Our Vision

(Christ, Church, Community)

First Baptist Church Elba exists to..

1.Love Christ, and model this in our daily lives.

2.Grow the Church through seeking Gods will provided in His Word (the Bible).

3.Reach the Community for God by spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

Jesus came, lived a sinless life for all mankind, died on the cross, and was raised from the dead on the third day after His death, conquering sin and death. The Bible tells us that if we believe this, we will be saved, and have eternal life in heaven with God forever. John 3:16

What we believe

The Bible - We believe the Bible is the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are of supreme authority in faith and life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

The Trinity - We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 2; Genesis 11:7; Genesis 26; Matthew 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:1-2)

Virgin Birth of Jesus - We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:26-38; Romans 1:3; Galatians 4:4)

The value of Human life / Gender - We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person at conception as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Genesis 1:26-27) Rejections of one’s biological sex and gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

Salvation - We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. (1 Corinthians 15; Romans 5:8-9; Romans 5:1; Hebrews 10:12)

Resurrection of the Saints - We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost. (Daniel 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Revelation 20:11-15)

Ordinances

Lords Supper (Communion) - We practice the Lords Supper in the following way. We believe that the bread and juice used are simply a symbolic representation of Jesus’ body being broken, and his blood being poured out for us. We do this to remember what Jesus has done for us on the cross. You may partake of the Lords supper at our church if you have made an active decision to put your faith and trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior.(Open Communion) (Mark 14:22-25)

Baptism - We believe after someone puts their faith and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they are to enter into the waters of baptism. Baptism is the full emersion of a person under the water and raising out of the water to walk in newness of life. Baptism is an outward expression of a persons inward faith decision. Baptism does not grant you salvation, but is commanded by God. This is a symbolic expression obeying Gods commands. This is the primary means that someone enters into membership at our church. (Matthew 28:18-20)