What we believe

• In the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament in their original writings as fully inspired of God, and accepts them as the final authority for faith and life.

• In one God eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

• That Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man.

• That God created man in His own image, that man sinned and thereby incurred the penalty of death, physical and spiritual; and that all human beings inherit a sinful nature; which issues (in the case of those who have reached moral responsibility) in actual transgression involving personal guilt.

• That the Lord Jesus died for our sins, a substitutionary sacrifice, according to the Scriptures, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.

• In the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, His ascension into heaven, and His present life as our High Priest and Advocate.

• In the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

• In the personality of the Holy Spirit, His regenerating work, and abiding presence in the true believer.

• That all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are born again of he Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.

• That all Christians are called to a life of holiness, devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and service for Him.

• In the resurrection both of the just and the unjust, the eternal blessedness of the redeemed, and the eternal banishment of those who have rejected the offer of salvation.

• We believe in heterosexual relationships between a natural man and a natural woman within the confines of lawful matrimony.  Adherence to this stated principle of sexual behavior is an inherent requirement for membership with the Durban South Baptist Church.

• Statement of Baptist Principles: The Church further believes in the following distinctive Baptist emphases:
  
  
  1. The CHURCH as the whole company of those who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. The local church, being a manifestation of the universal church, is a community of believers in a particular place where the Word of God is preached and the ordinances of Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are observed. It is fully autonomous and remains so notwithstanding responsibilities it may accept by voluntary association.
     
     
  2. BELIEVER’S BAPTISM as an act of obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ and a sign of personal repentance, faith and regeneration; it consists of the immersion in water into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
     
     
  3. The CONGREGATIONAL PRINCIPLE, namely that each member has the privilege and responsibility to use his/her gifts and abilities to participate fully in the life of the church.  We recognize that God gifts His Church Overseers, who are called Pastors or Elders, whose primary function is to lead in a spirit of servant hood, to equip the members and to provide spiritual oversight, and Deacons whose primary function to facilitate the smooth functioning of the Church.  This principle further recognizes that each member should participate in the church’s leaders, and that a constituted church meeting, subject to the direct Lordship of Christ and the authority of Scripture, is the highest court of authority for the local church.
     
     
  4. The PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS, by which we under stand that each Christian has direct access to God through Christ our High Priest, and shared with Him in His work of reconciliation. This involves intercession, worship, faithful service and bearing witness to Jesus Christ, even to the ends of the earth.
     
     
  5. The principle of RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, namely, that no individual should be coerced either by the State or by any secular, ecclesiastical or religious group in matters of faith.   The right of private conscience is to be respected.   For each believer this means the right to interpret the Scriptures responsibly and to act in the light of his conscience.
     
     
  6. The principle of SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE in that, in the providence of God, the two differ in their respective natures and functions.   The Church is not to be identified with the State nor is it, in its faith or practice, to be directed or controlled by the State.   The State is responsible for administering justice, ensuring an orderly community, and promoting the welfare of its citizens. The Church is responsible for preaching the Gospel and for demonstrating and making known God’s will and care for all mankind.