WHAT WE BELIEVE 

We believe the Bible is the Word of God. 

We believe in the King James Version of the Bible. We believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the Cross as payment for our sins, and rose from the dead on the third day. We believe that the only way a person can go to Heaven when he dies is to first place his faith in the payment that Jesus Christ provided with His shed blood on the Cross. First Baptist Church of Hammond is just that, a Baptist church. Once a person is saved by putting his faith in Jesus, we are commanded to be baptized by immersion to show to others what took place when we trusted Christ; we do this in obedience, not to save us but to show that we have been saved. We believe in participating in the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis to remember the payment Jesus made for us and to express our love to Him for that payment. The Lord’s Supper is not kept to take us to Heaven but to thank Jesus for His sacrifice. 

We believe that the Bible is what it claims to be: the Word of God. 

We take instruction from the Bible literally; we believe what it is actually saying, not that it is an allegory or a fable. We take instruction from the Bible in the areas of life and faith and go to it for the answers to life. In a day when opinion polls and media agendas steer our social conscience, we believe that we should first seek God’s opinion on any subject before forming our own. 

We believe that the family unit should be strong and healthy. 

The first institution God made on earth was the family. Programs in the church are geared to help build strong families. First Baptist Church provides fellowship, friendship, and support services through our social activities. We strive to be protective of our children. Background checks of everyone working with a child are required. We have a professional security team and a licensed/certified medical team on site. 

We believe that the church should be the moral conscience of a community. 

Since God created civil governments, we work hard to cooperate with and work together with our elected officials and civil servants. 

We believe that the only requirements for church membership are salvation and baptism by immersion. 

People who are saved and baptized at First Baptist Church are voted in as members unless they request not to be. A person may join from another Baptist church by transfer. Persons wishing to join from a church other than a Baptist church must give testimony of their salvation and their immersion baptism and thereby join by Christian experience. 

We believe that it is our responsibility, as outlined in the Bible, to spread the Gospel to our area, nation, and world. 

Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” 

We believe that Christians should talk, behave, live, and dress like a citizen of Heaven. 

The basis for these standards is found in the Bible. We make no apology for our conservative beliefs in many areas, including music, social issues, dress, and behavior. 

We believe that our church should be filled, not with spectators, but with participants. 

We believe a church should be described as a spiritual hospital where people come for spiritual healing, not a spiritual museum where the relics of “Pharisee-ism” are displayed. We have a first-class way of doing things. We are careful stewards of God’s money. We give an accurate accounting once a month of every check that is written: to whom, the amount, and the purpose of the check. We strive to be honest and respectable. 

We believe God’s business is the greatest business in the world. 

BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES 

Biblical Authority

The Bible is the final authority in all matters of belief and practice, because the Bible is inspired by God and bears the absolute authority of God Himself. Whatever the Bible affirms, Baptists accept as true. No human opinion or decree of any church group can override the Bible. Even creeds and confessions of faith, which attempt to articulate the theology of Scripture, do not carry Scripture’s inherent authority (II Timothy 3:15-17; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Peter 1:20, 21).

Autonomy of the Local Church

The local church is an independent body accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the church. All human authority for governing the local church resides within the local church itself. Thus the church is autonomous, or self-governing. No religious hierarchy outside the local church may dictate a church’s beliefs or practices. Autonomy does not mean isolation. A Baptist church may fellowship with other churches around mutual interests and in an associational tie, but a Baptist church may not be a “member” of any other body (Colossians 1:18; II Corinthians 8:1-5, 19, 23).

Priesthood of the Believer

Priest is defined as “one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God.” Every believer today is a priest of God and may enter into His presence in prayer directly through our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. No other mediator is needed between God and people. As priests we can study God’s Word, pray for others, and offer spiritual worship to God. We all have equal access to God–whether we are a preacher or not (I Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 5:9, 10).

Two Ordinances

The local church should practice two ordinances: (1) baptism of believers by immersion in water, identifying the individual with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection; and (2) the Lord’s Supper, or communion, commemorating His death for our sins (Matthew 28:19, 20; I Corinthians 11:23-32).5 

Individual Soul Liberty

Every individual, whether a believer or an unbeliever, has the liberty to choose what he believes is right in the religious realm. No one should be forced to assent to any belief against his will. Baptists have always opposed religious persecution. However, this liberty does not exempt one from responsibility to the Word of God or from accountability to God Himself (Romans 14:5, 12; II Corinthians 4:2; Titus 1:9).

Saved, Baptized Church Membership

Local church membership is restricted to individuals who give a believable testimony of personal faith in Christ and have publicly identified themselves with Him in believer’s baptism. When the members of a local church are believers, a oneness in Christ exists, and the members can endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Acts 2:41-47; I Corinthians 12:12; II Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 4:3).

Two Offices

The Bible mandates only two offices in the church–pastor and deacon. The three terms–pastor, elder, and bishop, or overseer–all refer to the same office. The two offices of pastor and deacon exist within the local church, not as a hierarchy outside or over the local church (I Timothy 3:1-13; Acts 20:17-38; Philippians 1:1).

Separation of Church and State

God established both the church and the civil government, and He gave each its own distinct sphere of operation. The government’s purposes are outlined in Romans 13:1-7, and the church’s purposes in Matthew 28:19 and 20. Neither should control the other, nor should there be an alliance between the two. Christians in a free society can properly influence government toward righteousness, which is not the same as a denomination or group of churches controlling the government (Matthew 22:15-22; Acts 5:17-29).

​