~ About Us ~

We at First Baptist acknowledge and emphasize certain biblical distinctives commonly referred to as "The Reformed Faith." Such Biblical truths such as sola fide (justification by faith alone), sola gratia (salvation by grace alone), sola scriptura (the Bible alone is the basis for faith and practice) solus Christus (salvation through Christ alone), and soli deo gloria (the fact that God alone is to receive glory in the salvation of sinners) are hallmarks of the Protestant and Reformed Faith

The Reformed Faith is perhaps best known for its understanding that God is sovereign in the matter of man's salvation. That is to say, that God has before the foundation of the world, chosen certain sinners for salvation. He has done so sovereignly and according to His own good pleasure. The Reformed Faith teaches that, in time, Christ came and died for the sins of the elect - those who were chosen before time began. It teaches that in conversion the Holy Spirit, working in harmony with the decree of the Father and the death of the Son, applies the work of redemption to the elect (see Ephesians 1:3).

Therefore, we embrace, as biblical, that system of theology known as the "doctrines of grace": doctrinal truths that set forth the total depravity of man, the unconditional nature of election, the limited or particular nature of the atonement (that is that Christ shed His blood specifically for the same people that the Father elects and that the Spirit regenerates), the irresistibility of the effectual call, and the perseverence and preservation of the saints.

But the Reformed Faith touches on far more than these basic truths regarding God's glory in salvation. The Reformed Faith is very concerned with God's glory in the church, in society, in the family, and in a life of holiness. The Reformed Faith has a high and God-centered view of worhsip.The Reformed Faith embraces a high view of God's law and of His church.

We at FBC understand that God's purpose for His people is for them to love one another as disciples committed to the Lord Jesus Christ giving glory to God within the local assembly (the church) and enjoying Him for all eternity (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Consistent with God's purpose for His people and the biblical distinctives mentioned above, we at FBC believe that the London Baptist Confession of 1689 expresses a biblical understanding of things most surely believed among us (Luke 1:1).

Below is just a brief explanation of some of these convictions:

* Reformed Baptist congregations are distinguished by their conviction regarding the sufficiency and authority of the Word of God.

* Reformed Baptist churches are distinguished by an unshakable conviction that the church exists for the glory of God (Eph. 3:21, 5:26, 27 and I Timothy 3:15).

* Reformed Baptist churches are distinguished by their conviction that the local church is central to the purposes of God on the earth.

* Reformed Baptist churches are distinguished by their conviction that preaching is foundational to the life of the church

* Reformed Baptist churches are distinguished by the conviction that salvation radically alters the life of the convert.

* Reformed Baptist churches have a conviction that the Law of God (as expressed in the Ten Commandments) is regulative in the life of the new covenant believer (see Jeremiah 31:31-34 and I John 2:3,4)

* Reformed Baptist churches are distinguished by a conviction regarding the serious nature of church membership and church discipline.