First General Baptist
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Statement of Faith
I. GOD
We believe that there is only one true, living and eternal God, and that the Godhead is revealed as Father, Son
and Holy Spirit.
II. THE BIBLE
We believe that the Holy Scriptures are the Old and New Testaments: the inspired and infallible Word of God
and therein is found the only reliable guide of Christian faith and conduct.
III. MAN
We believe that God created man in His own image to bring His honor through obedience, and that when man
disobeyed, he became a fallen and sinful creature, unable to save himself. We believe that infants are in the
covenant of God's grace and that all persons become accountable to God when they reach a state of moral
responsibility.
IV. SALVATION
We believe that Salvation (regeneration, sanctification, justifications and redemption) has been provided for all
mankind through the redemptive work (life, death, resurrection, ascension and intercession) of Jesus Christ, and
that this Salvation can be received only through repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
V. ASSURANCE AND ENDURANCE
We believe that those who abide in Christ have the assurance of salvation. However, we believe that the
Christian retains his freedom of choice; therefore, it is possible for him to turn away from God and be finally
lost.
VI. CHRISTIAN DUTIES
We believe that Christians should live faithfully by serving in and through the local Church, praying diligently,
witnessing earnestly, practicing tolerance, showing loving kindness, giving as God prospers and conduction
themselves in such a way as to bring glory to God.
VII. THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church Universal is the body of Christ, the fellowship of all believers, and that its members
have been called out from the world to come under the dominion and authority of Christ, its head. We believe
that a local church a fellowship of Christians, a part of the body of Christ, voluntarily banded together for
worship, nurture and service.
VIII. ORDINANCES
We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances instituted by Christ to be observed by Christians
only. We also believe that the Biblical mode of baptism is immersion and that participants in the Lord's Supper
should be open to all Christians.
IX. THE LORD'S DAY
We believe in the Sanctity of the Lord's day, the first day of the week, and that this day ought to be observed
by worshipping God, witnessing for Christ and ministering to the needs of humanity. We believe that secular
work on Sunday should be limited to cases of necessity or mercy.
X. LAST THINGS
We believe in the personnel return of Jesus Christ and in the bodily resurrection of the dead. We believe that
God will judge all mankind by Jesus Christ; that He will reward the righteous with life in heaven, and that He will
banish the unrighteous to everlasting punishment in hell.
A Short History
A little information about General Baptists
The General Association of General Baptist is the official name of our denomination. Our headquarter is located in Poplar
Bluff, MO. Our denomination has a membership of approximately 75,000 in the United States. We also have a strong foreign
missions program in the Phillippines, Saipan, and Honduras. There are also General Baptists churches in India. While we have
churches in California and Florida, the majority of our churches are in the Midwestern states of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and
Kentucky. We also have churches as far north as Michigan.
Our roots in the US began in the early 1800s when Benoi Stinson began preaching the concept of "general atonement" (that
Christ died for all men). This doctrinal position was in opposition to belief that Christ only died for those pre-selected for
salvation. Thus the name "General" Baptist became our identity. The first General Baptist church was in Evansville, IN,
Howell-Liberty General Baptist church. The church is still in existence and Benoi Stinson is buried in Evansville.
This information is not intended to be a complete telling of who General Baptists are, however, if you are interested in more
information, I suggest contacting our headquarters in Poplar Bluff.
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