1963 Baptist Faith and Message
Adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention
May 9, 1963
Baptists are a people who profess a living
faith. This faith is rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ who is "the same
yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Therefore, the sole authority for
faith and practice among Baptists is Jesus Christ whose will is revealed in the
Holy Scriptures.
A living faith must experience a growing understanding
of truth and must be continually interpreted and related to the needs of each
new generation. Throughout their history Baptist bodies, both large and small,
have issued statements of faith which comprise a consensus of their beliefs.
Such statements have never been regarded as complete, infallible statements of
faith, nor as official creeds carrying mandatory authority. Thus this
generation of Southern Baptists is in historic succession of intent and purpose
as it endeavors to state for its time and theological climate those articles of
the Christian faith which are most surely held among us.
Baptists emphasize the souls competency before
God, freedom in religion, and the priesthood of the believer. However, this
emphasis should not be interpreted to mean that there is an absence of certain
definite doctrines that Baptists believe, cherish, and with which they have
been and are now closely identified.
It is the purpose of this statement of faith and message to set forth certain teachings which we believe.
I. THE SCRIPTURES
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely
inspired and is the record of God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a
perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation
for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. It
reveals the principles by which God judges us; and therefore is, and will
remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the
supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions
should be tried. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus
Christ.
Ex 24:4; De 4:1-2; 17:19; Jos 8:34; Psa 19:7-10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140; Isa 34:16; 40:8; Jer 15:16; 36:1-32; Mat 5:17-18; 22:29; Lu 21:33; 24:44-46; Joh 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Ac 2:16; 17:11; Rom 15:4; 16:25-26; 2Ti 3:15-17; Heb 1:1-2; 4:12; 1Pe 1:25; 2Pe 1:19-21
II. GOD
There is one and only one living and true God.
He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer,
Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other
perfections. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.
The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division
of nature, essence, or being.
A. God the Father
God as Father reigns with providential care over
His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history
according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all loving, and all
wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith
in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.
Gen 1:1; 2:7; Ex 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11; 20:1; Lev 22:2; De 6:4; 32:6; 1Ch 29:10; Psa 19:1-3; Isa 43:3, 15; 64:8; Jer 10:10; 17:13; Mat 6:9; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Rom 8:14-15; 1Co 8:6; Gal 4:6; Eph 4:6; Col 1:15; 1Ti 1:17; Heb 11:6; 12:9; 1Pe 1:17; 1Jo 5:7
B. God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His
incarnation as Jesus Christ he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the
virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon
Himself the demands and necessities of human nature and identifying Himself
completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal
obedience, and in His death on the cross He made provision for the redemption
of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared
to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He
ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is
the One Mediator, partaking of the nature of God and of man, and in whose
Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in
power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He
now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.
Gen 18:1; Psalm 2:7; 110:1; Isa 7:14; 53:1-12; Mat 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6, 19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18, 29; 10:30, 38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11, 16:15-16, 28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20, 28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5, 20; Rom 1; 3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3, 34; 10:4; 1Co 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8, 24-28; 2Co 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Eph 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Php 2:5-11; Col 1:13-22; 2:9; 1Th 4:14-18; 1Ti 2:5-6; 3:16; Tit 2:13-14; Heb 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; Heb 9:12-15, 24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1Pe 2:21-25; 3:22; 1Jo 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14- 15; 5:9; 2Jo 7-9; Rev 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16
C. God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He
inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He
enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts of sin, of
righteousness and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects
regeneration. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and
bestows the spiritual gifts" by which they serve God through His church.
He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the
Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fulness of the
stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in
worship, evangelism, and service.
Gen 1:2; Jud 14:6; Job 26:13; Psa 51:11; 139:7; Isa 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mat 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mk 1:10, 12; Luke 1:35; 4:1, 18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14;
Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17, 39 Acts 10:44; 13:2; 15:28;
16:6; 19:1-6; Rom 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1Co 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11; Gal 4:6; Eph 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1Th 5:19; 1Ti 3:16; 4:1; 2Ti 1:14; 3:16; Heb 9:8, 14; 2Pe 1:21; 1Jo 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev 1:10; 22:17
III. MAN
Man was created by the special act of God, in
His own image, and is the crowning work of His creation. In the beginning man
was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By
his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race.
Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from
his original innocence; whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an
environment inclined toward sin, and as soon as they are capable of moral
action become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God
can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative
purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God
created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore every
man possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Gen 1:26-30; 2:5, 7, 18-22; 3; 9:6; Psa 1:1-6; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isa 6:5; Jer 17:5; Matt 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Rom 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; Rom 7:14-25; 8:14-18, 29; 1Co 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Eph 2:1-22; Col 1:21-22; 3:9-11
IV. SALVATION
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole
man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour,
who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its
broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, sanctification, and
glorification.
