What does First Baptist Church believe?
Our Beliefs
The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God breathed.
(II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18).
(II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18).
God
There is one God, eternally existing and manifesting Himself to us in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
(Deuteronomy 6:4, II Corinthians 13:13).
(Deuteronomy 6:4, II Corinthians 13:13).
The Person and Work of Christ
A. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, became man, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man.
(John 1:1, 2, 14; Luke 1:35).
B. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice; and that our Justification is made sure by His literal and physical resurrection from the dead.
(Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7, I Peter 1:3-5).
C. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of representative, intercessor, and advocate.
(Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1-2).
(John 1:1, 2, 14; Luke 1:35).
B. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice; and that our Justification is made sure by His literal and physical resurrection from the dead.
(Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7, I Peter 1:3-5).
C. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of representative, intercessor, and advocate.
(Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1-2).
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who possesses all the Divine attributes of God. He convicts the work of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the one body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. To the Christian, He is the Comforter who takes the things of Christ and shows them unto him.
(John 14:25; John 16:13; I John 2:20-27; Ephesians 5:10).
(John 14:25; John 16:13; I John 2:20-27; Ephesians 5:10).
The Origin and Nature of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy this lost condition.
(Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:12-13).
(Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:12-13).
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins.
(Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19).
(Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19).
Eternal Security of Believers
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.
(John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:5)
(John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:5)
The Church
A. We believe that the Church consists of all those who truly believe on Jesus Christ. It is the body and bride of Christ, which Christ loves and for which He was crucified.
(Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14)
B. The local visible church is a congregation of believers organized for the purpose of propagating the gospel.
(Acts 14:27; 20:17; 12:28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
(Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14)
B. The local visible church is a congregation of believers organized for the purpose of propagating the gospel.
(Acts 14:27; 20:17; 12:28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper.
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
(Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12)
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
(Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12)
The Lord's Day
The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord's Day should be commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10.
Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10.
Evangelism and Missions
It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man's spirit by God's Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.
Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17.
Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17.
Cooperation
Christ's people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ's Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ's people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.
Exodus 17:12; 18:17ff.; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Nehemiah 4; 8:1-5; Matthew 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff.; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Philippians 1:15-18.
Exodus 17:12; 18:17ff.; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Nehemiah 4; 8:1-5; Matthew 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff.; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Philippians 1:15-18.
The Personality of Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he is the arch-enemy of God and man, and that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire.
(Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 20:10).
(Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 20:10).
The Second Advent of Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming again to receive the Church unto Himself, and that according to the scriptures, “So shall we ever be with the Lord.”
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 14:1-3)
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 14:1-3)
