ACTUAL TRANSGRESSORS.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Genesis
1:26-30; Genesis
3; Psalms
51:5; Jeremiah
17:5; Matthew
16:26; Romans
1:19-32;
3:23; Ephesians
2:1-22; Colosians
3:9-11
Return
To Top Of Page
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.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Psalms
2:7ff;Mark
1:1; Luke
1:35;
John 1:1-18;
Acts 1:9; 1Corinthians
1:30;
Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews
1:1;
1Peter 2:24;
Return
To Top Of Page
REGENERATION IS A CHANGE OF HEART, WROUGHT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO
QUICKENETH THE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS ENLIGHTENING THEIR MINDS SPIRITUALLY
AND SAVINGLY TO UNDERSTAND THE WORD OF GOD, AND RENEWING THEIR WHOLE NATURE, SO
THAT THEY LOVE AND PRACTICE HOLINESS. IT IS A WORK OF GOD'S FREE AND SPECIAL
GRACE ALONE.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Ezekiel
36:26-27; John
1:12-13; John
3:3-8; 1
Corinthians 2:10-14; 6:11;Ephesians
2:5,10;Titus
3:5-6
Return
To Top Of Page
REPENTANCE IS AN EVANGELICAL GRACE, WHERE IN A PERSON BEING, BY THE
HOLY SPIRIT, MADE SENSIBLE OF THE MANIFOLD EVIL OF HIS SIN, HUMBLETH HIMSELF FOR
IT, WITH GODLY SORROW, DETESTATION OF IT, AND SELF-ABHORRENCE, WITH A PURPOSE
AND ENDEAVOR TO WALK BEFORE GOD SO AS TO PLEASE HIM IN ALL THINGS.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Matthew
5:3-6; Acts
5:31; 2
Corinthians 7:10-11;
2 Timothy 2:25-26
Return
To Top Of Page
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 AND ETERNAL LIFE. IT IS WROUGHT IN THE HEART BY THE HOLY SPIRIT,
AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY ALL OTHER SAVING GRACES, AND LEADS TO A LIFE OF HOLINESS
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Acts
13:48; 16:14;1
Corinthians 4:7; Ephesians
2:8-9; Philippians
1:29;
Return
To Top Of Page
JUSTIFICATION IS GOD'S GRACIOUS AND FULL ACQUITTAL OF SINNERS, WHO
BELIEVE IN CHRIST, FROM ALL SIN, 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.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
John
6:35-40;Romans
3:24,1
Corinthians 1:30; Galatians
3:13; Colosians
1:13-14; Titus3:5-6;
Hebrews
9:12;
1Peter 2:24
Return
To Top Of Page
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN REGENERATED ARE ALSO SANCTIFIED, BY GOD'S WORD
AND SPIRIT DWELLING .IN THEM. THIS SANCTIFICATION IS PROGRESSIVE ALL SAINTS SEEK
TO OBTAIN, PRESSING AFTER A HEAVENLY LIFE IN CORDIAL OBEDIENCE TO ALL CHRIST'S
COMMANDS.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
1
Corinthians 1:30;Ephesians
1:3,5:25-26;Titus
2:14;1John
1:7
Return
To Top Of Page
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.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Matthew
18:12-14; John
3:16;John
6:35-40;10:27-30;Romans
8:29-30,35-39;1Thessalonians
5:23-24;1John
2:19,
5:4
Return
To Top Of Page
THE LORD JESUS IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH WHICH IS COMPOSED OF ALL
HIS TRUE DISCIPLES, AND IN HIM IS INVESTED SUPREMELY ALL POWER FOR ITS
GOVERNMENT. ACCORDING TO HIS COMMANDMENT, CHRISTIANS ARE TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES
INTO PARTICULAR SOCIETIES OR CHURCHES; AND TO EACH OF THESE CHURCHES HE HATH
GIVEN NEEDFUL AUTHORITY FOR ADMINISTERING THAT ORDER, DISCIPLE NE AND WORSHIP
WHICH HE HATH APPOINTED. THE REGULAR OFFICERS OF A CHURCH ARE BISHOP OR ELDERS,
AND DEACONS.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Matthew16:15-19;Acts2:41-42,47;Ephesians
1:22-23;Colosians
1:18;1Timothy3:1-15;1Peter3:1-4;
Return
To Top Of Page
BAPTISM IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE LORD JESUS, OBLIGATORY UPON EVERY
BELIEVER, WHEREIN HE IS IMMERSED IN WATER IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE
SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AS A SIGN OF HIS FELLOWSHIP WITH THE DEATH AND
RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, OF REMISSION OF SINS, AND OF HIS GIVING HIMSELF UP TO
GOD, TO LIVE AND WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. IT IS PREREQUISITE TO CHURCH
FELLOWSHIP, AND TO PARTICIPATION IN THE LORD'S SUPPER.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Matthew
28:19-20;Mark1:9-11;Romans
6:3-5
Return
To Top Of Page
THE LORD'S SUPPER IS AN ORDINANCE OF JESUS CHRIST, TO BE
ADMINISTERED WITH THE ELEMENTS OF BREAD AND WINE, AND TO BE OBSERVED BY HIS
CHURCHES TILL 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.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Matthew
26:26-30;Mark
14:22-26;1Corinthians
11:23-29
Return
To Top Of Page
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.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Exodus
20:8-11;
Matthew 12:1-12;Mark
2:27-28;Acts
20:7;1Corinthians
16:1-2;Colosians
2:16;Revelation
1:10
Return
To Top Of Page
GOD ALONE IS LORD OF THE CONSCIENCE; AND HE HATH LEFT IT FREE FROM
THE DOCTRINES AND COMMANDMENTS OF MEN, WHICH ARE IN ANYTHING CONTRARY TO HIS
WORD, OR NOT CONTAINED IN IT. CIVIL MAGISTRATES BEING ORDAINED OF GOD,
SUBJECTION IN ALL LAWFUL THINGS COMMANDED BY THEM OUGHT TO BE YIELDED BY US IN
THE LORD, NOT ONLY FOR WRATH, BUT ALSO FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Matthew
6:6-7;John
8:36;Acts
4:19-20; Romans
13:1-7; Galatians
5:1,13;Philippians
3:20;James
4:12
Return
To Top Of Page
THE BODIES OF MEN 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, THE BODIES OF ALL THE
DEAD, BOTH JUST AND UNJUST, WILL BE RAISED.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Job
19:26-27;Luke
16:23;John
5:28-29;1Corinthians
15:42; Jude
6
Return
To Top Of Page
GOD HATH APPOINTED A DAY, WHEREIN HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD BY JESUS
CHRIST, WHEN EVERY ONE SHALL RECEIVE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS; THE WICKED SHALL GO
INTO EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT; THE RIGHTEOUS, EVERLASTING LIFE.
Click on any scripture reference to go to the
On-Line Bible.
Ecclesiastes
12:14;Matthew
12:36-37;Mark
13:35-37;Acts
17:31;Romans
14:10;1Corinthians
6:3;Revelation
22:20
Return
To Top Of Page
The Abstract of Principles is a clear and succinct
statement of beliefs commonly held by Southern Baptist. Southern Seminary, the
first Southern Baptist seminary, stipulated in its charter on April 30,1858:
"9. Every Professor of the Institution shall be a member of a regular
Baptist Church; and all persons accepting Professorships in this Seminary, shall
be considered by such acceptance, as engaging to teach in accordance with, and
not contrary to, the Abstract of Principles hereinafter laid down."
(Mueller: History of Southern Seminary; Broadman Press; p.238).
Return
To Top Of Page
Last modified by (
) on...05/20/10
Greeley Colorado