What do we believe?
If you’re interested in visiting us and you immediately went to this page, you’re in good company. It’s important to have a clear understanding of the doctrines held and taught by a church. To help us out in this area, thankfully, history has provided us with robust confessions of faith, documents summarizing many (but not all) of the key teachings of Scripture). These confessions are never to be seen as being on the same level as Scripture, but merely as helpful summaries of its teaching.
Highland View Baptist Church subscribes to two confessions of faith, one historic and one modern. We subscribe to the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith, as well as the Baptist Faith & Message (2000, with 2023 Amendment).
If you aren’t familiar either with us or these confessions, below are some teachings we hold to, listed here either because they are particularly important, or because they are culturally controversial, and we want to be as transparent as possible:
Biblical Inerrancy
We believe that the Holy Scriptures, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are of both divine and human origin, and that the originals are without error. Furthermore, we believe that the copies that have survived are so numerous, complete, and generally reliable that we can have full confidence in the truthfulness and accuracy of modern editions and translations, like the English Standard Version or Christian Standard Bible.
Justification by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone
We believe that mankind fell in the sin of our first parents, and that it is impossible for us to do anything to earn our salvation. Rather, Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of Man, the Second Person of the Godhead, took upon Himself the just punishment deserved by all those who would trust in Him. In doing so, we (those who submit to Him) are no longer under the condemnation of our sin, and have His perfect obedience credited to our account. In this great exchange, Christ suffered the curse for our sin, and we are blessed with the blessings earned by His righteous life. This righteousness is imputed to us by grace alone, through faith alone. While our works do not play a part in our salvation, we are called to live a life of holiness and good works, not as the root of our salvation but as the fruit of our salvation.
The Doctrines of Grace
A key part of Calvinism, we believe that:
1. Mankind, while not as evil as could be, is still totally depraved. Neither our mind, body, nor soul has survived the terrible effects of the Fall unscathed.
2, God did not choose (or elect) based on anything in us, or by seeing in the future how we would respond to grace. Rather, God elected us unconditionally, to the praise of His glorious grace.
3. When Jesus died on the cross, He did not die for the sins of everyone, to make everyone potentially savable (with most people Jesus died for still ending up condemned). Rather, His purchase was a limited atonement, particularly for His elect, seen by us as those who trust Him, and this atonement definitively and actually saved us.
4. While many may reject verbal or emotional calls to salvation from friends, preachers, or one’s own conscience, if the Holy Spirit calls a person to faith in Christ, they cannot and will not refuse. In genuine salvation, there is an effectual call of irresistible grace.
5. It is impossible for a believer to genuinely receive salvation and yet fall away. The perseverance of the saints is the Spirit’s finishing the work He started, compelling us to live holy lives and to repent for our continued sin. Those who do fall away and end their lives apart from the Lord show, unfortunately, that they never had been regenerated (saved) to begin with, even if their earlier speech and behavior mimicked that of a genuine believer.
Regenerate Church Membership
We believe that a local church ought to be made up of those who have a credible profession of faith. As Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances for the local church, only those who have a credible profession of faith ought to receive them (as opposed to churches that baptize both believers and their unbelieving children). As the members of a local church ought to be considered regenerate (having a credible profession of faith; though false believers may for a time deceive us), we believe that the church should be led by pastors, also known as elders, and governed by the congregation itself. The congregation ought to vote on receiving or dismissing elders, deacons, and members. Furthermore, they ought to vote on the church budget, constitutional amendments, and other matters properly submitted to a vote.
Biblical Views on Gender and Sexuality
We believe that God created mankind as male and female, and that in His providence and goodness, we are personally designed as males or females. Thus, it is impossible for a man to become a woman, or a woman to become a man, no matter how forcefully the surrounding culture may shout, no matter how much their outward appearance may be altered, nor should we join in with their error.
We believe that God created the institution of marriage as the union between one man and one woman for life. Homosexuality is thus an abomination, and while we ought to treat those who partake in such actions with civility, charity, and Christian love, we must strongly denounce the wickedness of that sin.
Complementarianism in the Family and the Pastorate
We believe that God has created men and women with equal value, dignity, and worth, for different yet complementary roles. The husband has the responsibility to die to his selfish ambitions and to lead his family in Christian love and humility. He is to care for his wife as he would for himself, without abuse. The wife has the responsibility to submit to her husband (not all men, but her husband specifically) and his leadership, so long as he does not command what God has forbidden, or forbid what God has commanded.
In the church, we believe that God has gifted both men and women for Christ-exalting service. Men and women are equally gifted and called to serve on teams or task forces as God has given gifts. God gifts both men and women for service in the role of deacon as God blesses. Yet, as the man is the leader of the family household, so in the local church family God has seen fit to call only qualified men for service as a pastor of the church.
Responsibility of Church Authority, and Its Limitations
It is the responsibility of a local church to discipline its members who are in willful, unrepentant sin. This may involve the removal of office, and up to excommunication. Those who are repentant are to be received into fellowship with joy and thanksgiving. When criminal activity is involved, beyond any church discipline, and whether or not there is repentance, the church ought to get civil authorities involved, to punish such a person in the ways God has authorized the State to punish.
Highland View Baptist Church subscribes to two confessions of faith, one historic and one modern. We subscribe to the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith, as well as the Baptist Faith & Message (2000, with 2023 Amendment).
