Our Doctrine
First Baptist Church Statement of Basic Beliefs:
1. God's Nature and Unity
There is one God who is an eternal personal Spirit. God is infinite in power,
wisdom, holiness and love. God is Triune in essential being and revealed in the
Bible to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2. The Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ as the second Person of the Godhead is eternally one with God the
Father of whose Person and glory he is the accurate expression. To become man
he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, so the two
whole and perfect natures, the nature of God and the nature of humanity, were
united in one person truly God and truly human.
3. The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit as the third Person of the Trinity is eternally one with the Father
and the Son, yet he is sent by them to achieve the divine purpose in the Church.
4. The Divine Inspiration of the Scriptures
The Scriptures, consisting of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are the
infallible Word of God. They were written by men and women of God inspired by
the Holy Spirit and have supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice.
5. The Sinfulness of Humanity
Made in the image of God and for fellowship with God, humanity transgressed God's
command and fell from fellowship with God, their nature being corrupted. As a
consequence, all people are spiritually dead under Satan's dominion and control
and subject to God's wrath and condemnation. Apart from God's grace, humanity
is helpless and hopeless.
6. Christ's Atonement for the Sin of Humanity
To redeem humankind from the guilt, penalty and power of sin, Jesus Christ, God's
Son, died a sacrificial death as our representative substitute. By His resurrection,
God's acceptance of Christ's atoning death was demonstrated. This atonement is
sufficient for the whole world but effective only in those who receive it. The sinner is
justified and reconciled to God, not through any personal merit but solely on the
basis of God's gracious gif of salvation in Jesus Christ received through faith.
7. The Work of the Holy Spirit in Salvation
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is necessary for the acceptance of God's provision of
salvation. The Holy Spirit convinces sinners of their sinfulness, and leads them to
personal faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit makes real the presence of Christ,
witnesses to their relationship with God, leads the believer into truth and bestows
the gifts for effective service producing the grace for holy living.
8. The Church
The Church is the body of people whom God has chosen for himself to have faith
in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Church unites for worship, fellowship
and service in accordance with scriptural principles. First Baptist believes in "the
priesthood of all believers", acknowledging that God has called every member of
Christ's body to bear witness to his redeeming work and in overseeing ministries
vital to the furtherance of God's kingdom.
9. The Ordinances
First Baptist acknowledges and practices two ordinances as commanded by our
Lord: Baptism and The Lord's Table. These are conducted in the reverence and
spirit prescribed by the New Testament.
10. The Resurrection of the Dead
The Bible teaches that at the end of the age there will be a resurrection of the dead,
both believing and unbelieving. For those trusting in Christ, their spirits return
immediately to God, their bodies to the dust to await the resurrection. All living
persons are subject to the judgment or mercy of God Almighty and of God's Son,
Jesus Christ.