About the SCRIPTURES:
We believe the entire Bible is verbally inspired by God and is inerrant in the original writings. Through the providence of God, the Word of God has been protected and preserved, and is the only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
About GOD:
We believe that there is only one true, living sovereign, holy, and eternally existent God. He exists in three co-equal persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each being a distinct person and with a distinct function, but all of one essence and all possessing the same nature, perfection, and attributes. He is the creator and sustainer of all things, the source of all truth, and is worthy of worship, confidence, and obedience (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Genesis 1:31).
About JESUS CHRIST:
We believe that Jesus Christ is God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed many miracles, shed His blood on the cross as a vicarious substitute for the sins of mankind, was buried, bodily resurrected, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return literally, visibly, and personally in glory and power (John 1:1-3, 14; Matthew 1:18-25; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Acts 1:11).
About the HOLY SPIRIT:
We believe the Holy Spirit is God, co-equal and co-existent with the Father and the Son. He is the chief convictor of sin, the chief agent of regeneration and sanctification. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer and is the power by which believers can live godly lives. It is the Holy Spirit who distributes to every believer spiritual gifts, which are divinely chosen abilities graciously bestowed upon every believer at salvation to enable him to perform a function effectively within the church, the Body of Christ. (John 14:16-19; 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9, 11; Titus 3:5; Eph. 4:11-16).
About MANKIND:
We believe that man is the supreme object of God’s creation. He was created in God’s image and is in no sense the product of any evolutionary process. Mankind was originally created with the ability to live perfectly for God's glory. Because of his disobedience and rebellion against God’s directive mankind is in a fallen state and therefore all people have lost the ability to live perfect lives which has in turned resulted in both physical and spiritual death on all apart from forgiveness and salvation by the grace of God. (Genesis 1:17, 31, 3:1-24; Ps. 8:4-8; Romans 3:10-23; 5:12-21; 6:23).
About SALVATION:
We believe that the salvation of lost and sinful mankind is a free gift of God’s grace apart from any human effort, based solely upon the vicarious and atoning death of Jesus Christ. It is effected by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, and received only through faith in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. We believe God desires every person to be saved and will freely receive all who come to him through Jesus Christ where as he will reject all who refuse to come to him by faith in Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 10:9-10, 13; John 3:16-18; Titus 3:5 2 Peter 3:9,).
About ETERNAL SECURITY:
We believe that because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ and he is a God who cannot lie nor change, the believer is eternally secure in that salvation. Our salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the efforts of the believer (John 10:29-30; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 7:25, 13:8; 1 John 5:11-13).
About the CHURCH:
We believe the church is the visible presence of Jesus Christ in the world – the body of Christ. The church exists in two forms: the universal church, meaning all true believers, and the local church which is a group of baptized believers who have come together for worship, to edify the believers, evangelize the lost and minister to others (Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Hebrews 10:25)..
About ETERNITY:
We believe that man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally with God is heaven. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence (John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15).
About BAPTISM AND LORD'S SUPPER:
We believe Jesus gave the church two visible symbols (called “ordinance”) as reminders of His death and resurrection. These two ordinances are baptism and the Lord's Supper. Neither of these ordinances are necessary for salvation. Baptism by immersion is a public demonstration of our faith in Christ and obedience to his Lordship. The Lord's Supper is an ongoing symbol remembering our Lord's death, burial, resurrection, and promised return (Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32).
As a member of the Southern Baptist Convention Camellia had adopted the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as the detailed explanation of our doctrinal beliefs.