At Walnut Street, we are a Christian church in the Southern Baptist tradition that holds to the faithful teaching of Scripture. Walnut Street Baptist Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Kentucky Baptist Convention, and the Louisville Regional Baptist Association. In 2016, WSBC endorsed the following statements which form our church's statement of faith. We affirm the following:

THE SCRIPTURE: We affirm the Bible, specifically the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, as the written Word of God. The Bible is an essential and infallible record of God's self-revelation to mankind. As such, it leads us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Being given by God, the Scriptures are both full and verbally inspired by God. Therefore, as originally given, the Bible is free of error in all it teaches. Additionally, the Scriptures are the authoritative rule and guide of all Christian doctrine, life, and practice. They are totally sufficient and must not be added to or altered by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation, or worldly wisdom. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Psalm 19:7-10, Romans 15:4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21) 

THE TRIUNE GOD: We affirm there is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, personal, and spiritual Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Ruler, and Sustainer of the universe. God is eternal, infinite, and almighty, perfect in holiness, truth, and love. He is all-powerful and all-knowing, and his perfect knowledge extends to all things past, present, and future. To him all people owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. Additionally, God is one in essence, eternally existing in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three persons of the godhead are co-existent, co-equal, and co-eternal. The Triune God is the foundation of Christian faith and life. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 45:5-7, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Titus 3:4-7, Jude 20-21)

GOD THE FATHER: We affirm God the Father as Creator of the heavens and earth. By his Word and for his glory, he freely and supernaturally created the world out of nothing. Through the same Word, he continually governs and sustains all his creatures and events. He is the only Sovereign Ruler in the universe. His plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and all-wise. He is faithful to every promise and works all things together for good to those who love him. In his unfathomable grace, God gave his Son Jesus Christ for mankind's redemption. Thus, he saves from sin all who come to him through faith in Jesus Christ and sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within every believer. (Genesis 1:1, 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, Psalm 19:1-3, Jeremiah 10:10, Acts 17:25-28, 1 Timothy 1:17)

JESUS CHRIST: We affirm Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the eternal Word made flesh. He was supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is fully God and fully man. He has always existed with God and is God. Through Christ all things were created and all things are being held together. Furthermore, Jesus is the divinely appointed Mediator between God and man. Having taken on human nature, he lived a sinless life and perfectly fulfilled God's law. Having died on the cross, he made complete atonement for sinners. Having risen from the grave, he defeated death. Jesus then ascended to heaven where he currently intercedes for his people and rules as King over all. He is the Head of his body, the Church, and should be loved, obeyed, and worshipped by all. Jesus is the only means of salvation, the only way by which man may enter heaven. One day, he will return in power and glory to the earth to judge the world and complete his redemptive mission. (John 1:1, 14:6, Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 1:15-20, 2 Corinthians 5:19-21, Hebrews 1:1-3)

THE HOLY SPIRIT: We affirm the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the fully divine Third Member of the Trinity. He inspired the biblical authors to write the Scriptures. He unites believers to Jesus Christ by convicting them of sin and calling them to the Savior. At the moment of regeneration, the Spirit indwells the believer and seals his or her eternal salvation until the day of final redemption. Furthermore, as the Divine Helper, he will lead the Church into a right understanding and rich application of the Scriptures. He enlightens and empowers the Church in worship, evangelism, and service. The Holy Spirit is to be honored, respected, and worshipped. (John 4:24, 14:16-17, 16:7-14, Romans 8:9-11, 2 Peter 1:21, 1 John 4:13) 

MAN: We affirm that God created man, male and female, in his own image. God created man free from original sin, that man might have perfect fellowship with God and steward his creation. However, tempted by Satan, the author of sin, man rebelled against God's command. By his rebellion, man inherited a nature that is corrupt and wholly opposed to God. Therefore, man is separated from fellowship with God and is under just condemnation of his wrath. Apart from a special work of grace, man is utterly incapable of returning to God. Man's sinfulness extends to his mind, will, and affections. The unregenerate man lives under the dominion of sin and Satan and is at enmity with God. Thus, all people, regardless of their character or merit, are lost and without hope apart from salvation in Christ. (Genesis 1:26-28, 3:1-19, John 3:36, Romans 3:10-18, 3:23, 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3)

SALVATION: We affirm that man sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death, which is separation from God. As a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and therefore deserve God's righteous judgment. Those who repent and forsake sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thereby, they become new creatures, delivered from God's wrath and recipients of eternal life. This work is entirely of God by his grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ alone, the merit of his death and resurrection, and not on the basis of human merit or works. (John 5:24, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:7-11, 2:1-10, Colossians 2:13-14)

THE CHURCH: We affirm that the universal church is al living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and his disciples are the members. Furthermore, we affirm that a local church, under the authority of Jesus Christ, is an autonomous congregation of believers who have been baptized upon profession of faith in Christ. The ultimate mission of the church is to make disciples of all nations through the proclamation of the Gospel. Additionally, we affirm that the local church's only scriptural officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications and responsibilities are defined in the scriptural epistles to Timothy and Titus. (Matthew 16:15-19, 28:19-20, Acts 2:41-47, Ephesians 1:22-23, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Hebrews 10:23-25)

BAPTISM: We affirm that baptism is one of two ordinances of the local church that are commanded by Christ. Baptism is intended only for those who have received Christ's saving grace and has thus become his disciple. Therefore, in obedience to Christ's command and as a testimony to the world, a believer should be immersed in water in the name of the triune God. While water baptism has no saving power, it is a visible demonstration of the change wrought in a person's heart upon union with Christ. Thus, it signifies death to the old life of unbelief and resurrection to a new life with Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20, John 3:23, Acts 2:41, 16:30-34, Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12)

THE LORD'S SUPPER: We affirm that, as with baptism, the Lord's Supper is to be observed by those who have become genuine follower of Christ and have obeyed him by being baptized. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ's body and the shedding of his blood on behalf of the believer. Partaking of the Lord's Supper commemorates the death of Christ, strengthens the body of Christ, and anticipates the return of Christ. (Matthew 26:26-30, 1 Corinthians 10:16-21, 11:23-29)

THE FAMILY: We affirm that God has ordained the family to be foundational to human life. It is composed of individuals related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Furthermore, we affirm that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as defined in Scripture. A marriage models the relationship between God and his people. Thus, a husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the Church. Also, a wife is to submit to her husband as the Church submits to the headship of Christ. Finally, we affirm that children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing from the Lord. Parents are to instruct their children in biblical values and lead them to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents. (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:15-25, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 1 Corinthians 7:2-5, Ephesians 5:21-6:4, Hebrews 13:4)

THE RETURN OF CHRIST: We affirm that the end of the world is approaching. At that time, there will be a personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth to consummate his eternal kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the endless suffering of the wicked in Hell, and the eternal joy of the righteous in Heaven. (1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15)