Below are brief statements of what we at First Baptist Church of Islamorada believe and teach about God, His Word, and many significant aspects of the most holy faith.

For further consideration, we have provided a link to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith to which we ascribe.

The Bible

We believe the Scripture, all 66 books of the combined Old and New Testaments, are inspired by God. We believe the Bible is inerrant in the original writings, and it is the Christian’s final authority in faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

God and The Trinity

We believe there is only one true, living sovereign, holy, and eternally existent God.

God is infinitely perfect, and He exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The triune God is the creator and sustainer of all things, the source of all truth, and is worthy of worship, confidence, and obedience. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Genesis 1:31)

Jesus Christ

We believe, by the miracle of the virgin birth—that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.

We believe that He became man without ceasing to be God, to reveal God and to
redeem mankind from sin.

We believe Christ died for the sins of all peoples as a substitutionary sacrifice.

We believe He arose bodily from the dead for our justification.

Finally, we believe He is now exalted at the right hand of God as Head of the Church. Christ is Lord of the individual believer, fulfilling His ministry as our Great High Priest and Advocate. (John 1:1-3, 14; Matthew 1:18-25; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:11)

The Holy Spirit

We believe the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe He convicts the world of sin and regenerates the sinner, baptizing him into the Church (which is the Body of Christ).

We believe He indwells, guides, instructs, and empowers believers for godly living and service.

We believe God gives all believers at least one spiritual gift so we can use these gifts for the strength and outreach of the Church. (John 14:16-19; 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9, 11; Titus 3:5)

Man

We believe God created man in His image. But man sinned, incurring not only physical death, but also spiritual death (alienation from God, which all people inherit from Adam).

We believe man is subject to Satan’s power; and that man, within himself, has no means of recovery or salvation. (Genesis 1:17, 31)

Satan

We believe Satan is our spiritual adversary, a fallen angel, the author of the fall of man, and the god of this age. However, we also believe that he is the Christian’s defeated enemy. His destiny is eternal punishment. (Job 1:6-12; Mark 8:32)

Sin

We believe Adam, the first man, sinned by disobedience. This act resulted in the fall of all mankind. Therefore, all people have sinned and lost their ability to live for the glory of God. Mankind’s fall has incurred both physical and spiritual death on all until there is forgiveness and salvation by the grace of God. (Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 3:10-23; 5:12-21; 6:23)

Salvation

We believe salvation is God’s free gift. Salvation is neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any human virtue, work, ceremony, or effort. We receive God’s gift only through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Christ, all true believers have—as a present possession—eternal life, perfect righteousness, and sonship in God’s family.

Christians also enjoy every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness and have the divine guarantee that they shall never perish.

God has delivered Christians from all condemnation, and we have eternal security in Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Predestination and Election

We believe that election is the act of God by which He predestined, before the foundation of the world, those whom Hegraciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies.(Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1-2)

We believe that the unmerited favor that God grants to totally depraved sinners is not related to any initiative of their own part or to God’s anticipation of what they might do by their own will, but is solely of His sovereign grace and mercy.(Ephesians 1:4-7; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:2)

Regeneration

We believe regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which the divine nature and divine life are given.

It is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God when the repentant sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith to the divine provision of salvation. (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5, John 5:24)

Repentance and Faith

We believe repentance and faith, when granted by God, enables us to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christin obedience, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and through faith, appropriate salvation. (2 Timothy 2:25, 1 John 1:9)

Redemption

We believe man was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression he fell forever alienating him from a Holy God.

Mans only hope of redemption is by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Gen. 1:26-31, Romans 5:12-21)

Justification

We believe justification before God is an act of God by which He declares righteous those who, through faith in Christ, repent of their sins and confess Him as sovereign Lord. This righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of man and involves the imputation of our sins to Christ and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us. (Luke 13:3, Romans 10:9-10, Colossians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Adoption

We believe all that are justified are partakers of God’s grace and receive the spirit of adoption, whereby they are counted as children of God and co-heirs with Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1:5, Romans 8:15, 17)

Sanctification

We believe every believer is sanctified (set apart) unto God by justification and is therefore declared to be holy and is therefore identified as a saint.

This sanctification is positional and instantaneous and should not be confused with progressive sanctification.

This sanctification has to do with the believer’s standing, not his present walk or condition.

We believe there is also, by the work of the Holy Spirit, a progressive sanctification by which the state of the believer is brought closer to the standing the believer positionally enjoys through justification.

Through obedience to the Word of God and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, the believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, becoming more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 6:11, John 17:17, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4)

Glorification

We believe glorification to be a future state in which we share in God’s glory when we are in our resurrected bodies in the new heavens and new earth, experiencing deeper fellowship with God and not being at risk of falling away into sin, God’s glory finally being all in all.

