Doctrine of Future Things
We believe that Christ will return, for His Church before the Tribulation and with it afterward, to establish an earthly thousand year reign,(1 Thes. 4:13 - 5:11; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-20:6; John 14:2,3), thus fulfilling promises God made to the nation Israel (Rom. 11:25-29; Jer. 23:5,8; 31:31-37; 33:15,16; Isa. 11:3-9). After this, Satan will be cast into the lake of fire and then the unsaved will be resurrected and judged at the Great White Throne and thrown into the lake of fire to suffer eternal conscious pain (Dan. 12:2; Rev. 20:11-15; 22:15; Luke 16:22,23). The saved will spend eternity in their resurrected bodies in the new heaven and new earth in the presence of Christ in His Kingdom of righteousness (Rev. 20:6; 21:1 - 22:5).
Doctrine of The Church
We believe that the universal Church, which is the body of Christ by the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit, began at Pentecost and is comprised of all persons who have put saving faith in Christ. (1 Cor. 12:13; Matt. 16:18; John 14:16,17; Acts 2:4,38; 11:15). We further believe that Israel and the Church are distinct, and that God has a plan for each (Rev. 21:12-14; Rom. 11:11,12,15, 25-32). We believe a local church is a body of believers associated for worship, fellowship and instruction for action (ministry including evangelism) within the Church and out in the world (Eph. 4:11-16; 2 Cor. 5:20). We believe baptism and the Lord's supper are Christ's only ordinances to the church and that believers are to be obedient in regard to both (Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-26). We believe baptism is a step of obedience whereby the believer is immersed in water to identify himself with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and his desire to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-5). We believe the Lord's Supper is a provision of bread and cup, used to represent the body and blood of Christ, and that it is a commemoration of the Lord's death until He comes, and should always be preceded by the believer's solemn self-examination (1 Cor. 11:28-31).
Doctrine of Salvation
We believe Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's salvation, and that on the cross Christ took on Himself the sins of all mankind and died in our place (Acts 4:12; 1 John 2:2; 1 Pet. 2:24; John 3:16-18). We also believe eternal salvation is the free gift of God, apart from works (Eph. 2:8,9), and is possessed by all who by God's grace through faith received the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior (John 1:12). We believe that salvation once possessed can never be lost or forfeited (1 Pet. 1:3-5; Eph. 1:13,14). Scripture describes man's salvation as being past, present and future. It is past in one's moment of salvation (Eph 1:13; Heb. 10:10), present in the sanctification process (Heb. 10:14; 1 John 3:3), and yet future in that the believer will be glorified (Rom. 8:30; 1 John 3:2). We believe that Christ calls us to living of loving service in thought, word and deed toward all humans to the glory of God.
Doctrine of Sin
We believe sin to be anything contrary to the character of God (Rom. 3:23). Some sins specifically condemned by Scripture and injurious to the body of Christ include homosexuality, fornication, adultery, idolotry, witchcraft, strife, drunkedness, gossiping, and lying (Gal. 5:19-21; Rom. 1:27-32). We believe that the first man, Adam, was directly created by God in His image and likeness and as such was created sinless (Gen. 1:26,27,31). We further believe that through a voluntary act of disobedience against God, man fell from that original state, forfeiting his fellowship with God and incurring the penalty of physical and spiritual death (Gen. 3:6,7; Rom. 5:12; 1 Tim. 2:14). The consequence is that all mankind (except Christ) are born sinners (Rom.5:12). Each person is unable apart from God's grace to please God (Rom. 3:10-11; 8:8; John 6:44). Each is responsible to respond to God's invitation to salvation (Acts 17:30; Rev. 22:17).
Doctrine of Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity (Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 12:6,11; Acts 5:3,4; Rom. 8:26). We believe that the Holy Spirit baptizes all believers into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation (1 Cor. 12:13), and at that moment gives each believer a spiritual gift as He wills (1 Cor. 12:7-20) for the edification of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:7), and at that moment He seals and permanently indwells all believers (Eph. 2:13,14; Rom. 8:9). We believe that sign gifts of the Spirit do not exist today. These include the gifts of apostle, prophet, healing, tongues(Eph. 2:20; Rev. 21:14; 1 Cor. 15:7,8; Mark 16:17-20; Heb.2:3,4). We believe God does heal today, but that no member of the Church today has been given that gift. We believe that the gift of tongues in the Scriptures was always human languages, and never a private prayer language (Acts 2:4-11; 1 Cor. 12:7; 14:13-19,22).
Doctrine of Christ
We believe that through the miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary (Matt. 1:18). We believe that Christ is true God (John 1:1,14; Phil. 2:6-11; Heb. 1:8; 1 John 5:20) and true man (John 1:1,14; Matt. 1:18-25); and is the only and sufficient mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:14-17). We believe in the vicarious and substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ for our sins (Rom. 3:25; 5:8,9; 1 Pet. 2:24), His bodily resurrection from the grave (1 Cor. 15:3-5; Matt. 28:1-10; Acts 13:30,31), His ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9-11), and His present intercession for the saints (Heb. 7:25 - 8:1). We believe in Christ's personal, visible and pre-millenial return to earth with His saints to establish His universal reign of righteousness (Acts 1:6-11; Matt. 24:26,27; Zech. 14:3-5; Rev. 19:11 - 20:6)..
Interpretation
We believe that the method of interpretation to be used to understand the Scriptures is the consistent use of the literal, historical, and grammatical method, which results in a dispensational view of Scripture (John 1:17; Eph. 3:2-10; Col 1:24-25).
Interpretation
We believe that the method of interpretation to be used to understand the Scriptures is the consistent use of the literal, historical, and grammatical method, which results in a dispensational view of Scripture (John 1:17; Eph. 3:2-10; Col 1:24-25).
Doctrine of God
We believe that there is one and only one true, living and personal God (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10,11). He is totally in control of the universe, which He created and maintains (Heb. 11:3; Col:1:15-17; Eph 1:11). He is perfect in all His attributes (Matt. 5:48). We also believe in the Trinity, i.e. that God exists in three co-equal, co-existent, and co-eternal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Isa. 48:16,17; Matt. 3:16,17; 28:19; John 1:1,14; Acts 5:3,4).
Scripture
We believe that all words of the original Old and New Testament Scriptures were inspired by God and thus inerrant (2 Tim. 3:16,17; 2 Pet. 1:20,21; Matt. 5:17,18). We believe that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the complete word of God and the final authority of our faith and life (John 14:26; 16:13; Prov. 30:5,6).
HOLDING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE
First Baptist Church of Keyport