Statement of Belief

THIS IS WHAT WE BELIEVE AND TEACH AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

I. THE SCRIPTURES

We believe the whole Bible (King James Version) from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 as the verbally (verbatim) inspired and infallible Word of the Almighty God. II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Psalms 119:89, 105, 130, 160.

II. GOD

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, as infinite, intelligent spirit, and maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of Redemption. Exodus 20:2-3; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; 17:5; Philippians 2:5-6; II Corinthians 13:14.

III. JESUS CHRIST

1. We believe that Jesus Christ was in the beginning with God but was made flesh by the miraculous Virgin Birth. He was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner. Born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son. John 1:1-14; Colossians 1:15-19; Galatians 4:4; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35.

His Earthly Life:

2. Christ lives a perfect life upon earth being tempted in all points as we are yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15; I Peter 2:22.

His Death:

3. Christ died on the Cross for our sins (took the sinner’s place and died for the sinner’s sins) according to the Scriptures. The just one (Christ) dying for the unjust one (the sinner) that He might bring us to God. I Corinthians 15:1-3; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 1:18-19; John 1:25; (Luke 23:33-46; Galatians 3:13).

His Resurrection:

4. We believe that Christ rose from the grave bodily upon the first day of the week, according to the Scriptures. I Corinthians 15:3-4; John 20; Matthew 28:6-7.

His Ascension as Priest:

5. We believe that Christ ascended back to Heaven where He is seated today at the right hand of the throne of God. And that He alone is our “merciful and faithful high priest,” our (believer) advocate and the mediator for the lost. Acts 1:9; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:25; I Timothy 2:5; I John 2:1-2.

His Second Coming as King:

6. We believe that Christ will come again to this earth, bodily, visibly, and personally. This coming is in two stages. The first stage is the coming of Christ in the air to catch away or call out the Christian (all believers) for this earth to meet Him in the air. I Thessalonians 4:13-17; I Corinthians 15:51-57. The second stage of His coming is when He comes back with His Saints to the earth. Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16; 1:7-8.

His 1,000 Year Reign on Earth:

7. We believe that Christ will personally and literally reign over all the earth for 1,000 glorious years. Revelation 20:4-6; Isaiah 2:2-4; Luke 1:30-33; Isaiah 11:4-5; Psalms 72:8.

IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT

A divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature, that He was active in the Creation; He is the part of the Godhead on earth today. He convicts the sinner of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness; He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel; He is the agent in the New Birth; He seals, endures, fills, guides, teaches, comforts, witnesses, and sanctifies and helps the believer. John 14:16-17; Genesis 1:1-3; John 3:3-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; John 16:8-11; 15:26-27; 16-13; 14:26.

V. THE DEVIL AND SATAN

We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world.

We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the Antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness—destined however to final

defeat at the hands of God’s Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Revelation 12:9-10; Jude 6; Matthew 4:1-3; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 19:16, 20; 20:1-3; 20:10; Matthew 25:41.

VI. CREATION

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, a development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms.

Man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness. All animal and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law of reproduction was that they should bring forth only “after their own kind.” Genesis 1:11, 24-27; 2:21-23; Exodus 20:11; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17.

VII. THE FALL OF MAN

We believe that man was created and made in innocence under the law of his maker, but by voluntary transgressions fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequences of which, all mankind are now sinners, by nature (Birth) and by choice and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:6, 24; Romans 5:12, 19; 3:10-19; Romans 1:18, 20, 28, 32; Galatians 3:22.

VIII. ATONEMENT FOR SIN

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins. He is our all-sufficient Saviour. Ephesians 2:8; Isaiah 53; John 3:16; II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; I Peter 3:18; 2:24; Hebrews 2:14; 7:25; 9:12-15; 12:2.

IX. THE NEW BIRTH

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; the New Birth is a new creation in Christ; it is instantaneous and not a process. The one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God. All this is a

divine miracle by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with the Word. John 2:3-6; II Corinthians 5:17; Romans 9:23.

X. THE FREENESS OF SALVATION

We believe in God’s electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:13; John 6:37; John 3:15-16; John 3:18; 3:36.

XI. JUSTIFICATION

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us. Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1-9; Titus 3:5-7; Galatians 3:11; Romans 4:1-8.

XII. REPENTANCE AND FAITH

We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Saviour. Acts 20:21; Luke 18:13; Romans 10:9-11, 13.

XIII. THE LOCAL CHURCH OR ASSEMBLY

We believe that a local church or assembly of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures.

We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission; First, to make individual disciples; Second, to Baptize them by immersion in water; Third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded.

We do not believe in the reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Acts 2:42; Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:17-28; Matthew 28:19-20; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23-24.

XIV. BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer; in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, with the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is pre-requisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s Supper; in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and wine (juice) are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self-examination. Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:6, 16; Romans 6:4-5; Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-28.

XV. THE RESURRECTION OF THE SAINTS (THE RAPTURE)

We believe that there will be a Resurrection of the body of the saved dead and a translation of the living Saints just before the tribulation begins. We do not believe that any part of the church will go into any part of the Tribulation period.

The Rapture of the Saints (all saved) will be the glorification of all believers. We will be given a glorified body “like unto His (Christ) glorious body.” (Philippians 3:2; I John 3:2; Luke 24:39, 42; I Corinthians 15:49) I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-57; II Thessalonians 2:2; Revelation 4:1.

XVI. THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST (THE JUDGMENT OF THE SAVED ONLY)

The Christian will stand before Christ and give an account of his works as a Christian. Our works will be judged, and we will be rewarded according to our Faithfulness. This judgment

takes place in the air just after the Rapture. II Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10; I Corinthians 3:11-15; II Chronicles 15:7; I Corinthians 15:58.

XVII. THE TRIBULATION

There is going to be a time of 7 years special judgment and unusual supernatural happenings upon this earth. This period begins just after the Rapture and will end at the Second Coming of Christ all the way to earth. Matthew 24:21, 22; Jeremiah 30:4-7; Ezekiel 20:34-38; Daniel 12:1; (Revelation 6:9-11; covers the whole 7 years.)

XVIII. THE 1,000 YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST UPON EARTH

We believe that Christ will return to this earth (Zechariah 14:4; Revelation 19:11; Acts 1:11; John 14:3) and then He will usher in the 1,000-year Kingdom upon this earth. Revelation 20:1-7; Isaiah 11:9; 2:4; Zechariah 14:9; 17, 19-21; Ezekiel 48:1-35; Luke 1:30-33; Hebrews 2:14; Obadiah 21.

XIX. RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT OF THE UNSAVED

This judgment is for the unsaved. It will take place after the 1,000-year Reign of Christ on earth. The unsaved will stand before God and face their record and then cast into the lake of fire where they will burn forever, yet never annihilated. Revelation 20:11-15; Matthew 7:22-23; Revelation 19:20; 20:10: 14:11.

XX. THE BURNING OF THE EARTH

(End of Time) and the Eternal State ushered in. II Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21:1-6; 9-22; 8, 13, 20-21.

May we be faithful to Him who is the only wise God and our Saviour, who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood to Him be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 25 and Revelation 1:5)