OUR BELIEFS

Core Beliefs

First Baptist Church, Indianola  is a participating member of the Southern Baptist Convention, a national partnership of churches that help share resources, equip members,  and send missionaries around the United States and the world.  We are in full agreement with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, which can be found here.

The Trinity

We believe in one eternal God coexisting in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  These three comprise the Trinity.  They are co-eternal, co-powerful, and co-equal.

The Father

We believe that God as Father reigns over His creation and works providentially in and through history to accomplish His purposes. He is immortal, invisible, infinitely wise, loving, and gracious. Those who receive forgiveness of sins through faith in His Son Jesus are adopted as sons and daughters. Galatians 4:4-6

The Son

We believe that Jesus is God’s son. Jesus being completely God took on the form of man having no sin. Jesus provided the way of salvation by dying on the cross to pay for the sin of all mankind. He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Jesus sits at the right hand of God the father in heaven and will one day return to earth to judge. John 14:6

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is active in the world today convicting men of sin, righteousness, and judgment. At the moment of regeneration he fully permanently inhabits the believer and enables him to accomplish God’s will. The Holy Spirit can be offended— grieved by sin in the life of the believer. Ephesians 4:30, Romans 8:9-11

Man

We believe man is the special creation of God made in His own image. He created both male and female, thus gender is part of the goodness of God’s creation. Every man is born with the natural desire to sin. Consequently, as soon as individuals are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into right relationship with Him. Every person possesses value and is worthy of respect and love.
Genesis 1:26-27

Salvation

We believe salvation is the all-encompassing work of God in the life of a fallen man and it is offered freely to all men. When a man confesses and repents of his sin before God, God regenerates, redeems, and justifies the sinner. Salvation has been provided only through the atoning death of Jesus on the cross. Colossians 1:13-14

Baptism

We believe Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience and a testimony to the world of the believer’s faith in the work of Christ. It is also representative of a believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in a new way. Baptism is a prerequisite to church membership and to the Lord's Supper. Acts 2:41-42

The Church

We believe the church is both a local group of believers who have covenanted together in Gospel fellowship as well as all of those who have placed their faith in Christ for salvation. The head of the church is Jesus Christ. It is God’s primary way of communicating the Gospel. Ephesians 4:1-6

The Bible

We believe Scripture is God’s revelation of truth in written form. Men of God were divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the very words of Scripture. Therefore, the Bible is the only perfect instruction from God for faith and daily living. The central message of Scripture is the good news of the Gospel revealed in the life and works of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Worship

We believe that worship is our response to who God is and what He has done for us. It is the purpose for which we were created— glorifying God through lives marked by love and wholehearted devotion to Him. As we consider His majesty, supreme worth, and depth of love for us as shown in the Gospel, we worship both personally (enjoying Him through a growing relationship), and corporately (singing, praying, and hearing His Word together). Hebrews 13:15, Deuteronomy 6:5

Prayer

We believe prayer is communicating with God. Christ is the means by which God hears our prayers. Genuine prayer impacts the life of the believer and moves God to action according to His will. It is both corporate and private. It is an expression of dependence upon God and is essential for a healthy relationship with Him. Philippians 4:6, James 5:16b

The Lord's Supper

We believe the Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, remember Jesus’ sacrificial death and anticipate His second coming. Matthew 26:26-29

The Great Commission

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ has commissioned every follower to personally share the Gospel and to make disciples of all people. The Great Commission is done under the authority of Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 28:18-20

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