A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of
God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a
change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which
the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences
of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the
acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as
Lord and Saviour.
Justification is God's gracious and full
acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and
believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer into a relationship of
peace and favor with God.
B. Sanctification is the experience, beginning
in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is
enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual perfection through the presence
and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue
throughout the regenerate person's life.
C. Glorification is the culmination of salvation
and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.
Gen 3:15; Ex 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Mat 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14, 29; 3:3-21, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; Acts 17:30-31; 20:32; Rom 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18; 29-39; 10:9-10, 13; 13:11-14; 1Cor 1:18, 30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2Co 5:17-20; Gal 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Eph 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Php 2:12-13; Col 1:9-22; 3:1; 1Th 5:23-24; 2Tim 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Heb 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8, 14; James 2:14-26; 1Pe 1:2-23; 1Jo 1:6-2:11; Rev 3:20; 21:1-22:5
V. GOD'S PURPOSE OF GRACE
Election is the gracious purpose of God,
according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is
consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in
connection with the end. It is a glorious display of God's sovereign goodness,
and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and
promotes humility.
All true believers endure to the end. Those whom
God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away
from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall
into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair
their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the cause of Christ, and temporal
judgments on themselves, yet they shall be kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation.
Gen 12:1-3; Ex 19:5-8; 1Sa 8:4-7, 19-22; Isa 5:1-7; Jer 31:31; Mat 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22, 31; 25:34
Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45, 65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6, 12, 17-18; Acts 20:32; Rom 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7, 26-36; 1Co 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Eph 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Col 1:12-14; 2Th 2:13-14; 2Ti 1:12; 2:10, 19; Heb 11:39-12:2; 1Pe 1:2-5, 13; 2:4-10; 1Jo 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2
VI. THE CHURCH
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ
is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the
faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ,
committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges
invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of
the earth.
This church is an autonomous body, operating
through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In such a
congregation members are equally responsible. Its Scriptural officers are
pastors and deacons.
The New Testament speaks also of the church as
the body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages.
Mat 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23, 27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Rom 1:7; 1Co 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Eph 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-32; Php 1:1; Col 1:18; 1Ti 3:1-15; 4:14
VII. BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer
in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act
of obedience symbolizing the believers faith in a crucified, buried, and risen
Saviour, the believers death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the
resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to
his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it
is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lords Supper.
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience
whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of
the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second
coming.
Mat 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mk 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Rom 6:3-5; 1Co 10:16, 21; 11:23-29; Col 2:12
VIII. THE LORD'S DAY
The first day of the week is the Lords Day. It
is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the
resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of
worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and by refraining from
worldly amusements, and resting from secular employments, work of necessity and
mercy only being excepted.
Ex 20:8-11; Mat 12:1-12; 28:1; Mk 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3, 33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1, 19-28; Acts 20:7; 1Co 16:1-2; Col 2:16; 3:16; Rev 1:10
IX. THE KINGDOM
The Kingdom of God includes both His general
sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who
willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of
salvation into which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus
Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the Kingdom may come and
God's will be done on earth. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the
return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age.
Gen 1:1; Isa 9:6-7; Jer 23:5-6; Mat 3:2; 4:8-10, 23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52; 25:31-46; 26:29; Mk 1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32; 17:20-21; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Rom 5:17; 8:19; 1Co 15:24-28; Col 1:13; Heb 11:10, 16; 12:28; 1Pe 2:4-10; 4:13; Rev 1:6, 9; 5:10; 11:15; 21-22
X. LAST THINGS
God, in His own time and in His own way, will
bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ
will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be
raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be
consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their
resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell
forever in Heaven with the Lord.
Isa 2:4; 11:9; Mat 16:27; 18:8-9; Mat 19:28; 24:27, 30, 36, 44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40, 48; 16:19-26; Luke 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rom 14:10; 1Co 4:5; 15:24-28, 35-58; 2Co 5:10; Php 3:20-21; Col 1:5; 3:4; 1Th 4:14-18; 5:1; 2Th 1:7; 2:1-17; 1Ti 6:14; 2Ti 4:1, 8; Tit 2:13; Heb 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2Pe 3:7; 1Jo 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Rev 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13
XI. EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS
It is the duty and privilege of every follower
of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make
disciples of all nations. The new birth of mans spirit by God's Holy Spirit
means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests
thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and
repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. It is the duty of every child
of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by
all other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.
