What We Believe

What We Believe

What We Believe

“We exist to bring Jesus into your life.”

 

Article #1 ~ Name

The name of this church shall be THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maine.

 

Article #2 ~ Purposes

The Biblical purpose of this Church shall be to regularly connect people to Christ, nurture them in their faith and mobilize them to reach others for Christ.

The corporate purpose of this Church shall be to establish and maintain public religious worship in accordance with the teaching of the New Testament and to acquire, hold, administer and dispose of property, both real and personal, as may come into its possession.

Article #3 ~ Powers

The Church shall have power to make its own laws and rules of discipline and shall not be answerable to any ecclesiastical body (except the Holy Scriptures.)

 

Article #4 ~ Statement of Faith 

The Word of God

We believe the Scriptures, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, are the verbally inspired Word of God.  They are without error in the originals writings, complete as the revelation of God’s will for salvation, and the supreme and final authority in all matters of doctrine, faith and life (2nd Timothy 3:16;  2nd Peter 1:21-21.)

 

The Trinity

We believe that there is only One Living and True God, eternally existent in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and performing distinct but harmonious functions in the work of creation, providence and redemption (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19;  2nd Corinthians 13:14.)

God the Father

We believe in God the Father an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love.  We believe He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:8-13; Romans 5:8;  2nd Corinthians 1:3.)

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s eternal Son.  We believe in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death on the cross, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory (Matthew 1:23;  John 1:14; 1st Timothy 3:16;  Hebrews 2:16-17.)

Holy Spirit

We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, conviction of sin and regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.  We believe that all true believers are eternally secure, that God watches over their welfare, and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, having been sealed by the Holy Spirit.  We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is empowered to live a godly life (John 14:16-17, 26;  16:7-14;  Acts 1:8;  2nd Corinthians 1:21-22.)

Angels

We believe angels are created spirit beings, great in number, with various titles and functions, and that they have intelligence, morality, will and emotions.  They are more powerful than man, but are never to be worshipped (Psalm 148:2-5; Matthew 4:10; Hebrews 12:22.)  Good angels minister to God and believers.  They also fight against the fallen angels (Psalm 91:11; Matthew 26:53; Hebrews 1:14.)  Fallen angels chose to follow Satan, and in doing so they obstruct believers, start false doctrines, inflict disease, cause mental disorders and can possess men and animals (Mark 5:2-15;  Ephesians 6:12;  1st Timothy 4:1.)

 

Satan

We believe Satan, once the head angel superior to all other angels, rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. He then became the prince of this world, and is continuing to rebel, trying to overthrow God. In the future, Satan will be judged and thrown into the eternal lake of fire with the other fallen angels and the unsaved (Isaiah 14:12-15; Matthew 25:41; John 12:31; 1st Peter 5:8.)

Sin

We believe sin is disobedience to the will of God.  Sin substitutes the creature’s will for the Creator’s.  Sin’s origin is with Satan and his angels when they chose to prefer themselves over God.  Sin incurs the penalties of both spiritual and physical death for mankind (Isaiah 14:12-15; 1st John 3:4.)

Man

We believe God created man in His own image.  We believe that sin entered the human race through Adam’s disobedience; therefore, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and thereby incur spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:23; 5:12.)

Salvation

We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  We believe that this salvation, based upon the sovereign grace of God, was purchased by Christ on the cross and is received by man through faith, apart from any human merit, works or ritual.  We believe salvation results in righteous living, good works and proper social concern (John 3:16; Romans 6:23; 2nd Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:8-9.)

The Church

We believe that the true Church is the spiritual body, composed of all believers, of which Christ is the Head.  We believe that this body expresses itself in local assemblies for worship, instruction, evangelism and service.  We believe in the interdependence of local churches and the mutual submission of believers to each other in love (John 13:34-35; 1st Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 5:23; Hebrews 10:25.)

The Ordinances

We believe the ordinances of the local church are the believer’s baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper.  Baptism portrays to the world the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.  The Lord’s Supper is to commemorate Christ’s death until He returns and is to be observed often as a memorial of the body and the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Neither ordinance is a means of salvation (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:4-5; 1st Corinthians 11:23-26.)

Separation of Church and State

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment and for the interests and good order of human society.  We believe that civil authorities are to be prayed for, honored and obeyed (except in things opposed to the will of God).  We believe that the local church is self-governing in function and must be free from interference by any political authority in matters of doctrine and faith (Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1-7; 1st Timothy 2:1-2.)

End Times

We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and lost; they that are saved unto eternal life in heaven, and they that are lost unto eternal damnation in hell (John 5:28-29; 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:11-15.)

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A copy of our Constitution and By-Laws may be obtained through our church office. 

Please stop by and visit us at

879 Sawyer Street ~ South Portland, Maine

or call us at the office (207) 799-4565

or email us at questions@spfbc.com