Statement of Faith

Freedom Baptist Church, Dundalk, Maryland

I. The Word of God

We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is God’s divinely inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word. It serves as the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative guide for saving knowledge, faith, and practice.

Scripture References: Psalm 12:6-7, Psalm 19:7, Proverbs 30:5, John 8:31-32, Acts 20:32, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21.

II. The Trinity

We believe in one true and living God, who is the creator and sustainer of all things, visible and invisible. God is infinite in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He reveals Himself as the eternal triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each equal in divine perfection yet distinct in personhood. These three execute harmonious roles in creation, providence, and redemption.

Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 1:1, 3; 4:24; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 1:16-17; 1 Timothy 1:17.

A. God the Father

We affirm that God the Father rules with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of human history according to His grace. He is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. God is deeply involved in men’s affairs, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 26; Exodus 34:6; Isaiah 43:3; 46:9-10; John 3:16; Ephesians 1:11.

B. God the Son: Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Fully God and fully man, Jesus lived a sinless life and perfectly fulfilled the law. He died on the cross as a substitute for sinners, was buried, and rose on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. Jesus ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, interceding for His people. He will return visibly and bodily to judge the world and consummate His redemptive mission. Jesus is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church, and the Sovereign of the Universe.

Scripture References: Isaiah 53:4-6; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1; 20:11-21:14; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4; 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 7:25, 9:28; 1 Peter 2:21-23.

C. God the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is fully divine and was instrumental in the inspiration of the Scriptures. He enables men to understand the truth, exalts Christ, and convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit regenerates believers, indwelling and sealing them until the day of final redemption. He bestows spiritual gifts for service, cultivates Christian character, and empowers believers for worship, evangelism, and service.

Scripture References: Genesis 1:2; Psalm 139:7-9; Joel 2:28-32; Ezekiel 36:27; John 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 38; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 6:19; 12:3-13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 22:17.

III. God’s Creation of All Things

We affirm that God created the universe and everything in it out of nothing by His Word in six literal days, and He rested on the seventh day. Creation displays His glory for the everlasting joy of the redeemed.

Scripture References: Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:13-14; Psalm 24:1-2; 50:9-15; Isaiah 35:10; 43:7; Matthew 25:23; Acts 17:25; Hebrews 1:2; 11:3; 1 John 1:1-3; Revelation 5:9; 7:9-10.

IV. The Fall of Man

We believe that God created man in His own image, free from sin. However, through Satan’s temptation, Adam disobeyed God’s command and fell from his original holiness and righteousness. Consequently, all his descendants inherit a corrupt nature, opposed to God and His law, and are under condemnation. From the moment they are capable of moral action, they become actual transgressors.

Scripture References: Genesis 1:26-27; 2:25; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1-3.

V. Salvation

We believe that salvation encompasses the redemption of the whole person and is freely offered to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Salvation, obtained by Christ’s blood, includes election, regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. Personal faith in Jesus Christ is essential for salvation.

Scripture References: Matthew 1:21; 27:22-28:6; John 3:16; Romans 1:16-17; Ephesians 2:18-22.

A. Election

Election is God’s gracious purpose for regenerating, justifying, sanctifying, and glorifying sinners. It is consistent with human free will, excludes boasting, and promotes humility.

Scripture References: Genesis 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Romans 8:29-39; 9:6-29; 10:12-15; 11:5-7, 26-36; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Ephesians 1:3-14; 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 1 Peter 2:9-10.

Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace, making believers new creatures in Christ. The Holy Spirit brings about this heart change, leading the sinner to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.

Scripture References: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 1:11-13; 3:1-8; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 3:4-7; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3.

C. Repentance and Faith

Repentance involves turning from sin to God, while faith entails accepting Jesus Christ as a substitute for personal sin and committing to Him as Lord and Savior for life.

Scripture References: Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19; 10:43; 26:20; Romans 3:21-28; 10:4-13; Galatians 2:19-21; 3:1-9; Ephesians 2:8-9.

D. Justification

Justification is God’s gracious acquittal of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. It is based on Christ’s righteous life, death, and resurrection, bringing the believer into a relationship of peace with God.

Scripture References: Luke 18:9-14; Romans 3:21-5:21; 8:30-34; Galatians 3:10-26.

E. Sanctification

Sanctification begins at regeneration, setting the believer apart for God’s purposes and enabling moral and spiritual growth through the Holy Spirit’s presence and power.

Scripture References: John 17:17; Romans 5:1-5; 6:1-23; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 10:14; 13:12.

F. Glorification

Glorification is the final state of the redeemed, ensuring that all true believers endure to the end and are kept by God’s power for their complete salvation.

Scripture References: John 14:1-6; Romans 8:18-30; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58; 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5; 2 Timothy 1:12; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:3-5, 13; 1 John 3:1-3; Jude 24-25; Revelation 21:1-22:5.

VI. The Church

We believe in the universal church, a spiritual body with Christ as the head and all regenerated individuals as members. We also believe in the local church, a community of believers in Jesus Christ who are baptized based on a credible profession of faith, gathered for worship, work, and fellowship. The local church’s primary task is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Scriptural officers of the church are pastors and deacons, with the office of pastor limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

Scripture References: Matthew 16:18-19; Acts 2:41-42; 6:3-6; 14:23, 27; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:12; 3:1-15; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 5:1-4.

VII. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that Christian baptism involves the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It symbolizes the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, their death to sin, and their resurrection to a new life in Christ. It is a testimony to their faith in the final resurrection and is a prerequisite for church membership.

Scripture References: Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; 8:35-38; 16:30-33; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12.

We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience, wherein believers partake of the bread and the fruit of the vine to memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.

Scripture References: Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-26.

VIII. Eternal Punishment

We believe that those who do not repent of their sins and accept God’s salvation through Jesus Christ will face eternal, conscious, and agonizing punishment in hell. Hell is a real place for the unredeemed to experience God’s wrath forever. This eternal punishment reflects God’s justice and the seriousness of rebelling against His exalted nature.

Scripture References: Matthew 3:10; 10:28; 13:36-43, 47-50; 25:31-46; John 3:36; 5:25-29; Romans 2:5, 8; Ephesians 5:5-6; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; 2:10-12; Revelation 20:11-15.

IX. The Last Things

We believe in the pretribulation rapture of the church, an event that can occur at any moment. At that moment, the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies, and the living in Christ shall receive glorified bodies without tasting death, all to meet the Lord in the air before the seven-year Tribulation.

Scripture References: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54; Philippians 3:20-21; Revelation 3:10.

We believe that the Tribulation, following the rapture, will culminate in Christ’s premillennial return in power and glory to establish His Kingdom on earth.

Scripture References: Daniel 9:25-27; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 1:30-33; Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-9; Acts 2:29-30; Revelation 20:1-4, 6.