In general terms our beliefs can be summed up in the following statements

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are verbally inspired of God, are without error in the original writings, and are the supreme and final authority for faith and life.

Jeremiah 30:2; II Timothy 3:16.

We believe in one God, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, Who is eternally existent in three Persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1:1; 26; John 14:16; Colossians 1:16-17.

We believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His death and shed blood to pay the penalty for our sins, His bodily resurrection, His exaltation at God's right hand, and His personal and imminent return.

Colossians 1:15-20; Acts 1:11.

We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice, and therefore are guilty before God and are under His condemnation.

Romans 3:23; 6:23.

We believe that all who, by faith, trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are born again of the Holy Spirit; are therefore children of God and eternally saved, and that the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer to enlighten, guide and enable in life, testimony and service.

John 1:12; 3:3; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:16-17; 26.

We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at conversion and is a universal experience of all believers; and that God gives spiritual gifts to all believers for the building up of the body of Christ.

Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 12:4-11, 13, 27-31; 14:1-40, Ephesians 4:8-13; I Timothy 4:14, II Timothy 1:6; I Peter 4:10-11.

We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.

I Corinthians 11:23-29; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 10:47-48.

We believe in the physical premillennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ, the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved in glory, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost in hell.

I Corinthians 15:1-58; Luke 16:19-31.

We believe that all believers are called to be Christ like in their daily living.

Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:17.

Distinctives

We believe that this church is a local assembly of people who, by the illumination of God the Father, confess that Jesus is "The Christ, Son of the Living God". Through the person of the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Himself is personally and actively involved in building up this local body. The people, property, and programs of our church all belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of this church.

Ephesians 1:22-23 5:23-24.

We believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ over the total ministry of the church, over the leadership of the church, and over every believer in every area of life.

Ephesians 4:4-6.

We believe in individual and corporate response to God's Word, The Bible, as the guide for our lives, and the teaching of God's Word for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:12.

We believe in individual and corporate prayer as the source of power for the ministries of the church.

Matthew 6:5-13, Acts 2:42, James 5:16.

We believe in individual and corporate worship and expression of worship. Worship is ascribing worth to our Sovereign God in spirit and in truth. Our aim in worship is to exalt, honour, and glorify God, resulting in the Worshiper responding to God and being conformed to God’s will and entering into his joyful service. Expressions of worship include private and public praise and thanksgiving.

John 4.23-24, 20.7, Eph. 5.19, Heb 13.15.

We believe in the priority of local evangelism and worldwide missions that encourage the involvement of every believer.

Acts 1:8.

We believe that God has chosen local churches to accomplish His purposes in the world, and that God has equipped every believer with spiritual gifts so that he or she has the ability and potential for ministry.

Ephesians 4:11-16.

We believe in the exercise of willing stewardship by every believer of his or her time, spiritual gifts, finances, and other material sources.

I Corinthians 16:1-2, Luke 6:38, Acts 4:32-35, Romans 12:6, I Peter 4:10.

We believe in the continued and consistent growth of every believer toward spiritual maturity "until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ".

Ephesians 4:13.

We believe in the love of Christ created by the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers as the basis for fellowship.

Philippians 2:1-4.

We believe in the practice of believers' baptism by immersion as a visible testimony of a new relationship with Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:47-48.

We believe in the regular observance of the Lord's Supper with all who know and love Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives.

I Corinthians 11:23-39.

We believe in family relationships as stated in Ephesians 5:22-6:4, with the husband taking his role as leader and loving his wife as Christ loved the church; and the wife likewise loving her husband.

Titus 2:4-5.

We believe in the encouragement of biblically qualified men in the body to take leadership roles in the church.

I Timothy 3:1.

We think of ourselves in earnest conflict with Satan and his hosts, but are confident that under the Lordship of Christ and the leadership of the Spirit, the gates of hell cannot prevail against us.

Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 6:10-17.

Eliot Baptist Church willingly affiliates with the Conservative Baptist Association of America.

In reference to the "sign gifts" of the Spirit, we are content to stay strictly within the bounds of Scripture, believing that, although still operative today, and where, in the sovereignty of God the Holy Spirit they may be given, they should be used discreetly and wisely for the edification of the church and the glory of God. Eliot Baptist Church is not "charismatic" in the contemporary understanding of the term, and would resist any excess or abuse of spiritual gifts.