What We Believe
Church Covenant (2019 Revision)
Under the lordship of Jesus Christ and in full submission to the authority and sufficiency of the Bible, and recognizing the progressive work of sanctification in every believer’s life, we as members of First Baptist Church of Keller covenant together to hold one another accountable in the following areas:
SALVATION – We are submitted to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord in a life-changing relationship by grace through faith and have professed faith in Him publicly through believer’s baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Colossians 2:6-7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:3-7; Matthew 28:19-20)
FELLOWSHIP -- We assemble together regularly to worship, to encourage one another, to meet one another’s spiritual, physical, and emotional needs as we study the Bible together, to observe the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and to function as the body of Christ in this world. (Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 3:13, 10:24-25; Acts 2:41-47)
LOVE – We first love God with all of our hearts, and we love our neighbors as ourselves by meeting others’ needs, being slow to anger and quick to forgive, and serving others sacrificially and with kindness. (Matthew 22:37-40; James 1:19; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; John 13:34-35; Galatians 5:13-14; 1 John 3:16-18; Colossians 3:12-14)
PURITY – We strive toward moral purity by confining all sexual relations to biblical marriage and avoiding all immorality such as lustful thoughts, pornography, homosexual relations and illicit sexual activities. (1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Ephesians 5:3-5; Matthew 5:27-30; Job 31:1)
SOBRIETY – By being sober-minded and avoiding drunkenness as well as the abuse of drugs (illegal and prescription), we reflect God’s wisdom and holy character by obeying God’s command to honor our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. (1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Philippians 2:3-5)
SPEECH – Our words are to be true and honest, building one another up. They honor Christ by avoiding profanity, vulgar language, and gossip, and they contribute to church unity. (Ephesians 4: 3, 15-16, 25-29; 5:4; James 3:2)
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE AND WITNESS – We abide in Christ by living in faith and spending time each day studying, obeying, and applying God’s word and devoting ourselves to prayer. We fulfill Christ’s command to share the gospel and make disciples of all nations, beginning in our own community. (Psalm 1:2-3; John 14:15; 15:4-8; Colossians 4:2; 2 Peter 3:17-18; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8)
FAMILY -- The church family consists of regenerate members, both married and single. We affirm that God’s plan for the family is that marriage is exclusively a relationship between one man and one woman that God designed to last a lifetime. We commit to the honoring and keeping of marital vows. Biblical homes are the primary places of spiritual instruction for children and for the care of orphans. We also affirm that life is sacred, beginning at conception and ending through providential death; therefore, we denounce abortion, euthanasia and suicide. We commit to maintain family and personal devotions, to train our children in God’s Word intentionally, and to seek their salvation. (1 Corinthians 7:1-11; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; James 1:27; Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 127:3; Psalm 139:16; Job 12:10)
STEWARDSHIP – As an act of worship we acknowledge that all we have comes from and belongs to God. Therefore, we give generously to support the work and mission of the church, help widows and those in need, and manage all of the resources that God has entrusted to us (time, talents, and finances) in a way that glorifies Him. (2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:6-8; 1 Chronicles 29:11-14; Psalm 24:3;)
SERVICE – We seek to build up the body by identifying and using our spiritual gifts in service to God. We strive to actively seek a place of ministry for these gifts to be applied in the context of our local body. (1 Peter 4:10-11)
When it becomes necessary to depart from First Baptist Church of Keller, we will discuss our departure with pastors and then seek another biblical church to unite with as soon as possible.
Denominational Affiliations
Partners
First Baptist Church Keller supports and partners with these Southern Baptist entities.
Southern Baptists of Texas Convention
The SBTC exists to facilitate, extend and enlarge the Great Commission ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist churches and associations of Texas, upon the authority of God's inerrant Word to the glory of God the father, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. http://sbtexas.com
Southern Baptist Convention
First Baptist Church Keller is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Since its organization in 1845 in Augusta, Georgia, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has grown to over 16 million members who worship in more than 42,000 churches in the United States. Southern Baptists sponsor about 5,000 home missionaries serving the United States, Canada, Guam and the Caribbean, as well as sponsoring more than 5,000 foreign missionaries in 153 nations of the world. http://sbc.net
North American Mission Board
The North American Mission Board exists to work with churches, associations and state conventions in mobilizing Southern Baptists as a missional force to impact North America with the gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelism and church planting. http://www.namb.net
International Mission Board
The International Mission Board (IMB) exists to lead Southern Baptists to be on mission with God to bring all the peoples of the world to saving faith in Jesus Christ. It is the foreign missionary sending organization of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). http://www.imb.org
Doctrinal Statement
Baptist Faith and Message
First Baptist Church of Keller uses the Baptist Faith and Message as its doctrinal statement.
You can read the Baptist Faith and Message here: Baptist Faith and Message 2000
Core Beliefs
Biblical Teachings
These are some of our church's fundamental biblical teachings and beliefs.
The Virgin Birth
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.” – Matthew 1:18 (NASB)
The Trinity
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” – II Corinthians 13:14 (NASB)
The Deity of Jesus
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” –John 1:14 (NASB)
The Substitutionary Death of Jesus
“…and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” – I Peter 2:24 (NASB)
The Power of Jesus’ Blood
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” – Ephesians 1:7 (NASB)
The Bodily Resurrection from the Grave
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,…” – I Corinthians 15:3–4 (NASB)
Jesus’ Work in Heaven: Intercession
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:14–16 (NASB)
The Bodily Return of Christ to the Earth
“They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” – Acts 1:11 (NASB)
People are Sinful
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…” – Romans 3:23 (NASB)
Salvation is by Faith Alone
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB)
Eternal Security of Believers
And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. – I John 5:11–13 (NASB)
Humans Live Once and Then are Judged
“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,…” – Hebrews 9:27 (NASB)
People that Reject Jesus are Eternally Condemned
“…dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” – II Thessalonians 1:8