First Baptist Church

What we believe . . .

THE WORD OF GOD We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, complete as the revelation of Gods will for salvation, and the supreme and final authority in all matters to which they speak. (John 17.17; Galatians 1:11, 12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21). THE TRINITY We believe in one God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that these are equal in every divine perfection and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. (Matthew 28:17-20; John 1:1-14: Colossians 1:12-19; Hebrews 1:1-12). GOD THE FATHER We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of humanity, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Job 24.22; 1 John 4.8; Proverbs 15.29;Acts 16.30,31; John 14.6) JESUS CHRIST We believe that Jesus Christ is Gods eternal Son, and has precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. We believe further that He is not only true God, but true human, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We also believe in His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, His priestly intercession on behalf of His people, and His personal, visible return from heaven at the Rapture and again at His second coming. (John 1.1-3; John 10.30; John 11.27; Matt. 1.23; Romans 3.25; Matt. 28.6; Acts 1.9; 1 Tim. 2.5; Heb. 8.1-3; 1 Thess. 4.16,17; Rev. 19.11-16.) HOLY SPIRIT We believe in the Holy Spirit, His personality, and His work in conviction of sin, regeneration, sanctification, and preservation. His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and implement Christ's work of redeeming the lost and empowering the believer for godly living and service. While we recognize God's ability to do anything He desires, we do not believe that the gift of tongues is in use at this time. (John 16.7-11; Acts 11.15; 1 Cor. 6.11; Eph. 1.13,14; 1 Cor. 13.8) HUMANITY We believe God created humanity, male and female, in the image of God and free from sin. We further believe all people are sinners by nature and choice and are therefore spiritually dead. We also believe that those who repent of sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We further believe that marriage can only occur between a man and a woman. That marriage is a covenant relationship to be held sacred as a God-ordained institution. (Gen. 1.27; 5.2; Rom. 3.23; Acts 16.31; Matt. 19.4-6.) SALVATION We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We further believe that this salvation is based upon the sovereign grace of God, and was purchased by Christ on the cross, and is received through faith, apart from any human merit, works, or ritual. We further believe salvation results in righteous living, good works, and proper social concern. (Eph. 2.8,9; Eph. 2.16-18; Acts 26.20.) THE CHURCH We believe that the Church is the spiritual body of which Christ is the head. We believe that the true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe that this body expresses itself in local assemblies whose members have been immersed upon a credible confession of faith and have associated themselves for worship, for instruction, for evangelism, and for service. We believe the ordinances of the local church are believers baptism by immersion and the Lords Supper. We also believe in the interdependence of local churches and the mutual submission of believers to each other in love. We believe that only men are called to serve as pastors (overseers) elders, and deacons based on the literal interpretation of Scripture. (Col. 1.18; 1 Cor. 12.12-14; Acts 2.41,42; 1 Cor. 11.23-26; Eph. 5.21; 1 Timothy 3.1-13.) SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE We believe that each local church is self-governing in function, and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority. We further believe that every human being is directly responsible to God in matters of faith and life, and that each should be responsible to worship God according to the dictates of his or her conscience. (Matt. 18.15-17; Acts 6.1-4; Mark 12.17.) CHRISTIAN CONDUCT We believe that the supreme task of all believers is to glorify God in their lives; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves the full stature of maturity in Christ. (Rom. 15.5,6; 1 Cor. 1.8; 2 Thess. 3.10; Eph. 4.13-16.)
LAST THINGS We believe in the pre-tribulation Rapture of the church, meaning that Christ will return in the clouds for His people, both the dead in Christ and living believers at that time, to unite them with Him prior to the seven year period of the Tribulation. We believe that following the seven years of the Tribulation period that Christ will return to earth and reign for One Thousand Years. During the Thousand Year reign of Christ, Satan and the anti-christ will be bound. This is known as the Millennial Kingdom. Following the 1000 year reign of Christ, Satan who had been bound during that time will be released for a short time but ultimately he and all who have not placed their faith in Christ will be cast into the Lake of Fire, meaning Hell. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved and the lost, the eternal existence of both in either heaven or hell, in divine judgments, rewards, and punishments. (1 Thess. 4.16; Rev. 7.14; 12.14; 20.1-10.)