We believe all who are justified areimmediately glorified in the sense of being adopted as children of God. (1 Corinthians 15:53-54, Romans 8:30)

Good Works

We believe good works to be done in obedience to Gods Word and they are a direct result of the supernatural change that occurs at regeneration. Works neither merit or contribute to salvation, but are an evidence of true faith. (Ephesians 2:10, James 2:18,22)

Marriage and The Home

We believe marriage has been instituted by God as a covenant relationship between one man and one woman, and that He has given specific roles and responsibilities to both the husband and the wife. This relationship is to be held in honor among all saints as it represents Christ and His Church. (Ephesians 5:22-33, Revelation 19:7-9)

We believe God has given to parents the responsibility to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

We believe a consistent and whole education will occur when home, Church, and school work closely together and are in agreement on the basic concepts of life. (Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6)

Marriage Policy

Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between one man, one woman, and Himself, First Baptist Church of Islamorada will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the Pastors and staff of First Baptist Church of Islamorada shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman.

Couples seeking unity in marriage must complete a pre-marital counseling course facilitated by one of the Pastors at First Baptist Church of Islamorada or have demonstrated the completion of such course at their home church by means of a signed affirmation by their Pastor.

Finally, the facilities and property of First Baptist Church of Islamorada shall only host weddings between one man and one woman.

The Sanctity of Life

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image.

Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death.

We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Genesis 1:26, Psalm139)

The Church

We believe the true Church is composed of all who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, through saving faith in Jesus Christ.

We also believe that those who are thus members of the true Church are eligible for membership in the local Church.

Furthermore, we hold that the local church is comprised of a regular assembly of people who profess and give evidence that they have been saved by God’s grace alone, for His glory alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

This constitutes a local, living, and loving collection of people who are committed to Christ and committed to each other; resulting in a display of God’s wisdom and glory and a display of counter-cultural, Christ-like love. (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Hebrews 10:25, Ephesians 3:10; John 13:35)

Church Membership

We believe that membership in the local church reflects the organic community already existing in the true body of Christ. Membership is a public commitment to Christ and His people, which serves to hold one another accountable.

The membership of First Baptist Islamorada shall be composed of individuals who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, who affirm the tenets set forth in the Philosophy of Ministry, and who offer evidence, by their confession and their conduct, that they are living in accord with their affirmations.

In presenting oneself for membership, individuals are offering themselves to one another to be encouraged, rebuked, corrected, and served.

To enter church membership is to enter into a covenant with the other members and the pastors. It is a commitment to being meaningfully involved in the lives of other members to do them good spiritually.

We believe there are three core responsibilities of a church member:

Attend regularly:

Perfect attendance while desirable is not a reasonable expectation, however, attendance is critical in that without it the edification and shepherding processes become less effective.

Give regularly:

Giving of our time, talents, and treasures. This is an act of obedience in accordance to Scripture, and is necessary for the ministries of FBI to continue.

If we don’t give, the pastors can’t fully devote themselves to preaching and teaching, ministries go unmanned, the missionaries have to come home, and the lights will have to be turned off in the building.

Pray regularly:

One of the most basic ways we can edify and encourage one another towards greater obedience, holiness, and joy is through prayer.

Finally, the Elders of the local church shall have final authority in all matters of church
governance, as set forth and described in the Policies and Procedures and the Church Membership Covenant.

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe Jesus instructed His followers to remember His death and resurrection.

He gave the Church two visible symbols (called “ordinances”) as reminders. These two ordinances are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Baptism by immersion is a one-time act of obedience and identification with Jesus as Lord. It serves as an outward sign of conscious confession of repentance and faith.

The Lord’s Supper is an ongoing symbol remembering our Lord’s death, burial, resurrection, and promised return.

We observe an open table, the only restriction we place on it is the one found in scripture that one would not eat of it in an unworthy manner.

Each person must decide whether or not to be baptized or to participate in the Lord’s Supper. Regardless, we do not regard anyone’s participation in these practices as a means of salvation. (Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 26: 26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32)

Resurrection of the Dead and Final Judgment

We believe the Bible teaches that there will be a bodily resurrection and judgment of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to eternal punishment.

The souls of the unsaved at death are kept under punishment until the second resurrection when the soul and the resurrection body will be united; they shall then appear at the Great White Throne Judgment and be cast into the lake of fire.

After the tribulation period, Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David and establish His messianic kingdom for 1,000 years on the earth; during this time the resurrected saints will reign with Him over all the nations of the earth.

This reign will be preceded by the overthrow of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and by the removal of Satan from the world.

After the closing of the millennium, there will be a temporary release of Satan and the judgment of unbelievers. The saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved by fire and replaced with a new earth, wherein only righteousness dwells.

Following this, the heavenly city (Zion) will come down out of heaven and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will forever enjoy fellowship with God and one another. (Daniel 12:2; Isaiah 26:19; Revelation 20:4-15; Revelation 21:10-14, 22-27; Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Peter 3:10)

Final Authority

This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs.

The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.

For purposes of First Baptist Church of Islamorada’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the Pastors of First Baptist Church of Islamorada’s will be the final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.

*Link to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith