What We Believe

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

John 1:1; Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Deut. 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Isa. 9:6, 45:18; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; I Peter 1:2; Matthew 3:16-17

We believe that God the Father holds all the attributes of God while exercising a unique role in the triune God. The Godhead is in agreement with the role of each: God as Father, Son as sacrifice, and Spirit as power. He is the father of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and yet still one with both as God. The Father adopts believers into relationship with him as their Father. With Christ, believers have the privilege of being heirs to God’s glory. He actively prunes/disciplines believers to strengthen them for His glory.

Luke 1:35; Matthew 3:17; Romans 8:15-17; John 15:1&2; Hebrews 12:7-11

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father as God. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to claim His own and take them to Heaven.

Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1-5; 8:58; 14:10-30; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4; I Corinthians 15:3-4; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-15; Rev. 1:8

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.

John 14:16-17, 16:7-13, 17; Acts 1:8; Romans 5:5; I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18

The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture or error. The Bible is infallible, inerrant, and absolute truth. Where it speaks we listen and obey.

Psalms 12:6, 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21

God created mankind, male and female, in His image and likeness. God created man to be in relationship with Him and with each other, to do good works, to be on mission, and to reflect God’s glory. Followers of Jesus Christ are His ambassadors.

Genesis 1:27; Psalms 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:23; Genesis 3

Men will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is eternal death in Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life in Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

John 3:16, 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 6:23, 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9; Revelation 20:15

Salvation is necessary for mankind, because of our sin, which separates us from God. Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ and God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ as Lord of his life. This is evidenced by repentance, confession, baptism by immersion, and a life committed to His service.

All true believers continue forever. Believers that God has accepted in Christ and set apart for His work by His Spirit will never lose their salvation.

Believers may sin because of neglect and temptation; however, even though they may sin, true believers are still saved by the power of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

John 1:12, 14:6; Romans 5:1, 6:23; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; John 10:28; Romans 8:29-30; 1 John 2:9

Baptism is an act of obedience in following Jesus for those who have believed the message of the gospel, repented, and confessed Christ as Lord and Savior. We are baptized to follow the example set by Christ, because Christ and the apostles commanded it, and because it shows we are believers. Baptism has a great deal of spiritual significance because it is a picture of death and resurrection. Baptism literally means “to be immersed” and we fulfill our role in obeying Christ through the physical act of baptism in water by immersion. God’s role is a spiritual baptism.

At The MET, we wait until our children are old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism before we baptize them. A baby or a young child cannot understand sin or the need for Christ. It must be their decision, and their decision must be accompanied by faith and repentance.

Matthew 28:18-21; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-38, 8:35-39, 18:8; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12

God’s definition of the word “church” (Greek: Ecclesia) is: the called out ones. The church is one body that works together. We believe that the church exists throughout the world and is witnessed and experienced in local autonomous gatherings of believers. The purpose of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:18-19; Romans 12:4-5; Acts 2:42-47

The Bible teaches that every Christian is called to “full-time” Christian service, regardless of his or her vocation. We practice the truth that every believer is a minister by encouraging every member to find a place of service and ministry.

Every believer has direct access to God through Bible reading/study, prayer, and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Every Christian is to be a disciple developing relational environments in which they share their faith with those around them by word and action.

Revelation 1:6a; 1 Peter 2:9

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, in His image. (Gen. 1:26-27)

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen. 2:18-25)

We believe that God has established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive relationship between one man and one woman, and that all intimate sexual activity outside the marriage relationship, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or otherwise, is immoral and therefore sin. (Gen. 2:24-25; Ex. 20:14, 17, 22:19; Lev. 18:22-23, 20:13, 15-16; Matt. 19:4-6, 9; Rom. 1:18-31; I Cor. 6:9-10, 15-20; I Tim. 1:8-11; Jude 7)

We believe that neither the federal government, the state, the church, nor any other individual possess the authority or jurisdiction to set or alter Scripture’s definition of marriage. Therefore, unions or partnerships that do not conform to the Biblical definition of marriage are not acknowledged by Metropolitan Baptist Church as marriage.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual behavior, transgenderism, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt. 15:18-20; 1 Cor. 6:9-10)

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-11, 1 John 1:9-10)

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31)

The MET fully recognizes the intentional design of males and females by God. Throughout Scripture, we see that God gives the accountability of headship to men, while both genders have active leadership in the work of God’s Kingdom. God has gifted both men and women with leadership gifts to build up the body of Christ. The MET affirms women’s leadership in all volunteer capacities excluding headship (eldership) and all staff capacities excluding that of Senior Pastor (elder).