Baptist Distinctives | First Baptist Church

The Baptist church was born out of adversity and persecution. Early Baptist believed that only believers were to be baptized (Acts 2:41; 8:36-38); therefore, they rejected infant baptism and required that all believers be re-baptized after conversion. Along with believers baptism, Baptist have held to other distinctive doctrines that First Baptist holds dear. First Baptist Church exists as a traditional, independent, fundamental, Baptist, church.

B - Biblical Authority. The belief that the Bible and the Bible alone is our only authority for our faith and our practice. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21)

A - The Autonomy of the Local Church. We believe that the church, as a congregation, is responsible for all decisions pertaining to our leadership (Acts 6:1-5), our doctrine (Acts 15), and the support of our church and our missionaries (Acts 13, 16). As an autonomous church, we are self-governing, self-propagating, and self-supporting. We are truly independent, free from the oversight of any denomination.

P - The Priesthood of the Believers. Every born again believer has the right and the access to come to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) which was granted to us by the “one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

T - Two Ordinances. We believe that the Bible teaches two and only two ordinances to be practiced by the church.
Believers Baptism by immersion (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; 8:36-38)
The Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

I - Individual Soul Liberty. We believe that every believer will one day stand and give a personal account for his or her life (2 Corinthians 5:10). We also believe that we must respect that right of every believer to study the Scripture for himself or herself and determine for themselves how they will practice their faith in light of their liberty in Christ.

S - Saved Church Membership. All members of First Baptist Church must profess Jesus Christ as their personal Savior (Romans 10:9-13)

T - Two Offices. We believe the Bible teaches two offices that are to be respected by the congregation: pastor and deacon (1 Timothy 3; Philippians 1:1). We believe that the terms pastor, elder and bishop speak of the same office (Acts 20:17, 28-30; 1 Peter 5:1-4). The term pastor refers to the care of and relationship between the pastor and congregation (Acts 20:28-30), while the term elder speaks of the authority of and respect of the office. The term bishop is used with respect to the administrative duties, the pastor being the overseer of the church (1 Timothy 3:1). Deacons are to be men of high spiritual character who minister to the needs of men. They are called to serve under the oversight of the pastor and are elected by the congregation (Acts 6:1-7).