What We Believe

The most important thing to us at Ocean City Baptist Church is that we honor God by doing everything according to His Word. Here are some foundational truths that guide us as we seek to glorify Him.

We believe that all Scripture, as originally written, is inspired of God and accept it as final authority in all matters of doctrine and practice. 2 Tim. 3:16,17; 2 Pet. 1:21.

We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - co-eternal in being, co-equal in power and glory, of the same essence, and having the same attributes. Deut. 6:4; Jn. 14:26; Matt. 28:19; Rom. 1:7; Heb. 1:8; Acts 5:3,4.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He left heaven's glories to be born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life, died for sins as a substitutionary sacrifice, rose from the dead, and ascended to the right hand of God where He makes intercession for believers. We believe He is true God and true man. Phil. 2:5-11; Matt. 1:18-25; 1 Pet. 2:22, 1 Cor. 15:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 7:25; Luke 19:10; Jn. 3:16-18.

We believe the Holy Spirit is the person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He regenerates sinners, that He baptizes all believers into the body of Christ, and that he seals them unto the day of redemption. We also believe He indwells, empowers, and instructs believers. Jn. 16:7-14; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13,14.

We believe man was created in the image of God. Man sinned and thereby received spiritual death which is separation from God. Since Adam's sin, man has inherited a sinful nature. Man is totally depraved and utterly unable of himself to remedy his lost condition. Gen. 1:26,27; Gen. 3:1-24; Rom. 5:12; Ps. 51:5; Eph. 2:1-3,12.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, that all who believe in Him are justified by faith and regenerated by the Holy Spirit, becoming the children of God. We believe salvation is received by grace through faith in the shed blood of Christ and by this act we are made members of the body of Christ which is the true Church. 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 1:7; Jn. 1:12,13; Eph. 2:8,9; Rom. 10:9-13.

We believe that Satan is a created being whose power is second only to God. He rebelled against God, and has become the open and declared enemy of God and man. We believe that Satan is the author of sin, that he caused the fall of the human race, and that he continues to tempt and accuse believers before God. We believe he will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. Ezek. 28:11-14; Gen. 3:1-24; 1 Pet. 5:8,9; Rev. 12:10; Rev. 20:10.

We believe in the personal, premillenial, and imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men - the saved to eternal life in heaven, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment in hell. 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Thess. 1:9,10; Jn. 5:28,29.

We believe that all born again believers constitute the universal Church which is the body and espoused bride of Christ. Eph. 1:22,23; Eph. 5:25,27; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2.

We believe that the Scriptures teach that redeemed individuals should faithfully join together as local churches for worship, for instruction, fellowship and service. Acts 2:41,42; Heb. 10:25.

We believe the primary mission of the Church is to carry out the Great Commission as outlined in Matthew 28:18-20. We believe our goal should be to train spiritual reproducers who can win and train others. 2 Tim. 2:2.

We believe the two ordinances of the Church are baptism and the Lord's Supper. Christ commanded his disciples to "make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19.

It follows that true believers should obey His commandment by becoming baptized. We believe that baptism, by immersion, is the outward testimony of the inward spiritual transformation in the life of one who has trusted Christ for salvation and identifies himself with the Lord in His death, burial, and resurrection. Acts 2:38-41; Acts 8:36-38.

The Lord's Supper, which was instituted by Christ, is a commemoration of His death to be observed regularly by all believers – an occasion when we meditate upon what Christ did for us on the cross. The two emblems, the bread and the cup, represent His body and His blood which was shed for the remission of sins. 1 Cor. 11:23-20.