If you aren’t familiar either with us or these confessions, below are some teachings we hold to, listed here either because they are particularly important, or because they are culturally controversial, and we want to be as transparent as possible:
Biblical Inerrancy
We believe that the Holy Scriptures, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are of both divine and human origin, and that the originals are without error. Furthermore, we believe that the copies that have survived are so numerous, complete, and generally reliable that we can have full confidence in the truthfulness and accuracy of modern editions and translations, like the English Standard Version or Christian Standard Bible.
Justification by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone
We believe that mankind fell in the sin of our first parents, and that it is impossible for us to do anything to earn our salvation. Rather, Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of Man, the Second Person of the Godhead, took upon Himself the just punishment deserved by all those who would trust in Him. In doing so, we (those who submit to Him) are no longer under the condemnation of our sin, and have His perfect obedience credited to our account. In this great exchange, Christ suffered the curse for our sin, and we are blessed with the blessings earned by His righteous life. This righteousness is imputed to us by grace alone, through faith alone. While our works do not play a part in our salvation, we are called to live a life of holiness and good works, not as the root of our salvation but as the fruit of our salvation.
The Doctrines of Grace
A key part of Calvinism, we believe that:
1. Mankind, while not as evil as could be, is still totally depraved. Neither our mind, body, nor soul has survived the terrible effects of the Fall unscathed.
2, God did not choose (or elect) based on anything in us, or by seeing in the future how we would respond to grace. Rather, God elected us unconditionally, to the praise of His glorious grace.
3. When Jesus died on the cross, He did not die for the sins of everyone, to make everyone potentially savable (with most people Jesus died for still ending up condemned). Rather, His purchase was a limited atonement, particularly for His elect, seen by us as those who trust Him, and this atonement definitively and actually saved us.
4. While many may reject verbal or emotional calls to salvation from friends, preachers, or one’s own conscience, if the Holy Spirit calls a person to faith in Christ, they cannot and will not refuse. In genuine salvation, there is an effectual call of irresistible grace.
5. It is impossible for a believer to genuinely receive salvation and yet fall away. The perseverance of the saints is the Spirit’s finishing the work He started, compelling us to live holy lives and to repent for our continued sin. Those who do fall away and end their lives apart from the Lord show, unfortunately, that they never had been regenerated (saved) to begin with, even if their earlier speech and behavior mimicked that of a genuine believer.
Regenerate Church Membership
We believe that a local church ought to be made up of those who have a credible profession of faith. As Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances for the local church, only those who have a credible profession of faith ought to receive them (as opposed to churches that baptize both believers and their unbelieving children). As the members of a local church ought to be considered regenerate (having a credible profession of faith; though false believers may for a time deceive us), we believe that the church should be led by pastors, also known as elders, and governed by the congregation itself. The congregation ought to vote on receiving or dismissing elders, deacons, and members. Furthermore, they ought to vote on the church budget, constitutional amendments, and other matters properly submitted to a vote.
Biblical Views on Gender and Sexuality
We believe that God created mankind as male and female, and that in His providence and goodness, we are personally designed as males or females. Thus, it is impossible for a man to become a woman, or a woman to become a man, no matter how forcefully the surrounding culture may shout, no matter how much their outward appearance may be altered, nor should we join in with their error.
We believe that God created the institution of marriage as the union between one man and one woman for life. Homosexuality is thus an abomination, and while we ought to treat those who partake in such actions with civility, charity, and Christian love, we must strongly denounce the wickedness of that sin.
Complementarianism in the Family and the Pastorate
We believe that God has created men and women with equal value, dignity, and worth, for different yet complementary roles. The husband has the responsibility to die to his selfish ambitions and to lead his family in Christian love and humility. He is to care for his wife as he would for himself, without abuse. The wife has the responsibility to submit to her husband (not all men, but her husband specifically) and his leadership, so long as he does not command what God has forbidden, or forbid what God has commanded.
In the church, we believe that God has gifted both men and women for Christ-exalting service. Men and women are equally gifted and called to serve on teams or task forces as God has given gifts. God gifts both men and women for service in the role of deacon as God blesses. Yet, as the man is the leader of the family household, so in the local church family God has seen fit to call only qualified men for service as a pastor of the church.
Responsibility of Church Authority, and Its Limitations
It is the responsibility of a local church to discipline its members who are in willful, unrepentant sin. This may involve the removal of office, and up to excommunication. Those who are repentant are to be received into fellowship with joy and thanksgiving. When criminal activity is involved, beyond any church discipline, and whether or not there is repentance, the church ought to get civil authorities involved, to punish such a person in the ways God has authorized the State to punish.
About our Pastor
Pastor Chris Hughes' primary responsibilities are preaching in our Sunday services, shepherding the people, leading in evangelism and vision for the church. Chris' passions include expository preaching, the doctrines of grace, helping the church engage its culture, and the glory of God. His hobbies are reading, playing golf, playing guitar, and enjoying time with his family.
A graduate of Luther Rice University with a BA in Religion, and reared most of his life in Georgia. Chris' interests include baseball, football, and basketball (during the playoffs), rooting for UGA (Go Dawgs!), the Falcons, and is slowly becoming a Cardinal's fan. Chris has been married since 2000, and has 5 children with his wife Katie. They are a blessing, help, and refuge, second only to the Triune God.
A graduate of Luther Rice University with a BA in Religion, and reared most of his life in Georgia. Chris' interests include baseball, football, and basketball (during the playoffs), rooting for UGA (Go Dawgs!), the Falcons, and is slowly becoming a Cardinal's fan. Chris has been married since 2000, and has 5 children with his wife Katie. They are a blessing, help, and refuge, second only to the Triune God.