Statement of Faith and Practices of First Baptist Church of Massapequa, NY
The Holy Scriptures
We, the members of First Baptist Church of Massapequa New York [FBCMNY], believe in the verbal (every word) and plenary (complete) inspiration of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments (66 books); that they are the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. Psalm 119:160; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18-19
The Godhead
We believe in one triune God, the Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of all things, eternally existing in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. Genesis 1:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 1:16-18; 1 John 5:7
We believe in the deity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, perfect God and perfect man; that He is God manifested in the flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary; that He lived a sinless life on earth; that he died on Calvary’s cross, shedding His blood as the only satisfactory sacrifice for sinners and payment for sin; that His body was buried in and arose from the tomb; that He ascended to Heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, making intercession for us; and that He is coming again to judge and to establish His Kingdom on earth. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Mark 14:62; 16:19; Acts 1:9-11; 4:10-12; 5:30-31; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 7:25
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity and is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son; that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; that He is the supernatural agent in regeneration; that He indwells all believers and seals them unto the day of redemption; and that He empowers, teaches, and guides every believer. John 3:5-7; 14:16-18, 26; 16:7-8; Ephesians 1:13-14
We believe that at the moment of salvation the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (the baptism of the Spirit). The believer does not need to seek for baptisms of the Spirit as an evidence of salvation, because he already has received the Spirit at salvation as a gift and down-payment for all the promises of God and blessings found in Jesus Christ, the head of the church. However, it is the believer’s responsibility to seek to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit – in other words, constantly being under the Spirit’s control, leadership and influence. Matthew 3:11; John 1:33; 3:5-7; Romans 6:3-5; 8:9; Ephesians 5:18
Creation
We believe that the Genesis account of creation is true and accurate; that it is neither an allegory nor a myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate, creative acts of God in six consecutive twenty-four hour days, without any evolutionary process; that man (spirit, soul and body) was created by a direct act of God by His forming him from the dust of the ground -- not from previously existing forms of plant or animal life -- and breathing into him the breath of life; and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, the first parents of the entire human race. Genesis 1 and 2; Isaiah 45:18; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16, 17
Man
We believe that God created man in His own image, male and female, breathing into him the breath of life and giving them dominion over the entirety of His creation. God formed Eve to be Adam’s helper, to complement his character, and to be his companion for life. God joined one man and one woman together in marriage, establishing a monogamous pattern of spiritual, emotional and physical union for all time. As the first institution ordained by God, marriage pictures the union of Christ and His Church. God specifically prohibits all sexual unions between men and women that are outside the marriage bond. God also forbids incest, bestiality, sodomy, and same-sex relations between men or women. Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18, 22-24; Leviticus 18:6-18, 22; 20:15-16; Romans 1:26-27; 7:2-5; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9-10, 15-20; Ephesians 5:22-32; 1 Thessalonians 4:2-8
We believe that man was created in innocence, but that by voluntary transgression Adam fell from his sinless and happy state; that all men sinned in him; that all men consequently are totally depraved, that they are partakers of Adam’s fallen nature, and that they are sinners by nature and by conduct because they are Adam’s descendants; and that they are therefore under just condemnation, without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 1:18, 32; 3:10-19; 5:12, 19
Salvation
We believe that a person is saved from his sins and guilt and that Jesus Christ becomes his personal Savior when he repents of his sin and exercises faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross; that salvation is a gift of eternal life wholly by the grace of God apart from merit or works; and that all who believe in Him are justified (declared righteous) on the basis of His shed blood. John 3:16-18; Acts 16:31; Romans 6:23; 10:9, 10; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Ephesians 2:8, 9; 2 Peter 3:9
We also believe that all the redeemed of God are kept by God’s power and are thus eternally secure in Christ forever; that once a person is saved, he will always be saved. However, if a believer should happen to sin or falter, he can confess his sins, and God is true and just to forgive his sins. John 10:27-29; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 1:9; 5:13
Sanctification
We believe that sanctification is the divine act of God through which He sets the believer apart unto Himself and that this is accomplished in a threefold manner: first, an eternal act of God, based upon redemption in Christ, establishes the believer in a position of holiness at the moment he trusts in Jesus Christ as his Savior; second, a continuing sanctifying process is being done in the saint as the Holy Spirit applies the Word of God and discipline to his life; third, the final accomplishment of this process will be at the Lord’s return. John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4; 5:23, 24; Hebrews 10:10-14; 13:12
The Church
