First Baptist Church Benton City Core Beliefs

Bible

Southern Baptists view the Bible as the ultimate authority in shaping a person's life. It is God's divinely inspired revelation of Himself to man. It is true, trustworthy, and without error

Psalm 119:105; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16

God

We believe in one God, Creator of all, holy, sovereign, eternal, existing in three equal Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

John 14:7-16; Genesis 1:1; 1:26-27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 40:28-29; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

Jesus Christ

We believe in the absolute and essential deity of our Lord Jesus Christ

• In His eternal existence, with the Father in pre-incarnate glory
• In His work of creation, in His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death and bodily resurrection
• In His triumphant ascension, mediatorial ministry and personal return

Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; 53:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:19; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Ephesians 3:12

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the absolute and essential deity, and in the personality of the Holy Spirit

• Who convinces of sin, of righteousness and of judgment
• Who regenerates, indwells, seals, sanctifies, illuminates and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ
• Who baptizes believers at conversion into the Body of Christ and bestows upon them His gifts sovereignly as He wills and fills those yielded to Him

2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; 5:25; Galatians 5:25

Salvation

We believe that salvation is by the sovereign grace of God

• That by the Father, Christ voluntarily suffered a propitiatory death
• That justification is by faith alone in the all-sufficient sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
• That those whom God has effectually called shall be divinely preserved and ultimately perfected in the image of the Lord

Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; John 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1

BAPTISM

A primary Baptist distinction is our practice of adult believer's baptism and the rejection of infant baptism. Baptism is an ordinance for believers only, by immersion only, and as a symbolic act, not having any power in itself. The act of baptism pictures what Christ has done for the believer in His death, burial, and resurrection. Likewise, it portrays what Christ has done through the new birth, enabling death to the old life of sin and newness of life to walk in. Baptism gives testimony to salvation already recieved; it is not a requisite for salvation. It is an act of obedience to Jesus Christ

Matthew 3:15-17; Acts 2:38

Church Authority

First Baptist Church Benton City is autonomous, operating under the Lordship of Christ as Lord. Church officers are pastors and deacons

Equality

In a resolution released in 1998, Southern Baptists view all people as equal in God's eyes, but believe husband of man has authority in the household and responsibility to protect his family. While both men and women are gifted to serve in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men

Evangelical

We are Evangelical, meaning that we adhere to the belief that while humanity is fallen, the good news is that Christ came to pay the penalty for sin on the cross. That penalty, now paid in full, means God offers forgiveness and new life as a free gift. All who receive Christ as Lord may have it. The message is so vital that telling is like sharing a cure for cancer. One cannot keep it to himself. Evangelism and missions have a supreme place in Baptist life

Heaven and Hell

We believe in a real heaven and hell. Those who have been saved will live eternally in the presence of God in heaven, and those who die without being saved will go to hell

Ordination of women

Baptists believe Scripture teaches that men and women are eual in value, but have different roles in the family and church. Pastoral leadership positions are reserved for men

Perseverance of the saints

We believe true believers will never fall away  or lose thier salvation. This is sometimes called, "Once saved, always saved." The proper term, however, is the final perseverance of the saints. It means true Christians stick with it. It doesn't mean the believer won't stumble, but an inward pull will not allow him to quit the faith

The Priesthood of believers

All Christians have equal access to God's revelation of truth through the careful study of the Bible. This is a position shared by all post-reformational Christian groups

Regeneration

When one receives Jesus Christ as Lord, the Hoily Spirit does and internal work to redirect his life, making him born again. The biblical term for this is "regeneration". This is not merely choosing to "turn over a new leaf", but is a matter of God beginnig a life-long process of change

Salvation by faith

The only way to get into heaven is salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. To achieve salvation one must confess faith in God who sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of humakind

The second coming

We believe in the literal Second Coming of Christ when God will judge and divide between the saved and the lost. Christ will judge believers, rewarding them for acts done while living on earth

Sexuality and marriage

God's plan for marriage and the sexual union was designed to be "one man, and one woman, for life". According to God's Word, homsexuality is a sin, though not an unforgivable sin

The Trinity

We believe in only one God who reveals himself as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit

The true church

The doctrine of a believer's church is a key belief in Baptist life. Members comeinto the church personallt, induvidually, and freely. No one is "born into the chiurch". Only those who have personal faith in Christ comprise the true church in the eyes of God, and only those should be counted as member of the church

Matthew 16:18; Act 20:27-29; 1 Corinthians 12:27-29; Ephesians 1:21-23; 3:20-22; 4:1-3; 5:21-27; Collosians 1:17-19