The Conservative Baptist Association (CBA) is a fellowship of independent Baptist churches and individuals who hold to conservative Baptist beliefs and practices. Here is an overview of what the CBA believes:
Beliefs about the Bible
The CBA affirms belief in the divine inspiration, truthfulness, and authority of the 66 books of the Bible (Genesis to Revelation) as the complete written revelation of God. They believe the Bible is infallible, inerrant, and the final authority for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
They hold to a literal 6-day creation, a young earth, a worldwide flood, and reject evolution. They believe the Bible is historically and scientifically accurate in all it affirms.
Beliefs about God
The CBA believes there is one true God who exists eternally in three co-equal persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This is known as the Trinity (Matthew 28:19).
God is holy, just, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, immutable, and loving. He created the universe ex nihilo (out of nothing) and sovereignly rules over all creation (Genesis 1:1, Psalm 139:7-12).
Beliefs about Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life on earth. He willingly died as a substitutionary sacrifice on the cross for the sins of humanity. He rose bodily from the dead, ascended to heaven, and will one day return to judge the living and the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, salvation, and eternal life. There is no other name by which mankind can be saved (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).
Beliefs about the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is fully God, coequal with the Father and Son. He convicts unbelievers of sin and regenerates, seals, sanctifies, and indwells all believers. The filling of the Holy Spirit enables believers to live godly lives and have power for ministry (John 14:16-17, Romans 8:9).
All believers are commanded to be filled with the Spirit and walk in submission to His leading for guidance, wisdom, power, and gifting (Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:16-25). The gifts of the Holy Spirit are for the church today.
Beliefs about Angels and Satan
Angels are spirit beings created by God to serve and worship Him. Satan (also called the devil) is a fallen angel who rebelled against God. He tempts people toward sin but his power is limited by God’s sovereignty (Colossians 1:16, Luke 10:17-20).
Satan and the demons will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire where they will be tormented forever (Revelation 20:10).
Beliefs about Humanity
Humans are created in the image of God but inherited a sinful nature after Adam’s fall into sin. All people have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Genesis 1:27, Romans 3:23).
Marriage is ordained by God to be a lifelong union between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6). Sexual relations are permitted only within the bounds of biblical marriage.
All human life is sacred and made in God’s image, including the unborn, disabled, and elderly. The unjust taking of human life is prohibited by the 6th commandment (Exodus 20:13).
Beliefs about Salvation
Salvation is only by the grace of God, received as a free gift through faith alone in Jesus Christ. People cannot earn salvation through good works or human effort (Ephesians 2:8-9).
One receives God’s grace through trusting in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ and His payment for sins on the cross. Upon trusting in Christ, the believer is declared righteous before God (justification) based on the imputed righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:21-26).
All who repent and believe in Christ are forgiven of sins, reconciled to God, adopted as His children, and guaranteed eternal life (John 3:16). They are delivered from the kingdom of darkness and brought into Christ’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13-14).
Beliefs about the Church
The church is the body of Christ made up of all believers. Local churches gather for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching of the Word, ordinances (baptism and Lord’s Supper), and mobilization for world evangelism (Acts 2:42-47).
Baptism is by immersion and Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ’s death. These ordinances are reserved for believers only (Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Church leadership is male and reserved for qualified men who meet biblical qualifications for pastors/elders and deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9). Women have important roles but not leadership over men (1 Timothy 2:12-15).
Beliefs about Last Things
Jesus Christ will bodily, visibly return one day to judge the living and the dead. No one knows the day or hour of His coming (Matthew 24:36).
At death, believers go to be with the Lord in heaven and unbelievers go to a place of punishment (Luke 16:19-31, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10). All humanity will be bodily resurrected and stand before God in final judgment (John 5:28-29).
Believers will be resurrected to eternal life and dwell forever with God in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1-4). Unbelievers will be resurrected to judgment and cast into the lake of fire for eternal conscious punishment (Revelation 20:11-15).
Overview of Baptists History & Distinctives
Baptists trace their history back to the early 17th century as part of the Separatist movement arising out of the Protestant Reformation. Early Baptists rejected the notion of a state church and infant baptism, arguing instead for believer’s baptism and religious liberty.
Baptists hold to key doctrines including the priesthood of all believers, liberty of conscience, separation of church and state, regenerate church membership, two ordinances (baptism and Lord’s Supper), congregational church polity under Christ’s headship, and the autonomy of the local church.
Historically, Baptists have played a significant role in propagating the Christian faith worldwide through missions and church planting. They uphold the inspiration of Scripture, substitutionary atonement, religious freedom, importance of evangelism, and inactive church membership.
There are various associations of Baptists that hold to historic Baptist beliefs and practices to varying degrees. The Conservative Baptist Association affirms traditional Baptist distinctives rooted in the Bible.
CBA Positions on Key Issues
The CBA holds conservative positions on issues such as:
- The inerrancy, infallibility, and sole authority of Scripture for faith and practice
- A literal 6-day creation and young earth
- Opposition to abortion and euthanasia
- Opposition to homosexual behavior and same-sex marriage
- Male-only pastoral leadership in the church
- Believer’s baptism by immersion
- Pretribulation rapture of the church
- Eternal security of the believer
- Necessity of personal faith in Jesus for salvation
- Fulfillment of biblical prophecy about Israel
On various secondary matters, room is allowed for diversity but unity around the primacy of the gospel. Gospel-focused evangelism and biblical discipleship are emphasized.
CBA Church Life & Mission
CBA churches gather weekly for worship, preaching, prayer, fellowship, and service. Worship services involve singing, praying, giving, and expository preaching from the Bible. Sunday school classes provide additional Bible teaching in age-appropriate classes.
Throughout the week, CBA churches offer Bible studies, small groups, discipleship training, and youth activities. There is usually midweek prayer meeting and frequent fellowships.
CBA churches emphasize world missions, supporting missionaries, and training members to share the gospel. They seek to propagate New Testament Christianity in their communities and worldwide.
The CBA operates as a fellowship rather than strict denomination. Local churches own their property and call their own pastors. They share mutual interests in upholding Baptist principles, cooperating in missions, and providing fellowship and accountability.
The CBA hosts an annual meeting for business, preaching, seminars, and fellowship. CBA churches and pastors agree to a general statement of faith and code of ethics but allow minor differences on secondary issues. Unity around the gospel is maintained.
In summary, the Conservative Baptist Association is a fellowship of churches centered on upholding foundational Baptist beliefs, propagating historic Baptist distinctives, and proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide.