We believe that there is one eternal triune God, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all honor, obedience, confidence, and love; revealing Himself in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, without division of nature, essence, or being. All three persons are infinite and without beginning.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, God in flesh, fully human, fully God, maker of all that is made. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary death, burial, bodily resurrection, and visible ascension into heaven, where He now rules with the Father at the Father’s right hand.
We believe that God the Holy Spirit exalts Christ, illuminates humans to understand truth, convicts humans of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; calls people to the Savior, effects regeneration, and baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He indwells believers, provides them with spiritual gifts, and empowers them to bear good fruit. He seals believers unto the day of redemption.
We believe the Bible is the Word of God, written by men under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and given as final authority to reveal the nature of God and His purposes, and the final authority over all faith and practices. The Bible is fully inspired by God and is, thus, free of error.
We believe all humans are specially created by God, made in His image, male and female, possessing infinite worth, for the express purpose of bringing glory to God and to enjoy God. Adam and Eve sinned against God, thereby bringing sin upon the entire human race. Since that day, every human being has continued to sin by nature and by choice.
We believe that God in His infinite mercy, through the substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ, reconciles to Himself every person who receives the gift of salvation by repenting of one’s sins and believing in the atonement of Jesus Christ for sin. This is the only means of salvation. Humans, being dead in sin, are made alive by the power of the Holy Spirit, whereby they are enabled to exercise this faith and be justified by God.
We believe God’s gracious purpose for people is their sanctification, which includes repentance characterized by a changed life and saving faith evidenced by kingdom service and good works.
We believe that the church is a universal body of believers in all ages from all parts of the world. We also believe that there is a local church, an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant. We believe the purpose of the church is to honor Christ’s life, death, and resurrection for us by worshiping, preaching the Word of God, celebrating the ordinances, giving of our resources, caring for widows and orphans, and seeking the salvation of the lost in our communities and around the world. Our congregation is the interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application for purposes of MRBC’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline. The Lead Pastor, in consultation with the Ministerial Staff and the Deacon Body, will provide interpretive leadership to the congregation.
We believe that Christ instituted two church ordinances. 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, in which a believer identifies with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and is requisite for church membership. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby believers, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of Christ and anticipate His second coming. Neither of these ordinances has any ability to save.
We believe that the family is the first human institution given by God. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in a loving covenant relationship for life. Any sexual expression outside the covenant relationship between husband and wife violates God’s standard. The relationship between husband and wife should be a portrayal of the relationship of Christ and His church. Children are to obey their parents, and parents are to lovingly raise their children to know God and honor Him with their lives.
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the believer and the endless punishment of the unbeliever.
We are in general agreement with the Baptist Faith and Message.