What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of First Baptist Church, Hinton, WV based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God and are the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.

There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver, and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all; to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. 

God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes but without divison of nature, essence, or being. 

God from eternity decrees or permits all things that come to pass and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events; yet in such manner as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin nor destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures. 

God originally created man in His own image and free from sin; however, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherits nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and action, he becomes an actual transgressor. 

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered, and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever liveth to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, Prophet, Priest, King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe. Without Him there is no salvation (Acts 4:12).

Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickens the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renews their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone.  

Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person, being made sensible by the Holy Spirit of the manifold evil of his sin, humblest himself for it with godly sorrow and self-abhorrence; thereafter endeavoring to walk with God so as to please Him in all things.

Saving faith is the belief, on God's authority,  in whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, is accompanied by all the other savings graces, and leads to a life of holiness.

Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal of sinners through Christ's saving grace by which righteousness is freely imputed to the sinner. 

Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God's Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ's commands.  

Those, whom God hath accepted as His Beloved and Sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but they shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall through neglect and temptation into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgements on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. 

The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples and in Him is invested supreme power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves with societies or Churches; and to each of these Churches He hath given needful authority for administering that order, discipline, and worship which He hath appointed. The ordained officers of the Church are Pastors and Deacons.  

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life.