We believe that the local New Testament church is to be composed of regenerated, immersed believers, voluntarily united together for the purpose of worship, edification, ordinances, fellowship and service; that the officers of the local church are pastors and deacons (men and not women) whose qualifications and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. In addition, the office of pastor (elder, overseer) is limited to men. First Timothy 2:11-12 says, “Let a woman quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” In the church, women are to be under the authority of the elders, excluded from teaching men or holding positions of authority over them.We believe that the mission of the church is the faithful testifying and witnessing of Christ to all men in the local community and to the uttermost part of the earth; that the local church has the right to self-government, free from the interference of any individuals or organizations, religious or political; that the one and only Head is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for churches of like faith and practice to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel – each local church being the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that on matters of membership, policy of government, discipline, benevolence, etc., the will of the local church is final. Acts 1:8; 2:41-47; 20:28-31; Romans 1:7; Colossians 1:2; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5
Baptism
We believe that the biblical ordinance of baptism is by immersion, the symbol of the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection; that every believer should be baptized because of the example and command of our Lord; and that while there is no saving power in water baptism, it is an act of obedience and public testimony by those who are already saved. Matthew 3:13-17; 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5
The Lord’s Supper
We believe that the Lord’s Supper (Communion) is an ordinance given to the church by the Lord Jesus Christ to remember and show forth the Lord’s death until He comes; that the Lord’s table should be open to all regenerated people living in fellowship with and obedience to the Lord Jesus; and even though Communion is a time of blessing and growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, the elements representing the body and blood of Christ are symbolic and render in themselves no means of grace or salvation. Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:25-32; 2 Peter 3:18
Satan
We believe that Satan is a real, supernatural, created being, a fallen angel, the author of sin; that he was instrumental in the fall of mankind; that he is the “god of this world,” the “prince of the power of the air,” and an open and rebellious enemy of God and man; and that his final destiny is eternal punishment in the lake of fire. Job 1:6-9; Ezekiel 28:1-19; Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; Revelation 20:10
Hell
We believe in a literal place called hell (Gehenna), a place of torment, and that the lake of fire and brimstone shall be the final destiny for the eternal punishment of Satan, fallen angels (demons), and unbelieving mankind. Luke 16:22-26; Revelation 20:12-15
Heaven
We believe in a literal place called Heaven, where God’s immediate presence is manifested and where the redeemed and angels dwell; that it is Heaven from which Christ descended and to which, after the completion of His earthly ministry, He ascended bodily; and that it is there He makes intercession for the saints and from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 21
The Eternal State
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men – the saved to everlasting life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. We believe that the souls of the unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery and torment until the second resurrection, when the unbelieving dead will be finally judged and then, with spirit, soul and body, be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated but to suffer everlasting punishment. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are at death absent from the body and present with the Lord where, in conscious bliss, they await the first resurrection when spirit, soul and a new body are united to be glorified forever with the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20
The Rapture of the Church and Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the imminent, bodily, and pre-tribulational coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air to catch away all believers (the Church) unto Himself; and we believe in the personal, visible and glorious return of Christ to the earth with believers after the Tribulation, to judge the nations and to set up His millennial Kingdom on earth. Matthew 24:42-44; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:4-6
Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality
We believe that marriage is a covenant made between a man and a woman that models the relationship between God and His people and the profound mystery of Christ’s relationship to the Church. In this covenant relationship wives should submit to their husbands as to the Lord and husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for it, which is His body—the body of Christ. Eph. 4:11-16; 5:22-33
God created and sanctioned marriage to bring together men and women, the complementary halves of humanity, by joining them in “one-flesh” unions. Marriage between one man and one woman for life uniquely reflects Christ’s relationship with His Church. Marriage also serves as the foundational unit of a stable society. It provides the best chance that children will grow up in the same home with both their mom and their dad. Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Corinthians 7:2
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. Genesis 1:26-27
We believe that the term “marriage” is delineated in Scripture as having only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only 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. Genesis 2:18-25; 1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. Matt. 15:18-20; 1 Cor. 6:9-10
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of FBCMNY as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the community, it is imperative that all members employed by FBCMNY in any capacity, or those who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess. 5:22
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-11
We also 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 or the doctrines of FBCMNY. Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31; 1 Corinthians 6:11