What We Believe

At South Hill Bible Church, we believe….

  1. Concerning the Scriptures.
    We believe that the Bible, as originally given by God, is the complete Word of God, verbally inspired, inerrant, and infallible (in every word) and therefore wholly without error (2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:7-14; Jeremiah 1:9; 2 Samuel 23:2). The Bible consists of all 39 books of the Old Testament from Genesis to Malachi, and all 27 books of the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation. It is the final authority for Christian faith, worship, and conduct (Matthew 5:18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; John 10:35 and 16:12-13).
  2. Concerning God
    We believe in one Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Creator of everything (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:5; Isaiah 45:5-7; Matthew 8:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 1:16). a. The Father is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe and the Spiritual Father of all who are born again (Psalm 89:11; Psalm 97:9; Genesis 1:26-27; John 1:12 and 3:3). b. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son (John 3:16), was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:25) and resurrected bodily from the grave (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). c. The Holy Spirit convicts (John 16:8), regenerates (Titus 3:5), and ministers to believers (John 14:26; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 5:18). Baptism and the sealing of the Holy Spirit take place at salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30).
  3. Concerning Mankind
    We believe all have sinned and that sin spiritually separates everyone from God (Romans3:23; 1 John 1:8).
  4. Concerning Salvation
    We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who seek His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6:9-11). We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins as a substitutionary sacrifice (1 Pet. 2:24 and 3:18). Salvation from sin cannot be earned by good works but is the gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). We believe that through the saving faith in Jesus Christ, we are eternally kept by the power of God (John 3:16, 36 and 5:24; Rom. 5:9-10; Rom 8:31-39; Eph 4:30; Heb 7:25; 1 Pet 1:5).
  5. Concerning Resurrection from the Dead and Future Life
    We believe in the bodily resurrection (Daniel 12:2; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15) of the saved into eternal blessedness (Matt 25:46, John 5:28-29; Romans 8:10, 11, 19, 23; Revelation 20:6) and the unsaved into everlasting punishment (Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:6, 13-15).
  6. Concerning the Second Coming of Christ
    We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Mark 13:32-33) before the millennium (Revelation 20:1-6).1 1 Article III, A.6 is not a salvation doctrine of this church. Members and those in leadership positions (e.g. pastors, elders, teachers) may believe diverse views on the timing of Christ’s return. Historically SHBC’s doctrinal position has stated that we believe the timing of Christ’s return will occur “before the tribulation.”
  7. Concerning Sin in the World
    We believe that Satan is the author of sin in the world, the open and declared enemy of God and man (Genesis 3:1-15; Isaiah 14:12-17). He has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:20) and will be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
  8. Concerning the Christian Walk
    We believe in righteous living and godly works, not for salvation in any sense, but as its proper evidence and fruit (Ephesians 2:10; James 2:17).
  9. Concerning the Church
    We believe in the importance of the universal and local church. All who place believing faith in Jesus Christ are immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit into one united body—the Church (1 Corinthians 12:13). We believe that there are two ordinances that are for believers only: baptism by immersion (whenever possible) and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:38-42; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:14-34).
  10. Concerning Human Sexuality and Marriage
    We believe that God created the human race male and female and that all conduct with the intent to adopt a gender other than God’s ordained gender established at conception, is immoral and therefore sin (Gen. 1:27; Deut. 22:5). 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