First Baptist Church is a growing, evangelical church committed to reaching and serving the people of North Central Iowa and South Central Minnesota. While our ministry strategies and expressions of worship may grow and adapt through the years, we remain committed to a strong and historic foundation of Biblical convictions. As a participant of the Minnesota Iowa Baptist Conference and supporter of Converge Worldwide, we stand with our brothers and sisters in Christ professing the following statement of faith:
Our Beliefs
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The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matter of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
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The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. (Genesis 1:1,26; Matthew 28:19-20; John 1:1,3, 4:24; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 1:20; Ephesians 4:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
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God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, and infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (John 6:27-29; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; 1 Peter 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:17)
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God the Son
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrew 4:15; John 10:30)
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God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. (John 3:5-6; John 16:5-15; Romans 8:16, 23, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 12:7-31; Galatians 3:1-3; Ephesians 11:13-14; Colossians 1:27-29; Titus 3:4-7)
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Humanity
We believe God created human beings distinctly male and female in His own image, that they sinned resulting in not only physical death but also spiritual death (which is separation from God), and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and ratify their sinful nature by their actions, words, and attitudes. The consequences for sin are death and the just reception of God's wrath. (Genesis 1:2-27, 3:1-24; Romans 3:23-25, 5:12-18; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 2:2)
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Regeneration
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 53; Matthew 20:28; Matthew 28:6; John 1:12-13, 3:16; Acts 2:33-36; Romans 3:24-26, 5:1, 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3,14; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-9; Hebrews 7:25; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 2:2)
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The Church
We believe in the universal Church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. (Romans 12:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Ephesians 2:19-22, 4:12-16; Hebrews 10:24-25)
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Christian Conduct
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 1:10, 2:15; 1 Peter 1:15)
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The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:28-41-47, 8:36-40, 10:47, 18:8; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29, 12:13)
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Religious Liberty
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matter of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation of patronage of the other. (Matthew 22:21; Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1-7; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Hebrews 9:27)
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Church Cooperation
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with other another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary basis. (1 Corinthians 16:1; Ephesians 4:1-7; Revelation 5:9-10)
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The Last Things
We believe that in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgement, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 14:9-13, 20:4-6, 11-15)
Core Values
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Big Faith
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Biblically Driven
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Courageous Conversation
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Persistent Prayer
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Joyful Generosity
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Multi-Generational Impact
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Gracious Hospitality
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Wide-Eyed Wonder
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Reaching Love
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Refreshing Authenticity