Doctrinal Statement of Columbus First Baptist Church

The Godhead
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deut. 6:4; 2 Cor. 13:14).

The Person and Work of Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternally pre-existent Son became incarnate without human father, conceived by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary. Therefore, in the Lord Jesus Christ divine and human natures were united in one Person, both natures being whole, perfect and distinct that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (John 1:1, 2, 14; Luke 1:35).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal physical resurrection from the dead (Rom. 3:24; 1 Pet. 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:3-5).

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate (Acts 1:9, 20; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1, 2).

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; 2 Cor. 3:6; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13, 14).

We believe that He is the divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth; and, that it is the privilege and duty of all those saved to be filled with the Spirit (John 16:13; 1 John 2:20, 27; Eph. 5:18).

The Holy Scriptures
We believe the holy Scripture-consisting of 66 books from Genesis to Revelation- to be the verbally inspired Word of God, written by men under God’s control, God-breathed, inerrant and infallible in the original manuscripts and the final authority in faith and life (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; Matt. 5:18; John 16:12, 13; Ps. 19:7-9).

Creation
We believe that God alone is the sovereign creator. We believe that the Triune God , created all things from nothing (Gen. 1:1; Col 1:15-17; Heb. 11:3) and that all things belong to Him and depend on Him. God created each thing according to its own kind, perfect and good, creating humankind as the crown of His creation, male and female in His own image (Gen. 1:26-27) to worship Him and rule over all that He created (Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:9-10).

The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved and, of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen. 1:26, 27; Rom. 3:22, 23; 5:12; Eph. 2:13, 12).

Salvation
We believe that we who are justified – God’s gracious and full acquittal of sin – are declared righteous before God from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ made for us through His shed blood upon the cross (John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19). We have received this gift not for anything we have done or could do but by grace alone through faith alone in Christ (Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-10). The only way to be adopted into God’s family is through this union and communion with His Son, Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:5).

We believe God’s people are sanctified – declared holy and are in the process of becoming holy – and are growing in Christlikeness (Eph. 5:1-2; Rom. 12:12; John 14:15; Matt. 22:37-40). We are by no means perfect yet, but one day we shall be like Him because we will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2-3).

Perseverance of the Saints
We believe that all those truly saved and redeemed are kept by God’s power and thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38, 39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 1:5). Those whom God has saved and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, grieving the Holy Spirit and bringing reproach upon themselves and the Church, they shall still be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (Eph. 4:30; 1 Tim. 5:7; Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Tit. 2:11-15).

The Church
We believe the church is the communion of God’s people drawn from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Eph. 2:11-22; Rev. 5:9-10). This invisible body, of which Christ Jesus is the Head, exists locally, and imperfectly, as the visible church (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:5-11). Jesus Christ has given His church two ordinances: Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts; that each believer is divinely bestowed with one or more gifts for the edification of the body of Christ (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:14; 2 Cor. 3:12; Eph. 4:7-12).

We believe that the mission of the Church is one of word and deed (1 Pet. 4:11). As salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16), we seek to save the lost (1 Cor. 9:19-23), make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20), work for righteousness and justice (Amos 5:24; Tit. 1:11-14), and care for the hurting and needy (1 John 3:16-19; James 1:27).

Consummation of All Things
We believe Jesus Christ will return to earth personally, visibly, and bodily as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Acts 1:11). At His appearing the dead shall be raised and the living and the dead will be judged (1 Cor. 15). The wicked and unbelieving will be consigned to Hell, a place of eternal conscious punishment (Rev. 20:10, 14-15). Those belonging to Jesus will have eternal life in the new heavens and new earth (2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1) and live in ever-increasing joy to the glory of God (Matt. 25:21; 1 Cor. 15; Rev. 21-22).

Statement on Marriage and Sexuality

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Matt.19:4-6)

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other.  We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. 

We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s gender, or disagreement with one’s biological gender, is sinful and offensive to God.

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to this Statement on Marriage and Sexuality and conduct themselves accordingly.

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity.  Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture not the doctrines of the church and will not be tolerated within the Body of Christ.