First Baptist Church of Whitefish

Our understanding of Christian truth as revealed in the Word of God is expressed by the following declaration of faith.

Doctrine of the Bible: We believe the Bible is God’s word; that it was written by men divinely inspired, that it is the sole, infallible authority in all matters of faith and conduct; that all portions of Scripture are equally inspired and contain no contradiction; that the canon (the 66 books of the Bible) is complete; that the Bible is the true center of Christian Union and the sole standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinion’s will be tried (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 1:1; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18 – 19).

Doctrine of God: We believe the Godhead eternally exists in three persons-the Father: the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfection; and are worthy of the same honor, worship, praise, confidence, and obedience (Genesis 1:1, 15; John 1:1, John 14: 16-17; 1 Timothy 3:16).

Doctrine of God the Father: We believe in God the Father, Who is the first person of the divine eternal and holy trinity of God and coexists with God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power (Jeremiah 33:3; John 1:12; Ephesians 1). We believe:
1. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men.
2. He hears and answers prayer.
3. He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

Doctrine of Jesus Christ: We believe in God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the second person of the divine, eternal and holy trinity of God and coexists with God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit (Luke 1, 2; John 1:14-29; Romans 5:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:1-58; 2 Corinthians 5: 19-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Hebrews 1:1-14, 9:14-15, 10:19-24; Revelation 20:1-6, 11-15). We believe:
1. He voluntarily offered himself for the sacrificial and vicarious (taking the place of another person) work of redemption.
2. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, Mary, thereby laying aside none of His deity, but becoming genuinely human. By becoming human, Jesus was no less God.
3. He went to the cross as a representative and redeemer of mankind, and He died for our sins as a
substitutionary sacrifice.
4. He paid the price of our redemption with His own precious blood.
5. He was buried, and the third day rose again in a physical, glorious, immortal body.
6. He, following His resurrection, walked among men on earth for 40 days and ascended to the right hand of God where He is today our intercessor, advocate, and Great High Priest.
7. He will one day descend personally to receive His blood bought, regenerated Church in the air to present her to the Father in heaven.
8. He will one day return in power and glory to judge all lawlessness and disobedience.
9. He will one day set up His own kingdom and reign on the throne of David for 1000 years.
10. He will sit upon the Great White Throne to judge the wicked dead and then turn all rule and authority back to the Father.
11. He was active in creation and redemption.

Doctrine of the Holy Spirit: We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who is the third person of the divine, eternal, and holy trinity of God and coexists with God the Father and God the Son (Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; John 1:33, 3:5-6, 14:16-17 & 26, 16:8-11, 24: 49; Acts 5:30-32; 11:16; Romans 8: 14-27; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 1:13-14; Hebrews 9:14). We Believe:
1. He was active in creation.
2 He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled.
3. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.
4. He bears witness to the truth of the gospel in preaching and testimony.
5. He is the divine agent in the new birth.
6. He seals, holds up, guides, teaches, sanctifies, comforts, and helps the believer.
7. He baptizes the believer into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation, resulting in the believer’s righteous standing before God and his redemption of a spiritual gift.
8. He grants to every believer at least one spiritual gift for the purpose of glorifying God and serving the body of Jesus Christ.
9. The sign gifts were of a temporary purpose and nature, and therefore are not to be expressed today.

Doctrine of Satan: We believe Satan is a personal being (Genesis 3:1-8; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:13-19; Matthew 4:1-10; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 21:10, 20:1-10). We believe:
1. He is a fallen angel, the fifth of the original Cherubim.
2. He is the deceptive and hateful “god of this age.”
3. He is the ruler of all powers of darkness, the accuser of the brethren, the enemy of God, the enemy of righteousness,and the enemy of the souls of men.
4. He is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire.
5. He was and is the author of sin.
6. He has at his command a great host of fallen angels and demons to carry out his purposes.
7. He is not omnipotent, omnipresent, nor omniscient and will be overcome by the power of God.

Doctrine of Creation: We believe the Genesis account of creation and that man, as well as the entire universe, came into being by the direct creation of God (Elohim) in six literal days and not by any form of evolutionary process (Genesis 1:1-3; Isaiah 45:18; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1: 15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3).

Doctrine of Man:  We believe God created mankind in His own image and that mankind sinned,
thereby incurring not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is conscious and eternal separation from God.  All people are born with a sinful nature evidenced by sinful acts. All people are totally depraved. Therefore, if a person is not born again he/she is eternally lost and under just condemnation without defense or excuse before a holy and just God (Genesis 1:26-27; Isaiah 50 1:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Luke 16:23; Romans 3: 10-23; 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:8).

Doctrine of the Virgin Birth: We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman. Therefore, Jesus is both the Son of God and God the Son (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-21; Luke 1:35;
John 1:4).

Doctrine of the Atonement for Sin: We believe the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who by the appointment of the Father freely became flesh, yet without sin (Isaiah 53:3-7; Matthew 18:11; John 1, 3:16-18, 4:10; Acts 13:38-39; 15:11; Romans 3:22-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 2:5-10; 1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 2: 9-14). We believe:
1. Jesus honored the divine law by personal obedience, and by His death He made a full and vicarious atonement for sins.
2. Jesus’ atonement consisted not in setting an example by His death as a martyr, but by voluntarily substituting Himself in the sinner’s place, the just for the unjust. Christ the Lord bore our sins in His own body on the tree of Calvary.
3. Jesus has risen from the dead and is now enthroned in heaven making intercession for the Saints.
4. Jesus is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all sufficient Savior.

