What We Believe
It is important to know what beliefs are held by a church because all churches are not alike. First Baptist Church diligently studies God’s Word and listens to His voice to know what we should be doing and where we should be going. However, there are certain beliefs (doctrines) that the Bible clearly teaches that withstand the test of time. Below is a description of those we have publicly affirmed (as stated in our church’s Constitution and By-laws) followed by several scripture references that explain them further.
The Scriptures, The Bible, Or God’s Word
The scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. (1 Peter 1:4-25; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:20; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17)
God
There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 53:1; 19:1; Genesis 1:1; Exodus 6:1-8; Isaiah 45:21-22; Romans 8:14-15; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6)
The Trinity
God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. (Genesis 1:1-2; 18:13; Matthew 6:9; 3:12-17; 1:18-20; John 8:36; 14:26; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:13-16)
Providence
God from eternity decrees or permits all things that come to pass and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events, yet so as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of man. (Romans 8:28; Revelation 11:15; John 10:28-29; Genesis 1 & 2)
Election
Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life, not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ in consequence of which choice they are called, justified, and glorified. (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; Jeremiah 31:31ff; Matthew 16:18-19; John 1:12-14)
The Fall of Man
God originally created man in His own image and free from sin; but through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness, whereby his posterity inherit sin nature, corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. (Genesis 1:26, 30; 2:5, 7; 4:7; 3:1-7; Romans 3:23; 5:12; 1:3; Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 2:1-22; 1 John 1:8-10)
The Mediator
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature by His virgin birth, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried and rose again the third day and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He lives forever to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe. (Genesis 18:1ff; Psalm 2:7ff; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 11:27; 16:16; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; Hebrews 1:1-3; 1 John 1:7-9)
Regeneration
Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit who shows the spiritually dead their trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone. (2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:1-8; Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; Matthew 1:21)
Repentance
Repentance is an evangelical grace wherein a person being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin humbles himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk with God so as to please Him in all things. (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 5:11; 16:30-31)
Faith
Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ, accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 11; John 3:3-21, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28, 29)
Justification
Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners who believe in Christ from all sin through the satisfaction that Christ has made, not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, their receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith. (Romans 5:8-10; 10:1-13; 8:1-18)
Sanctification
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ’s commands. (Romans 6:1-23; 8:1-18, 29-39; 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
Perseverance of the Saints
Those whom God has accepted in the Beloved and sanctified by His Spirit will never totally fall away from the state of grace but shall certainly persevere to the end, and though they may fall through neglect and temptation into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comfors, and bring reproach on the Church and temporal judgments on themselves; yet, they shall be renewed again unto repentance and kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (John 10:28-29; 11:25-26; Jude; Philippians 1:5-6; 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff; Romans 8:28-39; 10:12-15)
The Church
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies of churches; and to each of these churches He has given needful authority for administering the order, disciples, and worship which He has apointed. The regular officers of a church are bishops or elders (pastors) and deacons. (Matthew 16:13-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-44; Romans 16:1, 4, 5, 16, 23; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21)
Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, for remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God to live and walk in newness of life. It is a prerequisite to church membership and to participation in the Lord’s Supper. (Matthew 3:13-17; 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-39; 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; Romans 6:3-5)
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ to be administered with the elements of bread and wine and to be observed by His churches until the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but it is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him and of their church fellowship. (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Luke 22:17-20; Mark 14:22-26)
The Lord’s Day
The Lord’s Day is a Christian institution for regular services and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, resting from worldly employments and amusements. Works of necessity and mercy only are acceptable. (Exodus 10:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff; Luke 24:1-3, 33-36; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10)
Liberty of Conscience
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath but also for conscience sake. (Matthew 5:13-16, 43-48; 6:6-7; 16:26; Genesis 1:27; 2:7; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19)
The Resurrection
The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits are immortal. The bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised. (Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 29:1-4; Daniel 12:2; John 11:23ff; 1 Corinthians 15; Ephesians 2:5-6)
The Judgment
God has appointed a day wherein He will judgment the world by Jesus Christ, when everyone shall receive according to his deeds. The wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment and the righteous into everlasting life. (Mark 9:43-44; Matthew 13:42; 25:41; Revelation 20:10, 14, 15; Luke 12:47-48)
It is important to know what beliefs are held by a church because all churches are not alike. First Baptist Church diligently studies God’s Word and listens to His voice to know what we should be doing and where we should be going. However, there are certain beliefs (doctrines) that the Bible clearly teaches that withstand the test of time. Below is a description of those we have publicly affirmed (as stated in our church’s Constitution and By-laws) followed by several scripture references that explain them further.
