DOCTRINE
Bylaws Article 2 – Doctrinal Statement, approved unanimously by our membership on 4/12/15
2.1 DOCTRINAL STATEMENT Because we accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be inspired by God and our only authority in matters of faith and practice, we believe…
2.1.1 THE BIBLE We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Old and New Testaments, without error and infallible in their original writings. As God’s Word, it is our supreme and final authority. (2 Timothy 3:14-17;2 Peter 1:1- 21)
2.1.2 THE TRINITY We believe in one God, eternally existing in one essence of deity, yet three coequal persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--the three persons being equal in power and majesty, yet executing distinct but harmonious offices. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:13-17; John 1:1,14; Acts 5:1-4; Hebrews 1:2)
2.1.3 JESUS CHRIST We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit. We believe in his virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe that because he is fully God and fully human, he died a substitutionary death and was resurrected bodily, has ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father, and continually intercedes for his people. (Luke 1:26-35; John 3:16; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 2:24)
2.1.4 THE HOLY SPIRIT We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He regenerates (brings to life), indwells, sanctifies, and empowers all who believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:26-28; 16:5-13; Acts 2:16-18; Romans 8:1-11; Ephesians1:13-14; 5:18-21)
2.1.5 THE CONDITION OF MEN AND WOMEN We believe that all people are created in the image of God and are of immeasurable value. We also believe that all people are sinners, by nature and by choice, and thus incur just condemnation before a holy God. We believe that people are totally unable to save themselves or to rectify their standing before God by doing good deeds. (Genesis 1:26-28; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:9-20; Ephesians 2:1-3)
2.1.6 THE ATONEMENT We believe that reconciliation to God from our sinful condition is secured only by the substitutionary suffering and death of Jesus Christ. He both earned our salvation by his perfect obedience to the Father and obtained our forgiveness by satisfying the just wrath of God as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (Leviticus 17:11; Isaiah 53:4-6; Romans 3:21-26; Hebrews 9:12-14, 22; 10:12-14; 1 Peter 3:18)
2.1.7 SALVATION We believe that men are justified and saved, not by works, but by grace (God’s unmerited favor) through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work. (Romans 5:1-2, 3:28; Ephesians 2:4-10; Titus 3:5-7)
2.1.8 THE CHURCH We believe in the universal Church, a living body composed of all regenerated persons and of which Jesus Christ is both head and foundation. We believe in the local Church, a company of believers in Christ, associated for worship, service, and fellowship. We believe that the mission of the Church is to take the gospel to a broken world. (Matthew 16:18; 28:18-20; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:7-11; 1 Peter 2:4-10)
2.1.9 THE ORDINANCES We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ committed the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to be observed by born again believers. Baptism by immersion, on a credible confession of faith, is to be observed once, after conversion as an outward testimony of an inward work of grace. We believe that the Lord’s Supper, instituted by Christ to commemorate his death, is to be observed regularly until He comes. (Acts 8:34-39; 16:30-33; Romans 6:3,4; 1 Cor. 11:23-29; Ephesians 4:5)
2.1.10 SATAN We believe in the existence and person of Satan, who is working in the world to destroy the lives of people. He is the archenemy of God and the deceiver of mankind. He will one day be destroyed in the lake of fire. (Isaiah 14:12-14; Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Revelation 20:10)
2.1.11 ETERNAL ASSURANCE AND PERSEVERANCE We believe that those justified by Jesus Christ are saved and saved forever. Nothing can separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Bible also teaches that those who have trusted in Jesus will persevere in their faith to the end of their lives. (Matthew 10:22; John 10:27- 29; Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; Colossians 1:22-23)
2.1.12 THE ETERNAL STATE We believe that the soul of every believer at death departs to be with Christ, there to live with Him in conscious happiness. Those who have died in Christ will receive their resurrected body at his Second Coming. We believe that the soul of every unbeliever at death is forever banished from the Lord in a conscious condition of remorse and eternal retribution. (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-9; Philippians 1:23; Revelation 20:11-15)
2.1.13 THE SECOND COMING We believe in the imminent, personal, visible, bodily, and pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ according to His promise in His Word, to the earth again to judge the nations, to bind and imprison Satan, to establish His Millennial Kingdom of peace and righteousness on the earth. (Matthew 25:31- 46; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 19-20)
2.1.14 CHRISTIAN CONDUCT We believe that all Christians should live for the glory of God and the building up of one another, that Christian conduct should be blameless before the world, that we should be faithful stewards of our possessions, and that we should seek for ourselves and for others the full stature of maturity in Christ. (Matthew 6:19-24; Romans 14:17-19; Philippians 1:27; 2:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:11- 14)
2.1.15 THE SANCTITY OF LIFE We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human lives are of immeasurable worth in all dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Genesis 1:26-27; Job 31:15; Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:5, John 10:10)
2.1.16 MARRIAGE (amended 1/24/16) We believe that God wonderfully and unchangeably creates each person from conception in his image male or female and that this gender corresponds to their biological sex. Additionally, we believe that God’s design for marriage is the union of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive and lifelong covenant relationship. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)
2.2 AUTHORITY OF DOCTRINAL STATEMENT The Doctrinal Statement does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purpose of our faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Elder Board is First Baptist Church of Powell, Wyoming’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.