Doctrine of Grace in the New Creation: We believe in order to be saved, sinners must be born again (John 3:3-8; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2: 13; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19; 1John 5:1; 2 Peter 1:4). We believe:
1. The new birth, salvation, makes a person a new creation in Christ.
2. The new birth is instantaneous at the point of personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. New birth causes one who was dead in trespasses and sins to become a partaker of the divine nature and the recipient of eternal life, having all trespasses and sins forgiven.
4. The divine nature and eternal life are free gifts from God at the moment of salvation.
5. The new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure a person’s voluntary obedience to the gospel.
6. The proper evidences of the new birth appear in the fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.

Doctrine of Justification: We believe the gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification (Isaiah 53:11, Zachariah 13:1; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 2:16, 3:24-28, 4:5, 5:1-18, 8:1, 31-34; 1 Peter 3:18). We believe:
1. Justification is the divine act whereby an infinitely holy God judicially declares a believing sinner to be righteous and acceptable before Him because Christ bore the sinner’s sin on the cross.
2. Justification is bestowing the gift of eternal life based on the principles of righteousness.
3. Justification is granted, not in the consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood as His righteousness is imputed to us and our unrighteousness is imputed to Him.

Doctrine of Faith and Salvation: We believe faith in the Lord Jesus is the only condition of salvation and that new life in Christ is evidenced by a changed life which seeks after God and His Will (Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Acts 13:38-39, 16:31; Romans 5:1-9, 8:1, 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:3-6, 2:8-10).

Doctrine of the Local Church: We believe a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship in the gospel. (Acts 2:41-42, 15:13-18, 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11, 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:17). We believe the local church:
1. Has the absolute right of self-government free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals.
2. Is directed by God’ Word under the Holy Spirit’s illumination and the distribution and exercising of spiritual gifts occurs through the ministry and work of the Holy Spirit.
3. Is to be the final judge on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
4. Should be governed by its officers; pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures, and are duly appointed by the church membership.
5. Should be a faithful witness of Christ to all men, everywhere as opportunity is made available through the ministry of the church.
6. Should cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel, and that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation.
7. Should observe the ordinances of Christ, which are believer’s baptism by immersion and the Lord’s supper.

Doctrine of Baptism: We believe Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water after salvation. (Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 2:38-41, 8:26-39, 16:27-33; Romans 6:3-6, 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12). We believe baptism:
1. Occurs subsequent to an individual’s decision to receive Christ as Savior.
2. Is by immersion to show a personal faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior.
3. Is an important and necessary step of obedience to the commandment of Christ.
4. Is a prerequisite to church membership.

Doctrine of the Lord’s Supper:We believe the Lord’s supper is the commemoration of Christ’s death until He comes and should be preceded by solemn self-examination. We believe any born-again believer who is walking in fellowship with the Lord may partake (Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:26-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12).

Doctrine of Security of the Saints: We believe all who are truly born-again are kept by God the Father for the Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:24, 10:28-29; Romans 8: 35-39; Philippians 1:6; 1Peter 1:3-5; Jude 24-25).

Doctrine of the Righteous and the Wicked: We believe there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked and this distinction remains both in life and after death (Genesis 18:23; Psalm 9:17; Proverbs 14:12; Malachi 2:18; Matthew 25:34-41; Luke 6:25; John 8: 21; Romans 6:17-23, 7:6; 1John 5:19).
1. The righteous are those who through faith have trusted in the death, burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and are sanctified by the new birth through the Spirit of God. The righteous will inherit eternal life in heaven forever.
2. The wicked are those who continue in impenitence and unbelief, remaining under the curse and condemnation of sin. The wicked will inherit eternal death in the Lake of Fire forever.

Doctrine of Civil Government: We believe civil government is divinely appointed for the interest and good order of human society and those magistrates are to be prayed for conscientiously. They are to be honored and obeyed except in things contrary to the revealed will of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth (Exodus 18:21-22;2 Samuel 23:3; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:19-20, 5:20, 23:5; Romans 13:1-7).

Doctrine of Separation of Church and State: We believe every human being is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith. We further believe that each church is independent and autonomous and must be free from interference by all political authority. The state and the church must have different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation of the other. However, Christians must uphold their personal responsibility to participate in the political process of their community, state, and country, serving as God’s ambassador and representing God’s will in all matters (Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:17-1, 5:17-29).

Doctrine of the Resurrection: We believe in:
1. The personal and bodily resurrection of Christ (Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2-6, 39; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:14).
2. The personal and visible bodily ascension of Christ (Mark 16:19; Luke 25:51;  Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 12:2; Revelation 3:21).
3. The present, personal high priesthood of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:1; 1 John 1:7-9, 2:13; Revelation 2, 3, 4).
4. The pre-tribulation resurrection (rapture) of the righteous, both dead and living, who make up the true Church (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; Revelation 2, 3, 4).
5. The pre-millennial second coming of Christ to reign in power and glory (Isaiah 9:6-7; Zachariah 14:1-10; Matthew 24, 25; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:5-7, 19:11-27).
6. The throne of David (Isaiah 9:67; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 1:32-34; Acts 2:29-30).
7. The millennial reign (Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Corinthians 15:25).

Doctrine of Marriage: We believe God instituted marriage to be monogamous, heterosexual and the complete union of the two persons (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31-33; 1 Corinthians 7:2).

Doctrine of Life: We believe all human life is sacred and begins at conception. (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalms 139:13; Genesis 9:6b).

Doctrine of Separation: We believe in obedience to the Biblical Commands to separate ourselves unto God from worldliness and ecclesiastical apostasy. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Romans 16:17; 1 John 2:15-16; 2 John 9-11.)