What We Believe

Statement of Faith

About God

There is only one living and true God. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. He is eternal, infinite in holiness and perfection, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and omnipresent. He reveals Himself to us in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes but without division of nature, essence, or being. (Gen. 1:1; 3:22; Ps. 19; 90:2; Matt. 28:19; 1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Cor. 13:14)

About Jesus

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, co-equal with the Father. In his earthly incarnation, Jesus lived a sinless human life in absolute obedience to God and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death and ascended to Heaven’s glory where He is the One Mediator, effecting reconciliation between God and man. He will return to earth someday to judge the world and to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matt. 1:22-23; Isa. 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Heb. 4:14-15; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Tim. 6:14-15; Titus 2:13)

About the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine and co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ and regeneration from sin. He indwells all believers, baptizing them into the Body of Christ at the moment of their salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under the daily control of the Holy Spirit. (2 Cor. 3:17; John 16:7-13, 16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 1:12, 3:16; Eph. 1:13; Gal. 5:25; Eph. 5:18)

About the Bible

The Bible is God’s Word, His revelation of Himself to mankind. Written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy, without error. The Bible is God’s precious gift to us and our source of truth and our standard for living. (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 1:13; Ps. 119:105, 160, 12:6; Prov. 30:5)

About Mankind

Human beings are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. God created humans, male and female, as the crowning work of His creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all are marred by a sinful nature and an attitude of disobedience toward God. Sin separates man from God, and it is only through the gift of God’s grace that man can be brought into His holy fellowship. (Gen. 1:27; Ps. 8:3-6; Isa. 53:6a; 59:1-2; Rom. 3:23-25; Eph. 2:8-9)

About Salvation

Salvation is God’s gift to mankind, offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Man can never be saved by good works but only by personal faith in Jesus as Lord, who by His blood obtained redemption from sin for mankind. Salvation begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith and is eternally secure. (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; John 1:12, 14:6; Titus 3:5; Gal. 3:26; Rom. 5:1)

Our Foundation

As Christians

As Christians, we embrace the foundational Christian beliefs as articulated in the early creeds, such as the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. These creeds, established in the early centuries of Christianity, succinctly summarize essential Christian doctrines, including the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus Christ, and the resurrection. They serve as foundational statements of faith that have united Christians across various denominations.

In addition to these ancient affirmations, Protestantism, which emerged during the 16th-century Reformation, is characterized by specific commitments that distinguished it from the Roman Catholic Church of the time. Central to these commitments are the five solae: Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone as the supreme authority in matters of faith and practice), Sola Fide (justification by faith alone), Sola Gratia (salvation by grace alone), Solus Christus (Christ alone as the mediator between God and man), and Soli Deo Gloria (all glory to God alone). These principles encapsulate the key theological positions of the Protestant Reformation and continue to be integral to Protestant identity and practice. As evangelical Protestants, we believe that the gospel—the good news of salvation for sinners through Jesus Christ’s redemptive work—is the crux of the Christian faith, the message that affects true change in the hearts of sinners, and the source of holy obligation to reach the world.

As Southern Baptists

As a Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) church, Western Hills Church upholds the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (BFM 2000) as a guiding statement of our beliefs. The BFM 2000 is a comprehensive document that articulates the core theological positions of the SBC, emphasizing the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, the nature of God as expressed in the Trinity, the significance of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection for salvation, and the importance of the church in God's plan. It also addresses various other doctrinal points such as the nature of man, salvation, God's purpose of grace, the church, baptism and the Lord's Supper, and religious liberty. This statement serves as a unifying standard for Southern Baptist churches, ensuring that we share a common foundation in our faith and practice. For a detailed understanding of our beliefs as outlined in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, you can visit the official SBC website to read the document.