Doctrinal Statement I believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the verbal, plenary, and inspired Word of God. I believe it to be without error in the original writings, and the only supreme and final authority in faith and life. (II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:20, 21)
I believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; I John 5:7)
I believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary, and is the true God and true man. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25)
- I believe that man was created in the image of God both intellectually and morally, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. I believe that human beings are born with a sinful nature and are now sinners by birth, and by choice, positively inclined to evil and they are therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense of excuse. (Genesis 1:26; 2:17; Psalm 51:5; 58:3; Romans 5:12-21; I Corinthians 2:14)
- I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for out sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe on Him are justified eternally in Gods eyes on the grounds of His shed blood. The born again believer has the blessed assurance of not ever loosing their salvation. (Romans 5:9; I Corinthians 15:1-4; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 1:18,19; 2:24; John 10:27-29; 6:37)
- I believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord, His bodily ascension into Heaven, and his bodily presence there for us as High Priest and Advocate. (Acts 1: 9-11; Hebrews 7:25)
- I believe in the “blessed hope,” the personal, bodily, pre-tribulation, pre-millennial, and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Matthew 24:44; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58)
- I believe that all who truly repent of their sins and believe on and receive by faith, the Lord Jesus Christ, are born again of the Holy Spirit, and are thereby children of God and are eternally Saved. (John 3:3; Galatians 3:24-26; I John 5:13)
- I believe that Satan is literal and personal, the agent of the fall, the prince and power of this world, and that he shall be judged and eternally punished in Hell. (Ephesians 2: 1-4; Revelation 20:1-20)
- I believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust; the eternal conscious punishment of the lost and the eternal joy of the saved. (2 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Revelation 20)
- I believe that immersion is the only mode of baptism taught and commanded in the Scriptures; that it has no saving power, and that the new birth, which comes through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Scriptural prerequisite to baptism. Therefore, only those old enough to believe for themselves should be baptized. (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-5)
- I believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of the death of Christ, and that only those who have been saved through faith in His atoning blood and are walking in obedient fellowship with Him ought to partake of it. I do not believe in closed communion, but rather “close” communion. This entails all who are saved, and walking in obedience. (I Corinthians 11:23-32)
- I believe that the Bible teaches that the following offices of the church should be held by men only: (I Timothy 2:12; Acts 15:19-27)
- I believe that all the saved are called into a life of separation from all worldly and sinful practices. (Romans 12:1,2; James 4:4; I John 2:15-17)
- I believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head, and all that are regenerated persons are members. I believe in the local New Testament church, consisting of a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith that comes together for worship, work, and fellowship. I believe that the primary task of the local church is to give the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. (Ephesians 2:19-22; 5:19-21; Acts 1:8; 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25)
Pastor Frank Troutman, Andover First Baptist Church, 4/22/2010