Statements Of Faith & Core Doctrine

1. The Bible
We believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. It is the final authority for all matters of faith and practice, and it reveals God’s plan for salvation and how we should live our lives.
Scripture Reference:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2. The Trinity
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and co-eternal, and each person of the Trinity fully embodies God’s nature and attributes.
Scripture Reference:
Matthew 28:19 (NKJV) – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
3. Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, we have salvation. He is the only way to God and eternal life.
Scripture Reference:
John 14:6 (NKJV) – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NKJV) – “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
4. Salvation
We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is a free gift from God and cannot be earned by works. We believe in the necessity of personal repentance, faith, and obedience to Christ for eternal life.
Scripture Reference:
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Acts 2:38 (NKJV) – “Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'”
5. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. The Holy Spirit convicts, empowers, and equips believers to live holy lives. He is active in guiding us into truth, comforting us, and helping us grow in the image of Christ.
Scripture Reference:
John 14:26 (NKJV) – “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
Acts 1:8 (NKJV) – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
6. The Church
We believe in the Church as the body of Christ, made up of all believers in Jesus. The Church exists to worship God, fellowship with one another, and proclaim the Gospel to the world. We believe in the local church, where believers gather to grow in faith and serve one another.
Scripture Reference:
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV) – “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”
Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV) – “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
7. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that baptism by immersion is the biblical mode of baptism and that it is an outward sign of the inward change that has taken place through faith in Christ. We also observe the Lord's Supper as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice, His body broken, and His blood shed for us.
Scripture Reference:
Matthew 28:19 (NKJV) – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 11:23-24 (NKJV) – “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’”
8. Eternal Life
We believe in the eternal security of the believer. Those who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ will experience eternal life with God in heaven. We also believe in the reality of hell for those who reject Christ.
Scripture Reference:
John 3:16 (NKJV) – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Revelation 20:15 (NKJV) – “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
These core doctrines reflect our commitment to biblical truth and our desire to honor God in all that we do. At Hughson Free Will Baptist Church, we seek to live out these beliefs daily, sharing the love of Jesus with others and making disciples of all nations