The Scriptures, The Bible, Or God’s Word
The scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. (1 Peter 1:4-25; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:20; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17)
God
There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 53:1; 19:1; Genesis 1:1; Exodus 6:1-8; Isaiah 45:21-22; Romans 8:14-15; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6)
The Trinity
God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. (Genesis 1:1-2; 18:13; Matthew 6:9; 3:12-17; 1:18-20; John 8:36; 14:26; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:13-16)
Providence
God from eternity decrees or permits all things that come to pass and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events, yet so as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of man. (Romans 8:28; Revelation 11:15; John 10:28-29; Genesis 1 & 2)
Election
Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life, not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ in consequence of which choice they are called, justified, and glorified. (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; Jeremiah 31:31ff; Matthew 16:18-19; John 1:12-14)
The Fall of Man
God originally created man in His own image and free from sin; but through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness, whereby his posterity inherit sin nature, corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. (Genesis 1:26, 30; 2:5, 7; 4:7; 3:1-7; Romans 3:23; 5:12; 1:3; Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 2:1-22; 1 John 1:8-10)
The Mediator
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature by His virgin birth, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried and rose again the third day and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He lives forever to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe. (Genesis 18:1ff; Psalm 2:7ff; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 11:27; 16:16; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; Hebrews 1:1-3; 1 John 1:7-9)
Regeneration
Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit who shows the spiritually dead their trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone. (2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:1-8; Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; Matthew 1:21)
Repentance
Repentance is an evangelical grace wherein a person being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin humbles himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk with God so as to please Him in all things. (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 5:11; 16:30-31)
Faith
Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ, accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 11; John 3:3-21, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28, 29)
Justification
Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners who believe in Christ from all sin through the satisfaction that Christ has made, not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, their receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith. (Romans 5:8-10; 10:1-13; 8:1-18)
Sanctification
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ’s commands. (Romans 6:1-23; 8:1-18, 29-39; 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
Perseverance of the Saints
Those whom God has accepted in the Beloved and sanctified by His Spirit will never totally fall away from the state of grace but shall certainly persevere to the end, and though they may fall through neglect and temptation into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comfors, and bring reproach on the Church and temporal judgments on themselves; yet, they shall be renewed again unto repentance and kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (John 10:28-29; 11:25-26; Jude; Philippians 1:5-6; 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff; Romans 8:28-39; 10:12-15)
The Church
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies of churches; and to each of these churches He has given needful authority for administering the order, disciples, and worship which He has apointed. The regular officers of a church are bishops or elders (pastors) and deacons. (Matthew 16:13-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-44; Romans 16:1, 4, 5, 16, 23; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21)
Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, for remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God to live and walk in newness of life. It is a prerequisite to church membership and to participation in the Lord’s Supper. (Matthew 3:13-17; 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-39; 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; Romans 6:3-5)
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ to be administered with the elements of bread and wine and to be observed by His churches until the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but it is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge, and renewal of their communion with Him and of their church fellowship. (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Luke 22:17-20; Mark 14:22-26)
The Lord’s Day
The Lord’s Day is a Christian institution for regular services and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, resting from worldly employments and amusements. Works of necessity and mercy only are acceptable. (Exodus 10:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff; Luke 24:1-3, 33-36; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10)
Liberty of Conscience
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath but also for conscience sake. (Matthew 5:13-16, 43-48; 6:6-7; 16:26; Genesis 1:27; 2:7; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19)
The Resurrection
The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits are immortal. The bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised. (Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 29:1-4; Daniel 12:2; John 11:23ff; 1 Corinthians 15; Ephesians 2:5-6)
The Judgment
God has appointed a day wherein He will judgment the world by Jesus Christ, when everyone shall receive according to his deeds. The wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment and the righteous into everlasting life. (Mark 9:43-44; Matthew 13:42; 25:41; Revelation 20:10, 14, 15; Luke 12:47-48)
