The following paragraphs simply summarize what we believe as a church family. We believe the Bible and teach it to be perfectly true. Every belief and teaching of Southwest Baptist Church flows from God’s Word.
Scriptures
We believe that the Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God and that it is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. For reasons of unity within the church and because of its textual reliability and preservation, we exclusively use the King James Version of the Bible. II Timothy 3:16–17, II Peter 1:20–21
Sovereign God
God is a Person, eternally existing, as a Trinity in unity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three Persons and yet one God. He is altogether holy yet personal. Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19, I Corinthians 8:6
Jesus Christ, God’s Son
Jesus Christ, eternally existing, is the only begotten Son of God, Who became a sinless man to redeem us. He was born of a virgin and is true God and true man. Luke 1:30–55, John 1:1–15, Philippians 2:5–8
Local Church
The local church is a group of believers baptized by water; banded together for edification, exhortation, and evangelism as commanded by Christ in the Great Commission: preaching the Gospel to every creature and teaching the doctrines of Jesus Christ. Mark 16:15, I Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 1:22–23
Sin
Man was created in the image of God but fell through sin, bringing not only physical death, but also spiritual death or eternal separation from God. Now all of mankind exists equally as a fallen race with an inherited sinful nature. Genesis 2:16–17, Genesis 3:16–19, Romans 3:10–23, Romans 6:23, James 2:10
Salvation
The Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died as a substitutionary payment for the sins of the whole world. He physically arose from the dead and then ascended into Heaven. Simple faith in this sacrifice and sincere repentance is (and always has been) the only way of salvation for mankind. True salvation will always be evidenced by a changed and fruit bearing life. Luke 24, Acts 1:9–11, Acts 2:21, John 10:27-28, Romans 5:8–10, I Peter 3:18
End Times
Jesus Christ, Himself, will soon come again in the air to catch up His Church to reward its service. The unbelievers left behind will go through a period called the Tribulation, after which Christ will return to the earth to set up His Kingdom of one thousand years of righteous rule. After this, the unbelievers of all ages will stand at the Great White Throne to be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire, separated from God forever, while the believers spend eternity in the fullness of joy in Heaven with the Lord. Matthew 24:29–42, I Thessalonians 4:16–18, Revelation 19:11 and 20:13