Gen 12:1-3; Ex 19:5-6; Isa 6:1-8; Mat 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8, 16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Rom 10:13-15; Eph 3:1-11; 1Th 1:8; 2Ti 4:5; Heb 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1Pe 2:4-10; Rev 22:17
XII. EDUCATION
The cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ
is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence, and should
receive along with these the liberal support of the churches. An adequate
system of Christian schools is necessary to a complete spiritual program for
Christ's people.
In Christian education there should be a proper
balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. Freedom in any
orderly relationship of human life is always limited and never absolute. The
freedom of a teacher in a Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by
the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, by the authoritative nature of the
Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose for which the school exists.
De 4:1,5,9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Neh 8:1-8; Job
28:28; Psa 19:7; 119:11; Pro 3:13; 4:1-10; 8:1-7, 11; 15:14; Ecc 7:19; Mat 5:2; 7:24; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40; 1Co 1:18-31; Eph 4:11-16; Php 4:8; Col 2:3, 8-9
1Ti 1:3-7; 2Ti 2:15; 3:14-17; Heb 5:12-6:3; James 1:5; 3:17
XIII. STEWARDSHIP
God is the source of all blessings, temporal and
spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual
debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding
stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve
Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize
all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping
others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their
means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for
the advancement of the Redeemers cause on earth.
Gen 14:20; Lev 27:30-32; De 8:18; Mal 3:8-12; Mat 6:1-4, 19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21, 42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Ro 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1Co 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2Co 8-9; 12:15; Php 4:10-19; 1Pe 1:18-19
XIV. COOPERATION
Christ's people should, as occasion requires,
organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for
the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority
over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies
designed to elicit, combine; and direct the energies of our people in the most
effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one
another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent
ministries for the extension of Christ's Kingdom. Christian unity in the New
Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends
by various groups of Christ's people. Cooperation is desirable between the
various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself
justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or
compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.
Ex 17:12; 18:17; Jud 7:21; Ezr 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Ne 4; 8:1-5; Mat 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mk 2:3; Luke 10:1; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1Co 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2Co 8:1-9:15; Gal 1:6-10; Eph 4:1-16; Php 1:15-18
XV. THE CHRISTIAN AND THE SOCIAL ORDER
Every Christian is under obligation to seek to
make the will of Christ supreme in his own life and in human society. Means and
methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of
righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are
rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in
Christ Jesus. The Christian should oppose in the spirit of Christ every form of
greed, selfishness, and vice. He should work to provide for the orphaned, the
needy, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. Every Christian should seek to
bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the
principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote
these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any
good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without
compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.
Ex 20:3-17; Lev 6:2-5; De 10:12; 27:17 Psalm 101:5; Mic 6:8; Zech 8:16; Mat 5:13-16, 43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mk 1:29-34, 2:3; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Rom 12-14; 1Co 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 1Co 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Gal 3:26-28; Eph 6:5-9; Col 3:12-17; 1Th 3:12; Phm 1:1-25; Jas 1:27; 2:8
XVI. PEACE AND WAR
It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with
all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and
teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war.
The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel
of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings
in all the affairs of men and nations, and the practical application of His law
of love.
Isa 2:4; Mat 5:9, 38-48; 6:33; 26:52; Luke 22:36,38; Rom 12:18-19; 13:1-7; 14:19; Heb 12:14; Jas 4:1-2
XVII. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has
Left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to
His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state
owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its
spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or
denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government
being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience
thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church
should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ
contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has
no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has
no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church
in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and
unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and
propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil
power.
Gen 1:27; 2:7; Mat 6:6-7, 24; 16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Rom 6:1-2; 13:1-7; Gal 5:1, 13; Php 3:20; 1Ti 2:1-2; Jas 4:12; 1Pe 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19
XVIII. THE FAMILY (Added in 1998 at annual sBC meeting)
God has ordained the family as the foundational
institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another
by marriage, blood or adoption.
Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman
in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the
union between Christ and His church, and to provide for the man and the woman
in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel for sexual
expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of
the human race.
The husband and wife are of equal worth before
God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the
way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved
the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and
to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant
leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship
of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to
him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as
his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.
Children, from the moment of conception, are a
blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their
children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children
spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle
example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children
are to honor and obey their parents.
Ge 1:26-28; 2:18-25; 3:1-20; Ex 20:12; De 6:4-9; Jos 24:15; 1Sa 1:26-28; Ps 78:1-8; 127:1-4; 128:1-6; 139:13-16; Pro 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ec 4:9-12; 9:9; Mal 2:14-16; Mt 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mr 10:6-12; Ro 1:18-32; 1Co 7:1-16; Eph 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Col 3:18-21; 1Ti 5:14; 2Ti 1:3-5; Tit 2:3-5; Heb 13:4; 1Pe 3:1-7