Our Statement of Faith
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT GOD
We believe there is only one true and living God. He is the creator and ruler of the universe. He is a personal being. He eternally exists in three persons: The Father; The Son, Jesus Christ; and The Holy Spirit. This relationship is termed, the “Trinity.” Each person of the Trinity has distinct attributes, but God is without any division of His nature, His essence, or His being.
Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; I Chronicles 29:11, 12; Matthew 3:16; 28:19, 20; John 3:31-36.
God the Father reigns with providential care over His universe. He is all powerful, all loving, all knowing, all wise, and all powerful. He is the Father to all who enter His family by personal faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 64:8; John 1:1-3, 12-14; Ephesians 4:1-16.
Jesus Christ is eternal from the past to eternal in the future. He is the only Son of God the Father. He became man after being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. In this incarnation He perfectly performed the will of His Father, completely identifying Himself with manhood, yet without sin. He took on the sins of the world by a substitutionary death on the cross, making provision for obedience to the divine law requiring the shedding of blood for the redemption of man. In three days He was raised from the dead, appeared to many, and then ascended to heaven where He now sits at the right hand of God the Father. He will return to earth one day in power and glory to judge the world and consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells within every believer as their living and ever present Lord and Savior.
Matthew 1:18-23; I Corinthians 15:3-8; Romans 5:6-9. Acts 1:9-11; Acts 2:22-24; Colossians. 1:13-23; John 1:12-14.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men to write the Scriptures. To the believer He is their teacher, their guide, their helper, and their comforter. He convicts the believer of sin. He fills them with spiritual gifts for daily living and service. He seals the believer for their final day of redemption. He enlightens and empowers every believer and the church in their worship of God, their spiritual growth as a believer, their prayer life, and the manner in which they serve others and tell others about their wonderful faith in Christ, evangelism and discipleship, prayer, and service.
I John 14:16-17; I Corinthians 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7; Romans 8:27.
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible was breathed by God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit into holy human authors who wrote this book of God’s revelation of Himself to man. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. We believe The Bible is the supreme and final authority for the individual Christian and the church body for its beliefs and daily living. The focus of the entire Bible is the person and work of Jesus Christ.
II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:20, 21. Hebrew 4:12; Psalm 19:7-11.
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT MANKIND
Mankind was created by God in His own image and for His glory as the crowning work of creation. In the beginning, mankind was completely innocent of sin and had the freedom of choice and dominion over the earth. By this free choice, under the influence of Satan, mankind chose their own way and sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Hence everyone that is now born into the world will experience physical death and spiritual death. They inherit a sinful nature and in essence and in practice rebel against God. This places mankind under condemnation of God that can only be remedied by the grace of God providing the salvation for any and every person through their faith in Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:26; Psalm 8:6; Acts 17:31; Romans 5:1, 2; II Corinthians 5:17.
Salvation is the amazing free gift of God the Father who gave His only Son to take on the sins of each man and woman who after the conviction of their sin by the Holy Spirit chooses to turn from their sin, or repent, and accept this free gift of God, trusting in Christ alone to declare them “not guilty.” The new believer then is saved from the wrath of God, is “born again,” receives eternal life, and is welcomed into His family of faith.
John 1:12; 3:15, 16; Romans 3:23; 5:6-9; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9.
At the moment of salvation when the new believer is “born again,” he receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. By constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit the believer is able to live in obedience to Christ, manifesting the “fruit of the Spirit,” and demonstrating the character of Christ in everyday living. He is also given spiritual gifts for service in the local church body and for ministry throughout the world.
Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:10-16; I Corinthians 12 Romans 5:1; Galatians 5:16-25.
Those who have initially received by faith this free gift of salvation and are truly “born again” will be protected by God’s persevering power until the end of time. It is possible however for believers to fall into sin through neglect and temptation, grieving the Holy Spirit, and bringing reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves.
John 10:27-30; Galatians 6:7. Hebrews 7:25; I Peter 1:3-6; I John 5:11-13.
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THE CHURCH
The church is the universal body of all who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. First Baptist Church of Jackson is a local church, an autonomous congregation of baptized believers who gather together for worship and prayer, spiritual growth, service, and fellowship, and go out seeking to carry out the Great Commission to “go into all the world and make disciples.”
Acts 2:41-42; Hebrews 10:24, 25; Matthew. 28:19, 20.
We observe the two Biblical ordinances of baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism publicly demonstrates a believer’s salvation experience by the picture of the death and resurrection of Christ. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic reminder of the death of Christ and the fellowship we have with Him and our unity as the body of Christ. Only believers partake of these ordinances.
Matthew 26:26-30; 28:19, 20; Romans 6:3-5.
Jesus Christ is the head of the church. He is the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Source of redemption and reconciliation for the church. He gives unity amidst diversity. He gives purpose, Himself achieving first place and pre-eminence in everything. He is the head and ruler over all authority. All the fullness of God dwells in Christ. The Christian is made complete in Him. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge for the believer.
