What We Believe

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15

The membership of Anchor Baptist Church accepts the Bible as its absolute authority in matters of faith and practice.  We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture; in one God eternally existing in three Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); in the creation of all things, including man, as the direct act of God; in eternally secure salvation by grace through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; in the incarnation and virgin birth of Christ, and in His bodily resurrection; in the personal, bodily, pre-tribulational return of the Lord Jesus Christ and His millennial reign on earth.  We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell, and that Satan is a fallen angelic being, able to possess the lost and oppress both the saved and the lost.  We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead.  We believe in the autonomy of the local church, in baptism by immersion, and in the observance of the Lord’s Supper by all obedient believers.  We further believe that personal spiritual growth comes only through faithful church attendance along with daily, disciplined Bible study, prayer, and witnessing.  We are a fundamental, separated, missionary-minded group of Bible-believing Christians, striving to maintain a balanced, Spirit-filled life.

Biblical Authority: We embrace the Scripture as our final authority for all matters of faith and practice.
Autonomy of the Local Church: We believe that the local church should be a self-governing congregation.
Priesthood of the Believer: We believe that each Christian has equal access to the Father through the person and work of Christ alone.
Two Ordinances: We believe that Christ commanded the local church to observe two ordinances: the Lord's table, and believer's baptism by immersion.
Individual Soul Liberty: We believe that each Christian is directly accountable to God; therefore, we must learn to relate to one another in grace, humility, and Christian love, as we submit to Christ's Lordship in matters of conscience.
Separation of Church and State: We believe that the Church should be independent of all government interference in matters of faith, practice, and conscience and that we should be separate from worldly entanglements, both individually and corporately.
Two Offices: We believe that there are two offices in the church: pastors and deacons.
Security of the Believer: We believe that God eternally keeps all those whom He has justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

We are an independent, Bible-believing, Baptist church dedicated to reaching Anne Arundel County and the regions beyond with the gospel. Our high view of the authority of scripture and love for Christ fundamentally shape how we labor in this purpose. We desire to exalt Him and edify His people through verse by verse exposition, Christ-centerd congreagtional hymn singing, and regular engagement in evangelism and discipleship.