What We Believe
At Weaver Baptist Church, we hold firmly to the conviction that a clear statement of faith is essential for the life and unity of the church. Doctrine, by its very nature, divides—it separates truth from error, light from darkness, and provides a foundation for genuine Christian fellowship. This is not a hindrance but a blessing, as it ensures that our beliefs are rooted in the unchanging truth of God’s Word. A statement of faith serves as a public declaration of what we believe, a guide for teaching, and a safeguard against false doctrine. At Weaver Baptist Church, we approach our statement of faith with a two-step outlook: first, a foundational confession for new Christians and members to affirm as they join our fellowship, and second, a deeper confessional standard, the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, which our elders uphold as a robust expression of biblical truth. This two-step approach reflects our desire to meet believers where they are while encouraging growth toward a mature understanding of the faith.
Foundational Confession for New Members
As a starting point for those joining Weaver Baptist Church, we ask all members to affirm the following essential truths of the Christian faith, grounded in Scripture:
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The Scriptures: We believe the Scriptures are inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative, clear, sufficient, necessary, and complete (Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
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One God: We believe there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 46:9-10; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 Timothy 2:5).
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The Trinity: We believe the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. The Father is neither the Son nor the Holy Spirit; the Son is neither the Father nor the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 45:6-7; Psalm 110:1; Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:17-20; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
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Human Sinfulness: We believe that I, along with all humanity (Christ excluded), am by birth and action a sinner (Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; 5:8, 12-21; 7:18; Ephesians 2:1-3).
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Penalty for Sin: We believe the deserved penalty for sin is death, both physical and spiritual (Genesis 2:15-17; Genesis 3:19; Romans 5:12; 6:23; James 1:14-15).
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Person of Christ: We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, was born of a virgin, and is both fully God and fully human (Matthew 1:20; Luke 2:52; John 1:1-4, 14; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3).
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Resurrection of Christ: We believe Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-53; John 20:1-21:25; 1 Corinthians 15:12-34).
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Ascension and Return of Christ: We believe Jesus Christ physically ascended into heaven and will one day physically return (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7).
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Resurrection of the Dead: We believe there will be a future physical resurrection of the dead. Those who trust in Jesus Christ alone will be raised to eternal reward. Those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ will be raised to eternal punishment (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15).
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Salvation by Faith Alone: We believe that only by trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone can I be reconciled to God and experience true life and joy (John 3:18, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
Elders’ Commitment to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
While the above confession serves as the starting point for all members, our elders are committed to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith as a fuller expression of biblical doctrine. This historic confession provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the Scriptures and guides our teaching and leadership. It reflects the theological depth we encourage all members to grow toward as they mature in their faith. The 1689 Confession articulates the rich truths of Reformed Baptist theology, including the sovereignty of God, the covenants of grace, and the centrality of Christ in all things.
Together, these two steps—our foundational confession for new members and the 1689 Baptist Confession for our elders—demonstrate our commitment to both welcoming new believers into the body of Christ and fostering growth in the knowledge and love of God’s truth. We invite all who share these convictions to join us in worship, fellowship, and mission at Weaver Baptist Church as we seek to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.