How the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 clarifies the Christian faith

Jude 3 "Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints." 

Introducing the Baptist Faith and Message 2000
The focus of today's post is to overview the official Southern Baptist Convention doctrinal statement. Doctrinal statements provide much needed summaries of issues in order to better understand what a Christian believes about scripture, God, salvation, Jesus Christ, matters related to this life and the one to come. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is such an example of the type of summary of which I speak. An excerpt from the preamble of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 defines how Southern Baptists understand the place of such statements:


"Baptist churches, associations, and general bodies have adopted confessions of faith as a witness to the world, and as instruments of doctrinal accountability. We are not embarrassed to state before the world that these are doctrines we hold precious and as essential to the Baptist tradition of faith and practice."

Today's post will aim to first of all list the major articles or doctrinal areas covered by the Baptist Faith and Message, with the second part aimed at understanding how the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 may be used to better understand the Christian faith.The reader is encouraged to view the entire text of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 on www.sbc.net

1. Major Articles or Doctrinal Areas covered by the Baptist Faith and Message 2000

I. The Scriptures

II. God

III. Man

IV. Salvation

V. God's Purpose of Grace (Election)

VI. The Church

VII. Baptism and Lord's Supper

VIII. The Lord's Day

IX. The Kingdom

X. Evangelism and Missions

XI. Stewardship

XII. Cooperation

XIII. The Christian & the Social Order

XIV Peace and War

XV. Religious Liberty

XVI. Family


2. How the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 may be used to better understand the Christian faith

A. Christian Spiritual Foundations

I. The Scriptures

II. God

III. Man

IV. Salvation

V. God's Purpose of Grace (Election)


B. Christian Spiritual Formation

VI. The Church

VII. Baptism and Lord's Supper

VIII. The Lord's Day

IX. The Kingdom


C. Christian Responsibilities

X. Evangelism and Missions

XI. Stewardship

XII. Cooperation

XIII. The Christian & the Social Order

XIV Peace and War

XV. Religious Liberty

XVI. Family