On this page you will find out more about us: our affiliation, mission, vision, purpose, and church covenant all give clarity about who we are as a church.

Affiliation

Central Baptist Church Brantford is a member of the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Church in Canada in the FEB Central Region.

Find out how it all started here with our very own Pastor Don Loveday.

Mission

To become like Jesus as we worship, grow, and serve.

Vision

To worship biblically in Spirit and Truth; to grow in the knowledge, holiness, and hope of the Lord Jesus Christ; to serve locally and globally in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.

Purpose

To preach, teach, promote, disseminate, advance, demonstrate, encourage, and implement the Gospel of Jesus Christ and related truths of the Holy Bible within the local community, throughout Canada and to people everywhere and thus fulfill the command of our Lord and Saviour that His Gospel be preached in all the world as a witness for all nations.

Church Covenant

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doc- trines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expense of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.

We engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to educate our children in the Christian faith; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to not become intoxicated but rather be controlled by the Spirit; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Saviour to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will, if possible, unite with a church where we can carry out the articles of this confession and the spirit of this covenant.

Statement of Faith

Article 1 “The Scriptures”

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any ad- mixture of error for its matter and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man, the true centre of Christian union and the supreme union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.

1. By the “Holy Bible” we mean that collection of sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written, not only contains and conveys the word of God, but IS the very word of God.
2. By “inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.

2 Tim.3:16-17, 2 Pet. 1:19-21, Acts 1:16, Acts 28:25, Psa. 119:160, Psa. 119:105, Psa. 119:130, Luke 24: 25-27, John 17:17, Luke 24:44-45, Psa. 119:89, Prov. 30:5-6, Rom. 3:4, I Pet. 1:23, Rev. 22:19, John 12:48, Isa. 8:20, Eph. 6:17, Rom. 15:4, Luke 16:31, Psa. 19:7-11, John 5:45-47, John 5:39.

Article 2 “The True God”

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honour, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

Ex. 20:2-3, Gen. 17:1, I Cor. 8:6, Eph. 4:6, John 4:24, Psa. 147:5, Psa. 83:18, Psa. 90:2, Jer. 10:10, Ex. 15: 11, Rev. 4:11, I Tim. 1:17, Rom. 11:33, Mark 12:30, Matt. 28:19, John 15:26, I Cor. 12:4-6, I John 5:7, John 10:30, John 17:5, Acts 5:3-4, I Cor. 2:10-11, Phil. 2:5- 6, Eph. 2:18, 2 Cor. 13:14.

Article 3 “The Holy Spirit”

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world he restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts

of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.

John 14:16-17, Matt. 28:19, Heb. 9:14, John 14:26, Luke 1:35, Gen. 1:1-3, 2 Thess. 2:7, John 16:8-11, John 15:26-27, Acts 5:30-32, John 3:5-6, Eph. 1:13-14, Matt. 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33, Acts 11:16, Luke 24:49, John 16:13, Rom. 8:14, Rom. 8:16, 2 Thess. 2:13, I Pet. 1:2, Rom. 8:26-27.

Article 4 “The Devil or Satan”

We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honours, but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the Saints, the author of all the powers of darkness – destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.

Isa. 14:12-15, Ezek. 28:14-17, Jude 6, 2 Pet. 2:4, Eph. 2:2, John 14:30, I Thess. 3:5, Matt. 4:1-3, I Pet. 5:8, Zech. 1:3, I John 3:8, Matt. 13:25,37-39, Luke 22:3-4, Rev. 12:10, 2 Cor. 11:13-15, Mark 13:21-22, I John 4:3, 2 John 7, I John 2:22, Rev. 13:13,14, 2 Thess. 2:8- 11, Rev. 19:11,16,20, Rev. 12:7-9, Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 20:10, Matt. 25:41.

Article 5 “The Creation”

We believe in the Genesis account of creation and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after his own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary changes of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only after their kind”.

Gen. 1:1, Ex. 20:11, Acts 4:24, Col. 1:16-17, Heb. 11:3, John 1:3, Rev. 10:6, Rom. 1:20, Acts 17:23-26, Jer. 10:12, Neh. 9:6, Gen. 1:26-27, I Cor. 11:7, Gen. 2:7, Gen. 2:21-23, Gen. 1:11, Gen. 1:24.

Article 6 “The Fall of Man”

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but by choice and therefore under just condemnation without defence or excuse.

Gen. 3:1-6, 24, Rom. 5:12, Rom. 5:19, Rom. 3:10-19, Eph. 2:1,3, Rom. 1:18, Ezek. 18:19-20, Rom. 1:32, Rom. 1:20, Rom. 1:28, Gal. 3:22.

Article 7 “The Virgin Birth”

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son.

Gen. 3:15, Isa. 7:14, Matt. 1:18-25, Luke 1:35, Mark 1:1, John 1:14, Psa. 2:7, Gal. 4:4, I John 5:20, I Cor. 15:47.

Article 8 “The Atonement for Sin”

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honoured the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate and all-sufficient Saviour.

Eph. 2:8, Acts 15:11, Rom. 3:24, John 3:16, Matt. 18:11, Phil. 2:7, Heb. 2:14, Isa. 53:4-7, Rom. 3:25, I John 4:10, I Cor. 15:3, 2 Cor. 5:21, John 10:18, Phil. 2:8, Gal. 1:4, I Pet. 2:24, I Pet. 3:18, Isa. 53:11, Heb. 12:2, I Cor. 15:20, Isa. 53:12, Heb. 9:12-15, Heb. 7:25, I John 2:2.

Article 9 “Grace in the New Creation”

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.

