First Baptist Church is committed to the historic fundamentals of orthodox, evangelical Christianity. While recognizing the legitimacy of differences of opinion on minor points, we hold that the following truths form an essential framework for any clear understanding and practice of the Christian life. Pastoral staff and elders must subscribe to these truths without reservation, while members and friends covenant to teach nothing contrary.
GOD
We believe in one God, creator of heaven and earth, uncreated and eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Deut 6:4; Matt 28:19)
GOD THE FATHER
is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power. We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 8:5-6; Eph 1:3—6) We believe that the Father is sovereign over His entire creation, graciously guiding and directing history to His intended destination. (Ps 115:3; Is 46:9-10)
GOD THE SON
existing from eternity past, humbled Himself and graciously became incarnate in the man Jesus Christ. (John 1:14) We believe Jesus, born of a virgin, lived a perfectly Spirit-filled and sinless life. (John 1:32; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:22) We believe in Jesus' penal substitutionary death on the cross, where He took the sins of the world and the full wrath of God upon Himself and through His death and resurrection from the dead triumphed over both sin and death, and provided the means for sinners to be made right with the Father. (2 Cor 5:21; Phil 2:8; Col 2:13-15) We believe Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead and will reign forever in God's kingdom in the new heavens and new earth. (Matt 25:31-46; 1 Cor 11:26; 1 Thess 4:16—18)
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
is the Spirit of Truth sent from the Father, in the name of the Son, to guide believers into all truth. He is the helper of the believer and the inspirer of the Scriptures (John 14:16-17, 26; 2 Pet 1:21) The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. (John 16:8-11) The works of the Holy Spirit include the regeneration of the believer (Ezek 36:26-27; Titus 3:5-6) and also the progressive sanctification and ultimate glorification of the believer. (Rom 8:9-13; 1 Pet 1:2) With the empowering and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the believer is able to combat and resist sin and live a life pleasing to God. (Rom 8:1-17)
BIBLE
We believe that the Bible, consisting of both the Old and New Testaments, is God's infallible inerrant word, written by men who were uniquely moved by the Holy Spirit, and that it is our sole authority in all matters of faith and practice. We affirm our belief in the verbal and complete inspiration of the Scriptures in their original writings. (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21)
MAN
We believe that man is created in the image of God and was originally without sin. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, all men are now sinners both by nature and by choice. Man is unable to remedy his own lost condition. We believe in man's total depravity, not that all people are as evil and wicked as they could be, but that they are positively inclined to evil and rebellion against God. We believe that every person therefore is under the just condemnation of God, and that all are without excuse or defense. (Gen 1:27; Rom 3:10-11, 23, 5:12, 19; Eph 2:1-3)
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is God’s gift to man in the person of Jesus Christ. Sinful man is saved from sin's eternal penalty as a result of repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. We believe that all who are born again through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ are eternally secure through His grace. (John 3:16, 18, 36; 2 Cor 5:17; Rom 8:1; Eph 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5)
THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is the body of Christ which is made up of every born—again regenerate believer since Pentecost regardless of race, sex or national origin. The local church is an organized body of immersed believers voluntarily associated together for the worship of God, growth in godliness and sanctification, the fellowship of believers, the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ throughout the world, and the observance of the biblical ordinances (believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper). The scriptural officers of the church consist of elders and deacons/deaconesses. Elders are pastors/shepherds who are devoted to the ministry of the Word and prayer. Deacons/deaconesses are those who are entrusted to meet the physical needs of the body. The local church is independent and autonomous and is free from all outside ecclesiastical or political interference. (Matt 16:16-18; Acts 2:42—47; 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph 1:20—23; 1 Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-16)
SATAN
We believe that Satan is a personal created being, a fallen angel, and the author of sin and the cause of the fall. He is the open and declared enemy of God and man. He is the ruler of this present world, and although he has been defeated at the cross of Christ, he is still a powerful spiritual being bent on destroying the good works of God. However, his doom is certain and he will be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; John 14:30, 16:11; Eph 2:2, 6:11-12; Col 1:16; Jude 6; Rev 12:9)
ETERNITY
We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the believer and the non—believer. The saved will enjoy the wonders of God’s presence forever, and the lost will be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Matt 25:31-46; Acts 24:15; Rev 20:1—6, 11—15)
FAMILY & MARRIAGE
God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.
Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. Men and women are equally created in the image of God, and possess equal intrinsic value, worth and dignity as given by God. We recognize that men and women have been given different roles within the home and the church for the purpose of mutual flourishing. (Genesis 1:27, 2:19-25; Eph 5:25-33)
All forms of non-biblical sexual practices, including but not limited to adultery, homosexuality, transgenderism, and pornography, are contrary to the commands of God and subvert the spiritual health of the family, society and the church. (1 Cor 6:18-20; Col 3:5-10; 1 Thess 4:3-7; Heb 13:4)