First Baptist Church accepts the Holy Bible as the source of doctrine, and so Statements of Faith are not binding, and are not intended to be used to hamper freedom of thought, or the investigation of truth.  This church subscribes to the doctrinal statements of The Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1963, with special attention to certain comments of the authors in the "Preface" emphasizing their non-creedal intent, and non-mandatory authority.  First Baptist Church looks not to creeds but to the Bible for spiritual guidance.  The following are some important convictions we hold:

1. Authority: The ultimate source of authority is Jesus Christ the Lord, and every aspect of life is to be subject to His lordship.

2. The Holy Bible: The Bible as the inspired revelation of God's will and way, made full and complete in the life and teaching of Christ, is our authoritative rule of faith and practice.

3. Salvation: Salvation from sin is the free gift of God's grace through Christ, conditioned only upon trust, faith, and commitment to Christ as Lord.

4. The Church: The church, in its inclusive sense, is the fellowship of persons redeemed by Christ and made one in the family of God.  The church, in its local sense, is a fellowship of baptized believers, voluntarily banded together for worship, nurture, and service.

5. Autonomy: The church is an autonomous body, subject only to Christ, its head, with each member having equal rights and privileges.

6. Priesthood: Each Christian, having direct access to God through Christ, is His own priest and is also under obligation to become a priest for Christ on behalf of other persons.

7. The Ordinances: Baptism and the Lord's Supper, the two ordinances of the church, are symbolic of redemption, but their observance involves spiritual realities in personal Christian experience.

8. Church and State: Church and State are both ordained of God and answerable to Him.  They should remain separate but are under obligation of mutual recognition and reinforcement as each seeks to fulfill its divine function.

9. Missions: Missions seeks the extension of God's redemptive purpose in all the world through evangelism, education, and Christian service.

10. Christian Education: Christian education grows out of the relation of faith and reason and calls for academic excellence and freedom that are both real and responsible.