XI. Justification

Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.

John 6:35-40; Romans 3:24; Galatians 2:16; 3:13; Colossians 1:13-14; Titus 3:5-6; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 2:24.

XII. Sanctification

Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified, by God's word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in heartfelt longing to obey all of Christ's commands.

1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:3; 5:25-26; Philippians 1:6; Titus 2:14.

XIII. Perseverance of the Saints

Those whom God hath accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Matthew 18:12-14; John 3:16; John 6:35-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:29-30, 35-39; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 1 John 2:19, 5:4; Jude 24.

XIV. The Church

The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all his true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to his commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies or churches; and to each of these churches he has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline and worship which he has appointed. The regular officers of a Church are Pastors or Elders, and Deacons.

Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-15; 1 Peter 5:1-4.

XV. Baptism

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church fellowship, and to participation in the Lord's Supper.

Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; Romans 6:3-5.

XVI. The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and to be observed by his churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.

Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29.

XVII. The Lord's Day

The Lord's Day is a Christian institution for regular observance, and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, resting from worldly employments and amusements, works of necessity and mercy only excepted.

Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 58:13-14; Matthew 12:1-13; Mark 2:27-28; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Revelation 1:10.

XVIII. Liberty of Conscience

God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them and not contrary to His word ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

Acts 4:19-20; Romans 13:1-7; Galatians 5:1, 13; Philippians 3:20; James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:13-17.

XIX. Last Things

The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God - the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked to be reserved under darkness to the judgment.  Accordingly, God will bring the world to its appointed end and He has appointed a day, wherein, He will judge the world by Jesus Christ.  Those who know Christ, the righteous, will have eternal life in heaven with Him.  Those who do not know Him, the wicked, will be cast into everlasting punishment in hell.

Job 19:26-27; Ecclesiastes 12:6-7, 14; Matthew 12;36-37; Luke 16:23; John 5:28-29; Acts 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 15:42; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Revelation 20:11-15.

The above doctrinal statement accords with the 1859 Abstract of Principles written by Basil Manly Jr. to articulate "the basic conviction of the Southern Baptist Denomination."  The Abstract has continued to serve in this capacity to this day, many SBC seminary professors being required to affirm and teach in accordance with it.  Apart from some slight changes, more contemporary wording and paragraph 19, which combines two statements in the Abstract, the above statement is the same. 

The author also agrees with the "Baptist Faith & Message" as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000, and with the 1978 "Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy."

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