SUMMARY OF OUR BELIEFS
What we believe about The Bible
At Douglas Baptist Church, we believe that the Bible was given to us from God, 'All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness' (2 Timothy 3:16).
We believe it contains all the truth that God desires us to know about Himself, ourselves, our world around us, and what comes after death. We believe that God invites every person to see what the Bible says for themselves. We believe God has given us the Bible not just for information for our minds, but for transformation in our hearts and lives. This transformation happens through the gospel.
What we believe about the Gospel
The central message of the whole Bible from first to last page is called the gospel. The gospel is the extraordinary work of Jesus - the second person of the Godhead.
Jesus, though fully God, took on a human nature also, and became a person living in this world, just like us. However, unlike us, Jesus never sinned but lived a perfect life. Jesus suffered a horrific death at the hands of religious leaders and hypocrites who refused to believe that he was the promised Saviour of the world.
In line with the plan of God, God the Father used the death of His son to be a sacrifice on our behalf as a way to pay for our sins. Jesus Himself had told His disciples this would happen, 'For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many' (Mark 10:45).
Jesus died as He predicted. He was buried, and on the third day, Jesus came back to life in His body and walked out of His tomb. This confirms His identity as God and validates His death as a payment for our sins. Hallelujah!
After His resurrection - Jesus spent more than one month greeting and interacting with people - before He ascended back to heaven where He sits and reigns today. Jesus is building His church on earth, and Douglas Baptist Church (DBC) is just one part of what He is doing on our island of Ireland.
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What we believe about baptism
At Douglas Baptist Church, we believe that Jesus has given His church two ordinances. One is the Lord's Supper, and the other is believer's baptism. Jesus calls all those who have repented and trusted in Him as their Lord and Saviour, to make a public declaration of their inward personal belief in His work alone to make them right with God. (We see this pattern: repent - believe - be baptised displayed on repeat through the book of Acts).
By being plunged into the water, the believer identifies with Jesus' punishment of death on their behalf. By full immersion under the water the believer identifies with Jesus' burial. By emerging from the water, the believer identifies with Jesus' resurrection and new life in Him. (Romans 6:4).
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FULL STATEMENT OF FAITH
Douglas Baptist Church (DBC) is a member church of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland (ABCI) - https://www.irishbaptist.org. We affirm and adhere to the ABCI doctrinal statement which you can read in full below:
1. The Scriptures
The verbal inspiration and total inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as originally given by God; their sole-sufficiency and final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
2. God
One God in three persons, the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-equal, co-eternal, sovereign and active in creation, providence and redemption.
3. The Lord Jesus Christ
The essential deity and perfect humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and men; His virgin birth, sinless life and sacrificial death on the cross as the only substitute for sinners; His burial, bodily resurrection and ascension to heaven; His high priestly ministry and personal return.
4. The Holy Spirit
The work of the Holy Spirit in regenerating the sinner and indwelling, sanctifying and empowering the believer.
5. The Devil
The personality of the devil; his evil activity and final doom.
6. Humanity
The creation of humanity, male and female, in the image of God, equal in value and complementary in role; the creation ordinance of marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman; the entrance of sin through Adam's disobedience; the fallen and totally depraved state of all humanity; their subjection to God's wrath and condemnation; their responsibility to repent and believe the Gospel.
7. Justification
The justification of the sinner by God's grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone;
the eternal security of the believer.
8. The Church
The church, the body of Christ, made up of those drawn from every tribe, language, people and nation throughout history who are added to it by the work of the Holy Spirit and the exercise of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; the scriptural expression of the church in the world as the local company of baptised believers gathered under the headship of Christ for worship, fellowship, instruction and evangelism, in separation from all systems of belief that do not adhere to the Scriptures and are unfaithful to the gospel of salvation by grace alone; the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper: baptism being the immersion of believers on profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a symbol of their identification with Him in His death, burial and resurrection; the Lord's supper being a remembrance of Christ until He comes and a renewal of commitment to Him; the office of elder including pastor-teacher, for qualified men; the office of deacon; the priesthood of all believers and their unity in the Body of Christ; the separation of church and state.
9. The Future State
The unconditional immortality of the soul; the resurrection of the body; the eternal joy in heaven of the believer; the conscious eternal punishment in hell of those who die impenitent.
10. Christian Behaviour
The responsibility of all believers to obey and serve the Lord and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives; the duty of each church to exercise godly discipline in a loving and caring fashion.
GOD'S APPEAL TO YOU
If you haven’t done so already, God appeals to you today to believe what the Bible says about the gospel - that, 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' (John 3:16).
God desires to completely clear the debt you owe Him. God wants to get rid of your guilt, and give you a right standing before Him immediately. God wants you to start enjoying a personal relationship with Him today, and know for sure that you are going to heaven when it is your time to die.
Will you respond to God today and His call on your life to believe the gospel? If so, simply talk to Him right now. Tell Him you know you’re a sinner, tell Him you believe what Jesus did for you, and tell Him you would like to receive His forgiveness and free gift of eternal life. He will respond to you straight away, for He promises that ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved' (Romans 10:13).
If you’re curious about the gospel, but have questions, please don’t hesitate about getting in touch with us. We are a safe place where you can ask your honest questions about God and spiritual matters.​