John 3:3, 2 Cor. 5:17, Luke 5:27, I John 5:1, John 3:6- 7, Acts 2:41, Acts 16:30-33, 2 Pet. 1:4, Rom. 6:23, Eph. 2:1, 2 Cor. 5:19, Col. 2:13, John 3:8, John 1:12- 13, Gal. 5:22, Eph. 5:9.

Article 10 “The Freeness of Salvation”

We believe in God’s electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.

I Thess. 1:4, Col. 3:12, I Pet. 1:2, Titus 1:1, Rom. 8:29- 30, Matt. 11:28, Isa. 55:1, Rev. 22:17, Rom. 10:13, John 6:37, Isa. 55:6, Acts 2:38, Isa. 55:7, John 3:15- 16, I Tim. 1:15, I Cor. 15:10, Eph. 2:4-5, John 5:40, John 3:18, John 3:36.

Article 11 “Justification”

We believe that the greatest gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness that we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us.

Acts. 13:39, Isa. 53:11, Zech. 13:1, Rom. 8:1, Rom. 5:9, Rom. 5:1, Titus 3:5-7, Rom. 1:17, Hab. 2:4, Gal. 3:11, Rom. 4:1-8, Heb. 10:38.

Article 12 “Repentance & Faith”

We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Saviour.

Acts 20:21, Mark 1:15, Acts 2:37-38, Luke 18:13, Rom. 10:13, Psa. 51:1-4, Psa. 51:7, Isa. 55:6-7, Luke 12:8, Rom. 10:9-11.

Article 13 “The Church”

We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His word; that its officers of ordination are pastors, elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures; that we believe the true mission of the church is found in the great commission: first, to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church; third, to teach and instruct, as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order. We hold that the local church has the ab- solute right to self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measures and method of its cooperation on all matters of membership, polity, government, discipline and benevolence; that the will of the local church is final.

Acts 2:41, Acts 2:42, I Cor. 11:2, Eph. 1:22-23, Eph. 4:11, I Cor. 12:4,8-11, Acts 14:23, Acts 6:5-6, Acts 15:23, Acts 20:17-28, I Tim. 3:1-7, I Tim. 3:8-13, Matt. 28:19-20, Col. 1:18, Eph. 5:23-24, I Pet. 5:1-4, Acts 15:22, Jude 3-4, 2 Cor. 8:23-24, I Cor. 16:1, Mal. 3:10, Lev. 27:32, I Cor. 16:2, I Cor. 6:1-3, I Cor. 5:11-13.

Article 14 “Baptism and the Lord’s Supper”

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and the resurrection to a new life; that it is a pre-requisite to the privileges of a church relationship and to the Lord’s supper; in which the members of the church by the sacred use of bread and wine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination.

Acts 8:36-39, Matt. 3:6, John 3:23, Matt. 3:16, Rom. 6:3-5, Col. 2:12, Acts 2:41-42, Matt. 28:19-20, I Cor. 11:23-28.

Article 15 “The Perseverance of the Saints”

We believe that such only are real believers as endure to the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.

John 8:31-32, Col. 1:21,23, I John 2:19, Matt. 13:19- 21, Rom. 8:28, Matt. 6:30, Psa. 121:3, Heb. 1:14, I Pet. 1:5, Phil. 1:6, John 10:28, John 10:29, John 16:8, Rom. 8:35-39.

Article 16 “The Righteous and the Wicked”

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; that all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse. This distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.

Mal. 3:18, Gen. 18:23, Rom. 6:17-18, Prov. 11:31, I Pet. 4:18, Rom. 1:17, I Cor. 15:22, Acts 10:34,35, I John 2:29, I John 3:7, Rom. 6:16, I John 5:19, Gal. 3:10, Rom. 7:6, Rom. 6:23, Prov. 14:32, Luke 16:25, Matt. 25:34,41, John 8:21, Luke 9:26, John 12:25, Matt. 7:13-14.

Article 17 “Civil Government”

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honoured and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth.

Rom. 13:17, 2 Sam 23:3, Ex. 18:21-22, Acts 23:5, Matt. 22:21, Titus 3:1, I Pet. 2:3-14, I Pet. 2:17, Acts 5:29, Acts. 4:19-20, Dan. 3:17-18, Matt. 10:28, Matt. 23:10, Rev. 10:16, Phil. 2:10-11, Psa. 72:11.

Article 18 “The Resurrection, Return of Christ and Related Events”

We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value:
Bodily Resurrection: Matt. 28:6-7, Luke 24:39, John 20:27, I Cor. 15:4, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:2, 4-6.

The Ascension: Acts 1:9, Acts 1:11, Luke 24:51, Mark 16:19, Rev. 3:21, Heb. 8:1, Heb. 12:2.
The High Priesthood: Heb. 8:6, I Tim. 2:5, I John 2:1, Heb. 2:17, Heb. 5:9-10.

The Second Coming: John 14:3, Acts 1:11, I Thess. 4:16, Matt. 24:27, Matt. 25:13, James 5:8, Matt. 24:42, Heb. 9:28.
Resurrection of the Righteous Dead: I Thess. 4:16, I Cor. 15:42-44, I Cor. 15:52

Change of the Living in Christ: I Cor. 15:51-53, I Thess. 4:17, Phil. 3:20-21.
On the Throne of David: Luke 1:32, Isa. 9:6-7, Acts 2:29-30.

His Reign on Earth: I Cor. 15:25, Isa. 32:1, Isa. 11:4-5, Psa. 72:8, Rev. 20:1-4, Rev. 20:6.