What We Believe

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, both Old and New Testaments. It is fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts. It was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is the authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 12:6, 119:105,160; Proverbs 30:5)

We believe that God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are distinct in personality yet one in essence. They are co-equal, infinite in being and perfection, equal in power and glory.

(Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2)

We believe in God the Father, an infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, and truth. He is the creator, is personally and mercifully involved in the affairs of humanity, hears and answers prayers, and saves from sin and eternal separation from God all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

(1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Matthew 6:26; John 4:24; Isaiah 64:8; Deuteronomy 32:6)

We believe in Jesus Christ, that He is God incarnate. He is co-equal with the Father. He is not only true God, but true man. We believe in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles and teachings, His substitutionary atonement on the cross, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, His priestly intercession on behalf of His people, and His personal and visible return from heaven.

(Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15;1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14; Titus 2:13, Philippians 2:5-11)

We believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He came to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. He will regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer at the point of conversion and that He is the abiding helper, teacher, and counselor to all who believe.

(2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:13)

We believe God created humanity, male and female, in the image of God. Yet humanity is marred by an attitude of pride and disobedience toward God. This is called “sin.” This separates humanity from God; therefore, God sent a Savior, Jesus Christ.

(Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Isaiah 59:1-2)

We believe that salvation comes through a person’s repentance of sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is a gift of God by His grace, through faith, and not a result of human effort.

(2 Corinthians 7:10; Luke 5:32; Luke 24:47; Acts 20:21; 2 Peter 3:9; Ephesians 2:8-9)

We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Jesus Christ is the head, and all spiritually regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and who gather for worship, work, and fellowship. God has given the members of the local church the primary task of discipleship and giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.

(Ephesians 4:11-16, 5:23; Hebrews 10:24-25; Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:18)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has ordained two sacraments to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the triune God—a sign of their obedience and commitment to Him. The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death to recall His actual physical death for our sins. These two sacraments will be observed and shared until the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 Corinthians 11:22-26; Matthew 28:19-20)

We believe in the personal, bodily, and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The return of Christ is a time known only to the Father. Yet it demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living and service.

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Acts 1:6-7)

At Anacortes First Baptist Church (FBC) it is our desire to glorify God in all we do as His hands and feet in our community, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and His salvation, and through the power of His Holy Spirit to be like Jesus Christ.

We affirm that God through Jesus Christ calls us to be a redeemed people who claim a personal relationship with Him.

We subscribe to the Apostle’s Creed which says: We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.  He descended into Hades, on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and He now sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.  Amen.