Statement of Core Beliefs

By Dr. William “Ashley” Mofield, co-author of Mixtape Theology

I believe God is the Creator, Ruler and Sustainer of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three persons are co-equal and unified in the Trinity. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 4:24, 10:30; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

I believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God revealing the love of God to the world. (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; John 3:16.)

I believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father. He is co-equal with the Father and was God in the flesh (incarnate). He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless human life, and offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice by dying on the cross for the sins of man. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His dominion over death and the grave, and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He serves as our High Priest. He will return one day in the not-toodistant future to redeem the saved, destroy the sinful and restore His kingdom. (John 1:1-18, 5:18; Hebrews 1:1-9, 5:8)

I believe that all men everywhere are born into sin, are lost and face the judgment of God, that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation, and that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ results in regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, I believe that God will reward the righteous with eternal life in heaven, and that He will banish the unrighteous to everlasting punishment and damnation. (Luke 24:46-47; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Ephesians 1:7 and 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7.)

I believe man's only hope of redemption does not originate from within humanity, but from above, through the merciful grace of God. Salvation is the free gift of God to all men. It is received by grace through faith and not by the will or effort of man, but only by the will and work of God. Salvation is possible only by the way of the cross and through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Upon responding to the urging of the Holy Spirit, each person must turn from sin and self to Christ and the cross to have his or her sins forgiven. Upon the securing of this transaction, eternity begins. (Romans 3:10, 23, 6:23; Colossians 1:13-14, Acts 4:12; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8- 9)

I believe the Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to convict men of sin and of their need for a Savior. He serves to guide, seal and protect every Christian in his life with God. He provides the believer with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in what is right and of God. (Matthew 28:19; John 3:3-7; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Titus 3:5)

I believe in the spiritual unity of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and that all true believers are members of His body, the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:12, 27; Ephesians 1:22-23)

I believe that the ministry of evangelism (sharing and proclaiming the message of salvation only possible by grace through faith in Jesus Christ) and discipleship (helping followers of Christ grow up into maturity in Christ and multiply themselves) is a responsibility of all followers of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:9-15; 1 Peter 3:15)

I believe that human life is sacred from conception to its natural end; and that we must have concern for the physical and spiritual needs of our fellowmen. Humans are the most precious of God’s amazing creation, and all are created to be His image bearers, regardless of ethnicity, age, sex, or cultural background. (Psalm 139:13; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 12:20-21; Galatians 6:10)

I believe that all Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives 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 Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. 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. (Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:13-16,43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3ff.; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27- 37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Romans 12–14; 1Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8.)

I believe since man has done nothing to receive salvation, neither can he do anything to lose salvation. Salvation is being maintained by the grace and power of God and not by the effort of man. (John 10:28; Ephesians 1:13; 1 John 5:13)

I believe that 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 everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and God will dwell with them in a unified heaven and earth. (Matthew 24:21, 29, 30, 25:31-46; John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18, 5:4-10; Titus 2:18; Revelations 3:10)

Affiliations

In addition to the listed confessional, I am Pastor of a Southern Baptist Church and adhere to the Baptist Faith and Message.

The church I shepherd is one of the founding churches of the Robertson County Baptist Association in Robertson County, TN.

In addition to these associations, our church has a local Speak for the Unborn chapter, working with a nationwide network of churches in standing for life and sharing the gospel. We also support Complex Educatif De Laffito School in Minoterie, Haiti.