Mission Statement
To reach out with God’s love to all people, and help them find & follow Jesus Christ.
Statement Of Faith
The Statement of Faith expresses the core theological doctrines of First Baptist Church.
Based on the authority of the Bible and the grace and truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, these beliefs help preserve the unity of our Church and protect it against false doctrine.
DOCTRINES ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION
THE BIBLE
We believe that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the Word of God, fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, inerrant in the original manuscripts, and infallible as the supreme authority for our faith and practice, the standard by which all human conduct and belief should be measured.
(Luke 1:1-4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 1:1-3)
THE TRINITY
We believe in the one, true, holy God. He exists eternally in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each of whom possesses fully and equally all the attributes of deity, having the same mind and will, sharing the same divine essence and characteristics of personality, yet distinct in role. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere present at all times. He is without beginning or end and without equal—there is no God besides Him.
(Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; John 16:13-15; Isaiah 46:9-10)
GOD THE FATHER
We believe that God the Father, in His love, authored the plan of salvation and orders all things according to His own purpose, grace, and mercy. His plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. He is faithful to all His promises, works all things together for good for those who love Him, and in His unfathomable grace sent His one and only Son, Christ Jesus, to be the Savior of the World. God raised His Son from the dead, glorified Him, and seated Him at His right hand.
(Mark 16:19; John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1: 3-6, 17-20; 1 John 4:14; Romans 8:28-30)
GOD THE SON
We believe God the Father has revealed Himself supremely in our Lord Jesus Christ, both fully God and fully man, the one and only Son of God, born of a virgin. Jesus Christ is the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior of our world. Salvation is found in Him alone having given His life on the cross of Calvary as a ransom for our sin. He was resurrected and ascended to the Father, where He now makes intercession for us. Soon He will come again to receive us unto Himself.
(Matthew 1:18; Mark 10:45; Colossians 1:13-17; John 1:1-4, 14; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Philippians 2:5-11)
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit who has come to reveal and glorify Jesus Christ and to convict us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates sinners so that they might place their faith in Christ. He indwells and empowers believers to live godly and productive lives for the glory of the Lord Jesus. He intercedes for us with the Father when we do not know what to pray, and He guarantees that we will be saved when Jesus returns. He also reveals the truth of Scripture and empowers us to proclaim the gospel to others.
(John 14:16, 17, 26, 16:8-14; Titus 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:26-27; Acts 1:8)
HUMANITY
We believe humanity was created in the image of God and has intrinsic value and dignity. However, through Adam’s fall humanity is now sinful, condemned, and in need of salvation. By deliberate choice all participate in sin, which is open rebellion to God’s law. After Christ returns, Satan and all those who have rejected Christ will be condemned to eternal punishment in hell, forever separated from the presence of God.
(Romans 5:12, 3:23, 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:1-3; Revelation 20:10-15)
SALVATION
We believe salvation is a gift of God that cannot be bought or earned and is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. All those who exercise faith alone in Christ’s atoning death will be saved and will enter into the Lord’s presence to reign with Him forever.
(John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21; Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9; Acts 4:10-12; Titus 3:3-8)
THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus is the head and whose members consist of the redeemed and called-out people of God. The universal Church is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ in all places at all times. The local church is the tangible expression of the body of Christ in a unique community of baptized believers who have entered into covenant with one another in their shared faith under the authority of Jesus Christ. The local church has been entrusted by the risen Christ to embrace and live His Kingdom mission to make the Gospel of Jesus Christ known to all people. The local church is to faithfully gather for worship, teaching, fellowship, service and disciple-making.
(Matthew 16:18, 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:20-23, 2:19-22, 4:11-16, 5:23; Acts 1:8, 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25)
DOCTRINES ESSENTIAL FOR CHURCH UNITY
BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that 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/her faith in the final resurrection of the dead.
We believe the Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby followers of Jesus, 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; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 10:16-21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12
HUMAN IDENTITY AND SEXUALITY
We believe that God specifically created male and female to be distinct and complementary. We believe that God's design is that of man and woman either to be joined together in a monogamous marriage or to live in a single, celibate state.
These sexes, male and female, are foreknown by God before creation, and given to us as a gift at birth. Sinful behaviors, such as living outside one's biological birth sex, engaging in sexual activity outside of marriage, homosexual behavior, and any form of lust, including pornography, are not in accordance with God's design for humankind.
(Genesis 1:27, 31, & 2:18, 20-25; Romans 1:18-28; 1 Corinthians 7:1-40; Hebrews 13:4
Revised August 2023
Covenant
Because we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and have been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we most solemnly and joyfully make these commitments to one another.
We promise that with the aid of the Holy Spirit we will love one another, seek what is best for this church, and contribute faithfully of our talents and resources to its support. This local body of believers covenants together to worship, to observe the biblical ordinances of baptism by immersion and communion, and to evangelize the world around us.
We also promise to share in private and family devotions regularly, to teach our children Christian truths, to tell others of Christ, and to live in the world as practicing Christians. We will strive to be fair in our dealings with others, faithful to our duties, and examples to others in our conduct. We will avoid making undeserved judgments upon others, spreading rumors, and allowing our emotions to control our better judgment. We will strive in every way to advance the Kingdom of our Savior.
We further promise to express Christian concern for each other, to pray for each other, and to assist any who need help in times of sickness or difficulty. We will speak in a way consistent with faith; we will not become offended easily; we will be agents of reconciliation wherever it is needed. Finally, we promise that should we relocate we will, as quickly as possible, join another church to fulfill the principles of God’s Word.
Revised July 2011