What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of First Baptist Church San Bernardino based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself.

Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin and appointed as caretakers of the rest of God's creations.

When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time.

Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers as a free gift eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.

The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is returning one day to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth. 

Detailed Description of What we Believe

“That we may present everyone fully mature in Christ"
Colossians 1:28 NIV

 Concerning the Scriptures

• We believe, and teach, that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the infallible Word of God; a divine revelation, inspired by the Holy Spirit; and our supreme & final authority for faith and conduct.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21)

Concerning God

• We believe, and teach, that there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Concerning Jesus Christ

• We believe, and teach, that He is co-equal with God, the Father in all His attributes, eternally existent, begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin named Mary.  We believe, and teach, that He is truly God and was truly man while here on earth. (Matthew 1:18, Philippians 2:5-8)
• We believe, and teach, that Jesus died on the cross, becoming a substitute sacrifice and propitiation for sinners.  He did so by grace providing salvation for all who believe on Him, justifying them by faith on the basis of His shed blood. (Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:8, 1 Peter 2:24)
• We believe, and teach, that Jesus rose from the dead bodily, ascended into heaven, and is our High Priest and Advocate with the Father at this time. (Matthew 28:5-6, 1 John 2:1, Hebrews 8:1-2)

Concerning the Holy Spirit 

• We believe, and teach, that He is a person, co-equal with God in all His attributes, sent by the Lord Jesus Christ from the Father to convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment.  He regenerates, indwells, guides, teaches, and empowers the believer to live victoriously over sin. ( John 15:26, John 16:7-8,13)
• We believe, and teach, that the Holy Spirit, in a sovereign way, gives gifts to each and every believer for the edification of the whole church.   Certain gifts such as apostleship, tongues, prophecy, miracles, and healings were initially manifested sensationally, to authenticate the message of the apostles during the early stages of the church.  And while each and every gift of the Spirit is still used to support the message and the will of God around the world, these sensational gifts are not as widespread as they once were and are granted as determined by the Holy Spirit, not the request or desire of the believer. (Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 1 Corinthians 14:21-22, Ephesians 4:11-13, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 2:20, Hebrews 2:3-4)

Concerning Man 

• We believe, and teach, that man was created in the image of God; that in the sin of the first Adam the whole human race fell; and apart from Jesus Christ, is spiritually dead and lost. (Genesis 1:26, Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23)

Concerning Salvation 

• We believe, and teach, that all who by faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior become the children of God; that eternal life is a present possession; that those who are truly saved are eternally secure; that at death their spirits depart to be with Christ in conscious blessedness; and that at Christ’s coming for the church, their bodies will be raised, and together with the believers then living on the earth, will be transformed into the likeness of the body of His glory. (John 1:12-13, John 5:24, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, John 10:27-30, Romans 8:29-30)

Concerning the Church 

• We believe, and teach, that the church consists of all those who in this dispensation truly believe on Jesus Christ; that the church is the body and the bride of Christ; the local church is a company of believers gathered together to observe the principles of the New Testament; and the mission of the church is twofold: to edify itself through the use of spiritual gifts; and to reproduce itself by evangelizing the world, witnessing of Jesus Christ and making disciples among all nations. (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8)
• The church is to observe two ordinances: baptism by immersion of believers upon their profession of faith in Christ as their personal Savior (representing their identification with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection; and the putting away of sin to new life in Christ); and also the observance of the Lord’s Supper (Communion), kept by believers and representing the shed blood of our Lord for our redemption. (Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:3-7, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Concerning Last Things 

• We believe, and teach, the imminent, personal and pre-millenial return of our Lord Jesus Christ for His church, followed by a period of tribulation upon the earth, then the return of Jesus Christ with His saints to set up His earthly kingdom, a period of 1,000 years known as the millennium.  Jesus Christ is the judge of the living and the dead: believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and unbelievers at the Great White Throne of judgment.  Those who persistently reject Jesus Christ in this present life will be raised from the dead, and throughout eternity exist in a state of conscious and endless torment separated from God. (2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:11-15)
• Satan, a subtle being of great power who is the enemy of all that is righteous, will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire. (1 Peter 5:8-9, Revelation 20:10)

Concerning You 

• Does this make sense to you?  Do you have any questions that we might answer?  
• Are you interested in sitting down with us and searching God’s Word for these answers … and more? 
• Do you have a Bible?  May we pray with you?
• We would love to meet you and spend some time with you. Please contact a staff member, a Deacon, a Deaconess, a Bible Study teacher, a ministry leader, or any believer who is a member of FBC that you know and trust for questions regarding these things or any other need you may have.  Your needs become our priority when we become aware of them; so please, let us know.
• We know people come from varying backgrounds and we are all in the process of learning more about God. 
• We hope you understand this “Doctrinal and Teaching Statement” is not designed to dispute, or attack any other belief that any other person may have in any other church or belief system.  It is a simple statement of what we believe God’s Word teaches to help those who come to worship at FBC understand what you hear while you are with us.  
• Our prayer is that would clarify what the Bible teaches, not cause dissension. In understanding the Bible and knowing what we believe, we learn better how to live a practical and biblical lifestyle that is pleasing to God.
• Have you considered the 2 most significant questions of your life. 

1. If you were to die today, do you know for sure that you would spend eternity with God; and
2. If you were to stand before God today and He were to ask you “Why should I let you into heaven?” … what would you say to Him?

Jesus Christ offers you a relationship with God.  He is the ONLY way to heaven.  You can experience the forgiveness of sin and peace with God by surrendering your heart to Him.  If you will allow us, we will show you HOW you can do this … and begin to experience of that personal relationship with Him that lasts for eternity.

"Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God.”
JOHN 1:12 NIV