What We Believe

Services

Sunday School , 9:30 AMSunday Worship, 10:45 AM

First Baptist Church of Fannett Core Beliefs


The Bible

Statement: We believe the Holy Bible was written by men under the divine inspiration of God. It is a flawless and priceless source of heavenly truth, with God as its author, salvation as its purpose, and truth without any error as its message. The Bible reveals the standards by which God will judge humanity and stands as the true foundation of Christian unity. It remains, now and forever, the ultimate authority for guiding our beliefs, behavior, and understanding of truth.

• That the 66 books of the Old and New Testament were inspired by the Spirit of God as originally written

Scripture:

  • 2 Peter 1:20–21 – “...no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

The Bible is not a product of human ideas or creativity, it is God's Word, spoken through human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Every book of the Bible is fully inspired and without error in its original form.

• That the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and conduct

Scripture:

  • 2 Timothy 3:16–17 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Scripture is not just helpful, it is sufficient. It teaches us what to believe, how to live, and how to walk faithfully with God. No tradition, experience, or human opinion can overrule its authority.

God

Statement: We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is JEHOVAH, the 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 Ghost; equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Scripture:

  • Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
  • Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
  • Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

God is one in essence and exists eternally as three Persons, each fully God. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists, and His holiness and sovereignty make Him worthy of worship and obedience.


Jesus Christ

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

• In His eternal existence with the Father in pre-incarnate glory

Scripture:

  • John 1:1–2 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Jesus did not come into existence at His birth. He is the eternal Son of God who has always existed with the Father.

• In His work of creation

Scripture:

  • Colossians 1:16 – “For by him all things were created... all things were created through him and for him.”

Jesus was active in the creation of the world, affirming His divine nature and authority.

• In His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection

Scripture:

  • Isaiah 7:14 – “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son...”
  • Hebrews 4:15 – “...yet without sin.”
  • 1 Peter 2:24 – “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree...”
  • 1 Corinthians 15:4 – “...he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

Jesus' birth fulfilled prophecy, His life was completely sinless, and His death paid the price for sin. His resurrection confirmed His victory over sin and death.

• In His triumphant ascension, mediatorial ministry, and personal return

Scripture:

  • Acts 1:9–11 – “...this Jesus... will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
  • Romans 8:34 – “Christ Jesus... is at the right hand of God... interceding for us.”

Jesus now reigns in glory, interceding for believers, and will one day return physically and personally to restore all things.


The Holy Spirit

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

• Who convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment

Scripture:

  • John 16:8 – “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”

The Holy Spirit works in hearts to reveal the truth about sin and our need for righteousness through Christ.

• Who regenerates, indwells, seals, sanctifies, illuminates, and comforts those who believe

Scripture:

  • Titus 3:5 – “...he saved us... by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
  • Ephesians 1:13 – “...you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”
  • John 14:26 – “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit... will teach you all things...”

The Spirit brings new life, lives within believers, marks them as God’s own, and continually works to grow them in Christlikeness.

• Who baptizes believers at conversion into the Body of Christ and gives spiritual gifts

Scripture:

At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit unites believers with the Church and empowers them with unique gifts for ministry and service.


Mankind

Statement: We believe that Man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.

• That by sin he fell from the state of perfect unity with God

Scripture:

  • Genesis 3:6 – “She took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband... and he ate.”

Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought spiritual death and separation from God into the human experience.

• That all his descendants inherited spiritual depravity and defilement

Scripture:

  • Romans 5:12 – “...sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men...”

Because of Adam’s sin, all people are born spiritually broken and in need of redemption.

• That all men are guilty before God and condemned to death

Scripture:

  • Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
  • Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death...”

Every person stands guilty before a holy God and faces both physical and eternal death apart from salvation.


Salvation

Statement: 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 atonement for our sins; that having risen from the dead he is now enthroned in heaven; and uniting in his wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, he is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior.

• That by the Father, Christ voluntarily suffered a propitiatory death

Scripture:

  • Romans 3:25 – “...whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”

Jesus' death satisfied God’s righteous wrath against sin, offering peace and reconciliation through His sacrifice.

• That justification is by faith alone in the all-sufficient sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus

Scripture:

  • Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith... not a result of works.”
  • Romans 4:5 – “And to the one who does not work but believes... his faith is counted as righteousness.”

Salvation cannot be earned. It is a gift received by faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross and in His resurrection.

• That those whom God has effectually called shall be preserved and perfected

Scripture:

God not only initiates salvation, but also sustains and completes it. Every true believer will be preserved and ultimately made like Christ.