Statement of Faith & Doctrine
Section 1. THE BIBLE -We believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, that it was Divinely inspired, written by men, and that it is sufficient for all matters that pertain to life and godliness, and that it is the supreme authority in all matters of conduct. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God...” (2 Timothy 3:16) “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21) "as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue," (2 Peter 1:3). Thus we believe that the entire Word of God is our creed. This article, therefore, is but a statement of some of the major doctrines taught in the Scriptures. Currently, it is recommended that all Pastors/Preachers at First Baptist Church primarily use the ESV, KJV, NKJV, NIV, or NASB translations of the Bible, as these are reliable and are the most common in use among the people.
Section 2. THE TRINITY -We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7) “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'” (Matt. 3:16, 17)
a) GOD THE FATHER -We believe in God, the Father, an infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. “I am the LORD your God,...you shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:2a, 3) "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24) “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
b) GOD THE SON - We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (Matthew 17:5) “Believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” (John 14:11) “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2:24) “He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures," (1 Corinthians 15:4) “...when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (Hebrews 1:3) "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)
c) GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT - We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever; the Spirit of truth...” (John 14:16, 17a) “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” (John 16:8) “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Section 3. CREATION - We believe that God designed and created the heavens and the earth by a direct act of His infinite power in six literal, 24-hour days. We believe God spoke the entire universe into existence, that it did not come into existence by any form of evolutionary process, and that the creation did not come from any previously existing material. We believe all forms of life and mankind have been created, each after its own kind. (Gen. 1-2)
Section 4. MAN -We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also that spiritual death which is eternal separation from God. “So God created man in His own image;” (Genesis 1:27) “for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) “She took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6) “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned;” (Romans 5:12)
Section 5. SALVATION -We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who accept Him by faith as personal Lord and Savior and are regenerated by the Holy Spirit are therefore justified on the ground of His shed blood and resurrection. “Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” (Romans 4:25) “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3) “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:” (John 1:12) “You must be born again.” (John 3:7)
Section 6. SEPARATION - We believe in separation from those things condemed by the Word of God, and in whole-hearted devotion to the cause of Christ as the only scriptural basis for a happy and useful Christian Life. “Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate', says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean,” (2 Corinthians 6:17) “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17) “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,” (Titus 2:11,12)“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) These scriptures plainly call upon the child of God to refrain from the carnal pleasures of the world, and even from indulgence in any questionable practices which would be harmful in their influence and a stumbling block to the weak. “It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.” (Romans 14:21) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1, 2)
Section 7. THE CHURCH -We believe in the church - a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and of which all regenerated people are members. We believe that a local church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ, immersed upon a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that to these local churches were committed for perpetual observance, the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and that God has laid upon these churches the task of proclaiming to a lost world the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We believe that all human betterment and social improvements are the inevitable by-product of such a Gospel. “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22, 23)
Section 8. ORDINANCES
a) BAPTISM — We believe that New Testament baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, “in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect, our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19 & 20) “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” (Acts 2:41) “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 newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
b) LORD’S SUPPER — We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for the commemoration of His death. “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.'” (Luke 22:19, 20) “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.”(1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
c) The timing and frequency of the observance of these ordinances shall be at the discretion of the Pastor(s) and Deacons.
Section 9. RESURRECTION -We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost in the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting, conscious suffering of the lost. "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." (John 5:28, 29)
Section 10. PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS -We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of’ faith. “But you are … a royal priesthood,” (1 Peter 2:9) “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,” (Hebrews 10:19) “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” (Romans 14:10)
Section 11. INDEPENDENCE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH - We believe that each church is independent and autonomous and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that, therefore, the church and state must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from the dictation or patronage of the other. “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) “One is your Master, even Christ.” (Matthew 23:8 KJV) “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” (Matthew 22:21)
Section 12. CHARISMATIC GIFTS -We believe that the gifts to the early church such as healing, tongues, and prophecy were signs for the furtherance of the Gospel and are not in practice by the church today. (1 Corinthians 12-14) We further believe that the Charismatic movement is based on an unbiblical representation of the ministry of the Holy Spirit and is founded upon human emotion rather than biblical truth.
Section 13. SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER -We believe it is the privilege of each believer to know that he is saved and is kept eternally by Jesus Christ. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." (John 10:27-30) “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" (Philippians 1:6)
Section 14. FUTURE EVENTS -We believe in the glorious personal, imminent, pretribulational, premillenial, appearing of Christ for the church, in the resurrection of the dead, and in the eternal blessedness of the saved and the eternal conscious suffering of the unsaved. (Revelation 20, 21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew l4)
Section 15. FAMILY - We believe marriage was planned by God, consisting of one man and one woman, and that any other arrangement is unbiblical. (Gen. 1:27; 2:18-25; Eph. 5:22-31; Matt. 19:4-6, 1 Cor. 11:3; Col. 3:18-19) We believe homosexuality is always unacceptable and therefore does not constitute a family or marriage. (Rom. 1:24-28; Lev. 18:22; 20:13) We believe God's original design is for a married couple to never be separated by divorce. We believe that men and woman are of equal value and standing in God's sight, but by God's design, the man is to be the head of the home. We believe it is the primary responsibility of parents to raise their children in all the counsel and Word of God, using proper and biblical discipline when necessary. (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:20-21; Prov. 13:24; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15; Deut. 6:6-7) We believe that single believers are to marry only in the Lord. (1 Cor. 7:39; 1 Cor. 6:14-17; Ezra 9:11-12; Neh. 13:23-30; Josh. 23:11-13)
If you have questions about salvation, Biblical counseling or discipleship, baptism or church membership, please contact one of our elders:
Pastor Larry Starett, Bob Blair or Wayne Vanderwier