Colossians 1:15-17; 2:2, 3; Ephesians 2:2-23; Philippians 1:15-20.
We believe that an individual’s soul is competent to decide issues of faith and that all believers have free access to God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13; Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-23.
God disciplines those that He loves. He can use the leadership of the church to prayerfully and scripturally administer His discipline. The primary and initial goal is always restoration and redemption.
Matthew 18:15-20; I Corinthians 5:1-13; Galatians 6:1-5; Revelation 2:4,5; 3:1-3; Proverbs 27:17.
The officers of the congregation consist of the pastor and the elected deacon leadership.
Acts 6:1-8; 1 Timothy 3:8-13; 5:17-22; Titus 1:5-9.
Jesus Christ is the absolute head of the church and the Savior of the body. He must always have preeminence in everything. The pastor provides the key leadership role for the church, while the deacons are the “helpers” or servant leaders. They provide administrative and ministry help for the pastor and staff, for one another, for the church congregation, the community, and the world.
Numbers 16; I Peter 5:1-4; Ephesians 5:23.
The congregation chooses its own pastors and ministerial staff and deacons, develops its own standards for church membership, organizes its own worship, selects its own literature, designates its own offerings and decides it own ministries and areas of service. Currently First Baptist Church of Jackson is affiliated with the local Metro Baptist Association, the Mississippi Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention.
Mark 2:1-3; Luke 10:1; Acts 1:13, 14; I Corinthians 1:10; 3:5-10; Ephesians 4:1-6.
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT STEWARDSHIP
God is the ultimate source of everything that we have and all that we are. We are to be responsible stewards or caretakers of the many blessings bestowed upon us. These responsibilities include our conduct in word and deed worthy of the gospel entrusted to us to proclaim this good news to all the world. We are also to be stewards of our time, talents, and treasures. A tenth or a tithe is a basic Biblical guideline for giving to the church. All our giving should be cheerful, systematic, proportionate, and liberal, realizing that much has been given to us and much is required of us in response to His indescribable gift.
II Chronicles 29:9-13; Romans 1:14-16; Acts 20:35; Malachi 3:10; II Corinthians 8:1-9; II Corinthians 9:6-15; Luke 12:48.
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT MARRIAGE
First Baptist Church of Jackson, Mississippi, affirms that the Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality and the proper conduct of mankind, and it is the sole and final source of all that we believe. Accordingly, the policies, practices and procedures of this Church are guided and determined by the teachings of the Bible. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His forgiveness and mercy through Christ Jesus. It is our belief that every person must be treated with compassion, love, respect and kindness in accordance with the Bible.
We believe that “marriage” has only one meaning: marriage is a covenant commitment ordained by God, joining one man (male) and one woman (female) in a single, exclusive, holy union as set forth in the Bible.
In support of First Baptist Church of Jackson’s beliefs with regard to marriage, our policy is that the facilities of First Baptist Church of Jackson are only available for wedding ceremonies and marital events supporting and confirming the Biblical covenant of marriage. The Church’s facilities, properties, and programs may not be used for activities that are contrary to the Church’s faith, beliefs, or moral teachings regarding marriage. Furthermore, our policy is that no minister of the Church shall perform a ceremony not in keeping with the Church’s above-stated policy regarding marriage.
Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33; Romans 1:18-32; Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13; and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT FAMILY
The Lord God is the Divine Creator of the family. The family is the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. For the family and marriage God has established a specific order and framework with definite directives in which they will properly function. The family does not exist primarily for itself alone but exists to glorify God. Secondary purposes are for human procreation and intimate companionship, existing only if these guidelines for the biblical family and marriage are followed. This “one flesh, cleavage” relationship of marriage is a “mystery” but above all is a beautiful picture of Christ loving and sacrificing himself for and nurturing his bride, the church. This “one flesh” relationship in marriage can only be between a man and a woman united legally and spiritually together in this marriage covenant. In this Godly marriage relationship the husband and wife walk and serve together as fellow heirs of the grace of life.
Relationships and conduct that might exist outside of this God ordained biblical model of the family and marriage are not God honoring and are offensive to God and are sinful. God offers grace and mercy, redemption and restoration, to any and all who confess and repent of their sin.
Children are a gift and blessing from the Lord.. Parents must be diligent in all areas of life to teach and train their children in the ways and service of the Lord. Children must honor and obey their parents. The primary responsibility of this education and training is at home from the parents but the local church will strongly compliment the efforts of the parents in their education and training of their children.
Romans 1:18-23; I Corinthians 7:1-16; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; I John 1:9; Psalm 68:6; 127:3-5; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; Proverbs 3:1-12; II John 1:4; Ephesians 6:1-4; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Psalms 127:1; Genesis 1:26-28; 2:18, 21-24; I Peter 1:7. Ephesians 1-6.
(Source: First Baptist Jackson Statement of Faith as Congregationally Approved, June 3, 2015)