What We Believe

We believe the Bible is the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God, inerrant in its original manuscripts. The Bible is our supreme and final authority in faith and life. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21)

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, 26; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1, 3; 4:24; Acts 5:3; Romans 1:20; Ephesians 4:5, 6; II Corinthians 13:14)

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13)

We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also that spiritual death which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and become guilty sinners in thought, word, and deed. (Genesis 1:26, 27; 3:1-24; Romans 3:25; 5:12-18; I John 1:8)

We believe that the Lord Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; that He arose victorious from the grave on the third day; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. (Isaiah 53; Matthew 20:28; John 3:16; Romans 3:24-26; 5:1; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; I John 2:2; Matthew 28:6; Romans 10:9; I Corinthians 15:14)

We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:16, 17)

We believe that all who come by grace through faith to accept the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God. (John 3:3, 5; 1:12, 13; James 1:18; I Peter 1:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9)

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting joy of the saved and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost. (John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15; II Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15)

We believe that the Holy Spirit baptizes all Christians when they are born again. We believe that water baptism by immersion is the biblical testimony of the professed believer in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:28-41, 47; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 8:36-40; 10:47; 18:8; Romans 6:3, 4; I Corinthians 12:13)

We believe that those who partake in the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper should be born-again believers baptized by immersion, walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We also believe it is a symbol of one’s identification with Christ and not a means of grace or entrance into a covenant. (Acts 2:42-46; I Corinthians 11:23-29)

We believe that as Christians we are to meet together regularly for worship, ordinances, and the encouragement of each other. (Hebrews 10:24, 25; Acts 2:42, 46, 47a)

We believe in the biblical stewardship of the tithe to the local congregation of believers and the biblical followship under God’s ordained leaders (Malachi 3:6-12; Matthew 23:23; II Corinthians 8:1-7; Ephesians 4:11,12; Hebrews 13:17)

We believe based on the teaching of scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, that marriage has been instituted and ordained by God, and that marriage is defined as the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33)

We believe that legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. (I Corinthians 5:9-13; I Corinthians 6:9-20)

We believe that love and respect are due, and to be offered, to all people, as we are all created in the image of God. When the scriptures forbid other philosophies, belief systems, and behaviors, we will speak the truth very carefully in love. (Genesis 1:26-27; Matthew 22:37-40; Galatians 6:1)

Further, we subscribe to the doctrinal statement of the current version of The Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention.

WHY?

why am I here? why do I need God?


THE GOSPEL

First Baptist Norfolk

312 Kempsville Road
Norfolk, VA 23502

(757) 461-3226

info@firstnorfolk.org

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