CONFESSION OF FAITH
The apostle Paul had barely escaped being literally torn apart by a mob outside the temple gates. His rescuers were a Roman chief captain and his soldiers. Once he was in their custody, word came that there was yet another assassination plot to kill Paul. A decision was made to have him sent to Caesarea in the middle of the night where he was kept in Herod’s judgement hall. Paul’s accusers were summoned from Jerusalem and they came with an impressive entourage-including an orator named Tertullus. He brought forth serval false charges against Paul with great flourish and embellishment. Once Tertullus was finished with his prosecution, the Roman governor, Felix, invited Paul to speak.
After a brief, but through denial of the charges brought against him, Paul made the following declaration: But I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and prophets: And have hope toward God…Acts:24:14-15a Paul said, “The lies they tell. I deny, but I won’t deny that I am worshipping God in a way that may not please everyone. I confess that I believe all the things written in the word of God.”
He made a Confession of Faith. This term has been apart of the history of the people who identify themselves as Baptist for serval centuries-going back to the 1600’s and before. A Confession of Faith is a declaration of doctrine, of principle, and of practice embraced by local churches. It is not a replacement for the whole counsel of God as found in the bible. Paul started, believing all things which are written… The purpose of a Confession of Faith is to summarise the great truths of the scripture and set them forth as a foundation and guide for current and future generations of God’s people.
It is with this purpose in mind, that we hear-by set forth this document- a Confession of what we believe. It should be carefully noted that Greater Bacoor Baptist Church has always possessed such a document. This Confession does not in any form or fashion change or alter any founding doctrinal position of our church. Its purpose is to merely re-state those truths in wording that may be more understandable and to articulate and clarify some positions in light of the changing days in which we live. It is our prayer that God’s Word and Truth will be upheld and defended as we, by his grace, have always endeavored to do.