At Virginia Avenue Baptist Church, we believe that what we believe matters.
Our faith is grounded in the Word of God, centered on the Lord Jesus Christ, and committed to sharing the good news of the Gospel with our community and our world.
As a Baptist church, our doctrinal beliefs align with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. While no human statement can replace the authority of Scripture, the Baptist Faith and Message provides a helpful summary of the biblical truths we hold.
The Bible
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is true, trustworthy, and our final authority for what we believe and how we live.
God's Word reveals who He is, shows us our need for salvation, points us to Jesus Christ, and provides everything we need to know in order to faithfully follow Him.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 | 2 Peter 1:20–21 | Psalm 119:105
God
We believe there is one true and living God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God is our Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Lord. He is holy, loving, all-powerful, all-knowing, and worthy of our worship, obedience, and praise.
Genesis 1:1 | Matthew 28:19 | Deuteronomy 6:4
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a completely sinless life, willingly died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and bodily rose from the grave on the third day.
He ascended to Heaven, where He intercedes for believers, and He is coming again.
Jesus is not simply one way to God—He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
John 1:1–14 | John 14:6 | 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 | Acts 1:9–11
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God.
He convicts the world of sin, draws people to Christ, gives new life to those who believe, indwells every believer, and empowers Christians to live faithfully and serve God.
John 16:7–14 | Romans 8:9–14 | Galatians 5:22–25
Humanity and Sin
We believe every person is created in the image of God and therefore possesses dignity, value, and worth.
However, humanity has been separated from God because of sin. Every person has sinned and is in need of the forgiveness and salvation that only God can provide.
Genesis 1:26–27 | Romans 3:23 | Romans 6:23
Salvation
We believe salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Salvation cannot be earned through good works, church attendance, baptism, religion, or human effort. Jesus paid the price for our sins through His death on the cross and made salvation available to all who will repent of their sin and place their faith in Him.
Those who genuinely trust Christ are forgiven, made new, and given eternal life.
John 3:16 | Romans 10:9–13 | Ephesians 2:8–9 | 2 Corinthians 5:17
The Church
We believe the church is made up of people who have been saved by Jesus Christ and brought together to worship God, grow in His Word, love one another, serve others, and share the Gospel.
Jesus Christ is the Head of His church.
At Virginia Avenue Baptist Church, we believe the local church should be a family where people can know Christ, grow in Christ, serve Christ, and help others come to know Him.
Matthew 16:18 | Acts 2:41–47 | Colossians 1:18
Baptism
We believe baptism is an act of obedience for those who have personally trusted Jesus Christ as Savior.
Following the New Testament pattern, we practice baptism by immersion, symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and the believer's new life in Him.
Baptism does not save us; rather, it is a public testimony of the salvation we have already received through Christ.
Matthew 28:19–20 | Acts 2:41 | Romans 6:3–5
The Lord's Supper
We believe the Lord's Supper is a sacred time of remembrance in which believers remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross and look forward to His return.
The bread and the cup symbolize Christ's body and blood and remind us of the tremendous price He paid for our redemption.
Luke 22:19–20 | 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
The Mission of the Church
We believe every Christian has been called to help fulfill the Great Commission.
The Gospel is too good to keep to ourselves.
We are called to take the message of Jesus Christ across the street and around the world—loving people, serving people, making disciples, and telling others how they can know Jesus.
Simply put, we want to Go With The Gospel.
Matthew 28:18–20 | Acts 1:8 | Romans 1:16
The Family
We believe the family is a gift from God and the foundational institution of human society.
We believe biblical marriage is the covenant union of one man and one woman, and that husbands and wives are called to love, honor, serve, and remain faithful to one another.
Parents have the privilege and responsibility of teaching their children to know and follow the Lord.
Genesis 2:18–24 | Ephesians 5:22–33 | Ephesians 6:1–4
The Return of Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is coming again.
There will be a resurrection of the dead and a final judgment. Those who belong to Christ will spend eternity with Him, while those who reject Him remain eternally separated from God.
Because Jesus is coming again, we want to live faithfully, love people sincerely, and share the Gospel urgently.
John 14:1–3 | 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 | Revelation 21:1–4
Our Statement of Faith
Virginia Avenue Baptist Church aligns doctrinally with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as a summary of our biblical beliefs.
The Baptist Faith and Message does not replace the Bible. The Bible alone is our final authority for faith and practice.
Most importantly, Christianity is more than a list of doctrines to believe—it is a relationship with Jesus Christ.
If you have questions about what we believe, what it means to be saved, or what it means to follow Jesus, we would love the opportunity to talk with you.
Come worship with us. Come grow with us. And come Go With The Gospel with us.