At First Baptist Church of Crystal River we believe that the difference between “Attenders” and “Members” can be summed up in one word: “Commitment.” We ask you to commit to membership because Christ is committed to His church and commitment helps you grow as a Christian. At the same time, we never ask our members to do more than the Bible clearly teaches. We expect our members to do what the Bible clearly expects every Christian to do.
We require that every candidate for membership take our “Membership Class.” The class is offered four to five times a year on a Saturday morning. You only have to take the class once. For more information about the next Membership Class, call the church office at 352-795-3367 or email Pastor Tim at pastortim@firstbaptistcr.org. Hope you will join us soon!
WHAT WE BELIEVE
ABOUT GOD
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being. He is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He is all powerful, all knowing, and all loving. He is holy and perfect in every way. God has revealed Himself to us and has eternally existed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 19:1-3; 90:2; Isaiah 48:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Peter 1:2.
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully divine. He became a man supernaturally conceived and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God without sin. He fulfilled God’s plan by His substitutionary death on the cross, making provision for the redemption of people from sin. He was raised from the dead and then ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God. He is the one mediator between God and mankind, fully God, fully man and He will return one day in power and glory to judge the world and finish His redemptive mission. Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 53:1-12; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:22-23; 16:15-16; John 1:1-5,14; 14:6-11; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-15; Revelation 1:13-16; 19:16
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He is present in the world to make people aware of their sin and their need for Jesus. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; John 4:24; 14:16-17; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 3:16; Galatians 4:6; 5:22-25; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 John 4:13
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. All scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It is God’s word to us. It is an accurate revelation of God and what He wants us to know. It is the supreme source of truth and the supreme authority for Christian beliefs and living. Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 24:44-46; John 5:39; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 1:13; 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21
ABOUT SALVATION
People are the special creation of God, made in His own image. By free choice every person has sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. The sin of mankind has affected every person and everything on our planet. Human beings are in need of forgiveness and redemption. Salvation is the redemption of man through the person of Jesus Christ for the glory of God. Salvation occurs through faith in Jesus Christ. When a person places genuine faith in Jesus they are, by God’s grace, made spiritually alive, righteous in their moral standing before God, and are indwelt with the Holy Spirit who guarantees the work of salvation until it is complete. Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; 3:15-19; Psalm 8:3-6; Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:10-11; 19:10; John 1:12,29; 3:14-18; 5:24; 10:9-10; 14:6; Acts 2:21; Romans 3:23; 5:1,8; 6:23; 10:9-10,13; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5
ABOUT GOD’S KINGDOM
The Kingdom of God describes the sovereign reign of God over the universe and the particular rule of God in the hearts of people. God’s purposes and plans will be finally and completely accomplished. The Church is an expression of God’s kingdom as a local congregation of believers who fellowship together to fulfill God’s purposes in the world. The Church is the body of Christ and each believer is baptized into His body. Each believer is given a gift for use in the body of Christ and called to work in harmony with other believers to fulfill God’s plan of redemption on the earth. Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 3:2; 12:25-28; 16:17-19; 18:19-20; Mark 9:1; Luke 4:43; Acts 2:40-47; 6:1-7; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 9:13-14; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Ephesians 1:20-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-11,21; 4:3-6; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Peter 5:1-4
ABOUT ETERNITY
God, according to His plan, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth and Christ will judge all men. Those made righteous, through the gracious work of Christ, will be resurrected, glorified, and will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, a place of everlasting punishment. Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; 13:6-9; Joel 2:11; Obadiah 15; Zechariah 14:1-4; Matthew 16:26-27; 19:28-29; 24:14,29-31; 25:31-46; 26:64; Luke 12:40; 17:22-36; 21:27-28; John 3:16; 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 17:31; Romans 6:23; 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-55; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-4
These seven doctrines are foundational to our understanding of the historic Christian faith and essential convictions for our unity as a church body.