Oct 31 2009
Statement of Faith
Statement of Faith of First Baptist Church
The Authority of Scripture
The Bible is the inspired, authoritative and infallible Word of God and is our sole rule of faith and practice. It is the standard by which all human conduct and creeds should be tried.
The Trinity
There is only one true and living God, the Creator and preserver of all things, infinite in being and perfection. He exists eternally in three Persons; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who are of one substance and equal in power and glory. God possesses holiness, omnipotence, omnipresence, love, mercy, and all other perfections. Humankind owes to Him supreme faith and obedience.
Humankind
Humankind has been created in the image of God, but through Adam’s fall is now sinful, lost and condemned. By deliberate choice all participate in sin, which is open rebellion to God’s law. Notwithstanding the fall, all human life through creation has dignity and value.
Jesus Christ
The eternally pre-existent Son became incarnate without human father being born of the virgin Mary. Thus in the Lord Jesus Christ divine and human natures were united in one Person, both natures being whole, perfect and distinct. To effect salvation, Jesus lived a sinless life and died on the cross as the sinner’s substitute, shedding His blood for the remission of sins. On the third day he rose from the dead in the body which had been laid in the tomb, He ascended to the right hand of the Father, where he performs the ministry of intercession. He shall come again, personally and visibly, to complete His saving work and to consummate the eternal plan of God.
Justification by Faith
Human beings can be forgiven and justified solely through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ who died for sinners and rose from the dead. Only by repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ the Lord can acceptance with God be attained.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit by which the believer receives a new nature from God. Christian growth or sanctification, is the continuation of the new principle which begins with the new birth.
The Believer
The believer, having turned to God in penitent faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is accountable to God for living a life separated from sin and characterized by the fruit of the Spirit. It is the responsibility of the believer to contribute by word and deed to the universal spread of the Gospel.
Human Destiny
Jesus Christ will eventually return visibly at which time He will raise the dead and judge all people. Believers will enjoy an eternal state of blessedness in heaven while unbelievers will experience eternal separation from God.
The Church
The church in its widest sense includes all believers throughout the ages. The church is manifested visibly in the local body of baptized believers who covenant together to worship, observe the ordinances and evangelize.
Evangelism and Social Concern
The church has been called to preach the Gospel so that individual people can receive salvation. The church is also called to become involved in improvement of society by advocating Biblical principles which militate against poverty, racism, violence and all forms of injustice against humankind.
Marriage and Sexuality
We believe that marriage is the holy union of one man and one woman in which they commit, with God’s help, to build a loving, life-giving, faithful relationship that will last a lifetime. We believe that God has intended a sexual relationship to exist within the confines of marriage for procreation and as a blessing to spouses that they would grow in love for one another. We believe the Bible teaches that sexual relationships outside of marriage between husband and wife are considered sinful and contrary to God’s plan for humankind.