First Baptist Church Ellenton - Our Beliefs


The Bible
We believe the Holy Scriptures, consisting of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, are the verbally inspired Word and Revelation of God, in which God unveils Himself and His eternal plan for mankind. Through inspiration (God moving holy men to write) the Lord made certain the original autographs were recorded without error. There are no exceptions to this, therefore every verse of Scripture, including statements regarding science, history, and geography, is God breathed. The Bible is inerrant, infallible and our authority on all matters of faith and practice. (John 16:12-15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

The Trinity
We believe in the Triune God - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. All three persons of the Trinity are united in One, are coequal and coeternal, yet have separate responsibilities for the purposes of redemption. (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19; John 16:7-18; 1 John 5:1-8)

Creation and Man's Fall
We believe God created all things as described in the Bible. In Adam all have sinned and, therefore, are guilty before God by nature as well as by deed. Man was created by a direct act of God and subsequently fell into sin in the Garden of Eden. (Romans 5:12-21 Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 3:10-26; 6:23; Psalm 51:5; Genesis 1-3)

The Deity and Virgin Birth of Christ
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God, became a man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. (Luke 1:35; John 1-2; 14)

The Blood Atonement
We believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross in order to pay for the sins of all mankind. He suffered this righteous penalty in order to reconcile mankind with God; for mankind apart from Christ is under the "curse of the law" and can only be redeemed with the precious Blood of Christ. His death on the Cross rightly satisfies the justice of God but is only efficacious for believers, those who by faith accept His atoning sacrifice. (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:18; John 1:12; Romans 10:9-10)

The Resurrection
We believe in the physical resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He ascended bodily into the heavens and is now at the right hand of God as our Mediator, Priest, and Advocate. (Acts 3:12-26; John 20; Hebrews 9:24; 1 Corinthians 15:12- 28; 1 John 2:1)

The Second Coming
We believe in the premillennial, pretribulation, and personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before His Millennial Reign begins, those dead in Christ, both Old Testament saints and those of the Church Age, and those alive in Christ, shall meet the Lord in the air. This is the First Resurrection, or the Resurrection unto Life as opposed to the Resurrection unto Death, which takes place after the Lord has established his Millennial Kingdom. Believers martyred during the seven year period known as the Great Tribulation, which takes place between the Rapture of the Church and the inauguration of the Millennial Kingdom, shall be raised unto life at the end of the Tribulation period. (1 Corinthians 15:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; Revelation 20:4)

After placing the Antichrist and the False Prophet in the Lake of Fire, and sending Satan into an abyss, the Lord Jesus Christ will restore the Davidic Monarchy, regather dispersed Israel, and reign over the earth one thousand years. (Matthew 24:27-30; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 15:14-17; Revelation 19:19-20; 20:1-10)

After the Lord Jesus Christ has reigned for one thousand years there will be a Second Resurrection, a Resurrection unto Judgment at God's Great White Throne. The world of unbelieving mankind, which have died still in their sins, will be judged according to their works apart from Christ and as a consequence will be cast into the Lake of Fire, a place of conscious and continual torment. Christ will also send Satan to this same Lake of Fire. (John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:7-15)

Justification by Faith
We believe that man is justified in the eyes of God through faith in the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that this is the only way man can be justified. This Redemption from the power and dominion of sin is a free gift appropriated by the believer at the moment of belief. Any other condition for justification including works, baptism, and other sacraments, is another gospel and is under the curse of God. (Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 1:6-10; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; John 5:24)

Eternal Security
We believe that believers in Jesus Christ have a new and eternal life that is not subject to termination. If this eternal life was subject to termination, it would not be called eternal (2 Corinthians 5:14-21; John 10:25-29). Sin in the life of the believer affects his fellowship with the Father but not his position in the family of God. Notwithstanding, believers who wantonly engage in sinful behavior will be chastened by a loving Father. (1 John 1:5-10; Hebrews 12:6-13) Believers are to "work out" their salvation, or grow in sanctification, not "work for" their salvation. (Philippians 2:12) Passages misinterpreted to mean believers can loose their salvation are really talking about a loss of reward. (1 Corinthians 3:8-15; 2 John 8; Revelation 3:11; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30)


The Local Church and Its Mission
We believe God has ordained the ministry of local and independent assemblies of believers to accomplish His work in this dispensation extending from Pentecost to the Translation of Christ's Body at His appearing. The church's membership is to be composed of regenerated, baptized believers. The two ordinances of the local church are believer's baptism by immersion, and the memorial of the Lord's Supper until He returns. The church is to be missionary and evangelistic in spreading the Gospel into all the world. It is not the mission of the church to "bring in the Kingdom", work for political or economic justice, major on social improvement, nor "Christianize" society. It is to strive together for the faith of the Gospel, proclaim and maintain purity of doctrine and practice, and worship and serve the Lord in "spirit and truth". (Acts 2:41-47; 20:17-32; Matthew 28:16-20; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34)