What We Believe

We teach that Jesus is both fully God and fully human and by his virgin birth (Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:31,35), sinless life (Hebrews 7:26, I Peter 2:22), miracles, death on the cross, and bodily resurrection is our Lord, and has redeemed us (Romans 5:8). We teach His ascension into heaven (Acts 1), and His imminent return (Revelation 22:20) to earth in power and glory (I Timothy 3:16, Isaiah 9:6, Colossians 1:15-20).

We teach that the Holy Bible is inspired by God and is without error in its original manuscripts. It speaks God’s Word to us as our final authority in matters of faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:105, Matthew 4:4, 2 Peter 1:19-21, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Revelation 22:18-19, John 17:17, 20:31). The Bible is not just ancient literature, but rather a living book which Jesus opens to us (Luke 24:45).

We teach that there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 44:6, Ephesians 4:4-6), eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We call this “the Trinity” (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19, I Corinthians 12:4-6, II Corinthians 13:13). We believe the Triune nature of God is based on the testimony and revelation of God’s word in Scripture as well as supported by the ancient creeds of the Christian Church, most notably the Apostles’ Creed (2nd Century):

“I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.”

We teach that the Holy Spirit, true God, makes faith possible (John 14:26, Acts 11:16-17, I Corinthians 12:3, Romans 8:14-17) and dwells in each believer (Romans 8:1-17, I Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 1:13).

The Holy Spirit’s natural and supernatural gifts are available and operative today for all Christians (Acts 2, I Corinthians 12:1-11, 28-31, 14:1-12, Ephesians 4:11-13, Hebrews 2:4), and we encourage their use (1 Thessalonians 5:19). All gifts are to be used with reverence and humbleness, and none of them is to be used as a “test” for true faith.

We teach that service and leadership in our congregation are based on giftedness by the Holy Spirit and not on the arbitrary differences of race, gender, age, or social class and economic power (Galatians 3:28, Joel 2:28-29, Ephesians 3:4-6).

We believe that term “marriage” has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. (Gen. 1:27-28; Gen 2:21-25; 1 Cor. 7:2)

We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God. We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to this Statement on Marriage and Sexuality and conduct themselves accordingly. (Gal. 5:19-21)

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with scripture nor the doctrines of the church.

Progressive Baptist Church is affiliated with MN State Baptist Convention and the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

Progressive is grounded in the Baptist tradition and has affiliations with the following:

• Kingdom Covenant Missions International
• St. Paul Black International Ministerial Alliance
• Stair Step Foundation