God: God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has always existed in three persons. These three have distinct personalities but are co-equal and are one God.
God the Father: He is the one and only true God, the creator of everything. He relates to His people as Father and is the Redeemer of mankind.
God the Son: Jesus Christ: Jesus became God in human flesh for one and only one reason. To be crucified for our sins and to be resurrected to change the world. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
God the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit convicts the unsaved. He also empowers the believer from the moment of salvation. The Christian seeks to be filled with the Holy Spirit daily.
Genesis 1:1-2, Deuteronomy 6:4, Psalm 4:1, Jeremiah 10:10, Matthew 1:23, John 1:1-2, 14, 16:8, Hebrews 1:1-3.
The Church: The church is composed of all believers of all the ages. There is the universal church and the local church. The local church is a body of baptized believers joined together to do the work of Jesus Christ here on this earth and to encourage one another. There are five purposes of the church: Worship, Evangelism, Discipleship, Fellowship and Ministry.
Matthew 16:18, Matthew 20:26-28, 28:19-20, John 4:19-24, Acts 2:42, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Colossians 1:14-19
Eternity: We were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God in Hell or in the presence of God in heaven. Both heaven and hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16, Romans 6:23, 1 John 2:25, 5:11-13. Revelation 20:15
The Bible: The Bible is God’s Word to all men. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it is inspired by God it is truth without any mixture of error. The Bible is the foundation of faith and practice for the First Baptist Church.
II Timothy 3:14-4:2, John 17:17, 1Peter 1:23, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Psalm 119:105
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper: According to the Bible, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances of the church. Baptism is a person’s public profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Immersion is the Biblical method of Baptism. The Lord’s Supper is to be observed in remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Both ordinances remind us of the sacrifice of Jesus and His soon return.
Matthew 26:26,28; 28:19-20, Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Spiritual Gifts: Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities for service. Every believer has at least one gift and no believer has all the gifts. All the gifts work together and are for the benefit of the entire body of Christ.
Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Peter 4:11
Angels: Angels are created beings sent to serve the saints. Most angels appear as ordinary men and usually come with a message from God to men.
Isaiah 37:36, Acts 5:17-20, 12:5-11, 27:22-26, Hebrews 1:13-14, 13:2, Revelation 5:11
Salvation: Salvation is a free gift from God to us. Salvation is only by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We can never make up for our own sins. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior can we be saved from sin’s penalty. Once a person has received God’s free gift, it can never be taken away.
Matthew 7:13, John 3:3,16; 10:28-29; 14:6, Acts 2:21, 4:8-12, Roman 10:9-10, Ephesians 2:8-10
God: God is the one, true God. “…the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King.” Jeremiah 10:10 “And God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:1-3 God is the creator of all things. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 God created man so that each of us can have a relationship with Him. God is our Sovereign Savior! “I will love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so I shall be saved.” Psalm 18:1-3
Jesus: Jesus is God in human flesh. “…the Word was with God…the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:1,4 Jesus was crucified and rose again to save mankind from sin. He will return again to reign as King of Kings. “… so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time…to bring salvation…” Hebrews 9:28
Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit convicts mankind of sin. “…he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” John 16:8 The Holy Spirit lives in the believer’s heart, teaching and empowering him. “…he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:17 “The Counselor…will teach you all things…” John 14:26
The Bible: The Bible is the divinely inspired word of God. It has God for its author and is without error. The Bible is God’s perfect guidebook for living and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. We believe that all scriptures center about Jesus Christ in His person and work. “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” John 14:23 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 2 Timothy 3:16
Salvation: Salvation is the forgiveness of sin, which is offered freely by God to those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Salvation cannot be gained by works, but by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 Salvation is permanent and once truly saved, a person cannot become lost.
Joy: God wants us to live a full and joyous life. “I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness.” John 10:10 In Jesus alone we can experience the joy of the Christian life together. “I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow.” John 15:11
Sin: Actions by which humans rebel against God, miss His purpose for their lives, and surrender to the power of evil rather than to God. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 Sin brings separation from God. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
God’s Grace: Undeserved acceptance and love from God through His forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:24) Through Jesus, grace is available to all sinners to allow escape from the penalty of sin and the establishment of a love relationship with God. “But as many as receive him, to them gave the power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
Prayer: Through prayer, we can talk to and listen to God. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ.” Philippians 4:6
The Church: An autonomous body of baptized believers who come together in faith, to worship and praise the Lord. The Church comes together to observe the two ordinances of Christ: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. (Colossians 1:18)
Baptism: Christian Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It symbolizes the burial of the old life and the resurrection to walk in the newness of life in Jesus Christ. It is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life.” Romans 6:4
The Lord’s Supper: “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:7 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” I Corinthians 11:26
Heaven and Hell: “Heaven is my throne.” Isaiah 66:1 “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may also be.” John14: 3 Hell is the eternal separation from the love of God.
The Resurrection: “Jesus Christ died on a cross for our sins, He was buried, and on the third day He rose from the grave.” I Corinthians 15:3-4 Jesus’ resurrection conquered death and makes eternal life through Him possible.
Faith: We are saved by our faith in Jesus Christ! It is what we believe! “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Worship: We exist to exalt God and to celebrate His presence in worship. Foremost, the church is a worshipping community. Matthew 4:10
Evangelism: We believe that it is our responsibility to share with others, God’s message of love, forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life through Jesus Christ. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Matthew 9:37
Discipleship: We must train and mature believers in their faith so that they can grow to be more like Jesus and lead others to Him. “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:18-20
Fellowship: To stimulate one another in Christian love and spiritual working together in a spirit of unity. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24
Stewardship: God is the source of all blessings; all that we have and are, we owe to Him. According to the Bible, Christians should contribute of their means, so their tithes can be used for the advancement of the causes for Christ. “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” I Corinthians 16:2