Our Mission
In obedience to God, as a Christ-centered body of believers, we commit to disciple, enable and encourage one another to love, worship, and serve our Savior, Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we commit to share the Good News and ourselves with our neighbors in First Baptist Church of Haskell, in the surrounding communities, and throughout the world.
Our Values
First Baptist Church of Haskell OK is a place where you will be loved dearly, challenged to grow in God’s word and encouraged to join others in service to those in need. Through community gatherings (large and small), times of corporate worship and relaxed fellowship, we seek to help you grow in a real faith with a real God in a tangible way.
As committed Christian disciples at First Baptist, we endeavor to live to our fullest potential and calling. We emphasize these core values which correspond to key aspects of the Christian life described in the Bible.
Preaching & Teaching the Word of God
Communicating God’s Word
Fellowship
Relating to and enjoying one another
Prayer
Communicating with God
Encouragement
Giving hope to people who need hope
Cooperation
Working together in service to the Savior
Worship
Attributing worth to God
Benevolence & Community
Caring for basic human (physical) needs, either within or outside the church
Statement of Faith
This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe that the below statement of faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and therefore, is binding upon all members. All literature used in the church shall be in complete agreement with this statement of faith.
God
We believe God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are equal and are one God. (Genesis.1:1,26,27; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2)
Jesus
We believe Jesus is the Son of God. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory, and is coming again soon as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to redeem His bride, the church. (Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13)
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make man aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with the power for living, enables understanding of Biblical truth, and guides them in righteous living. He provides every Christian with spiritual gifts for service at the moment of salvation. We seek to live under His control daily. (2 Corinthians 3:17, John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18)
Bible
We believe the Bible is God’s word to us. It was written by human authors who were under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. The 66 canonical books are inspired by God; and are the truth without any mixture of error. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:150, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)
Human Beings
We believe human beings are created in the image of God. That is, people are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has potential for good, all of us are marred by our own attitude and acts of disobedience against God, called “sin”. By one man (Adam), sin entered into the world, and death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. This separates people from God and causes spiritual death along with many other problems in life. (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 8:3-6, 51:1-8, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, Isaiah 59:1-2)
Salvation
We believe salvation is by grace through faith. Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1)
Eternal Security
We believe that since God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation is for eternity. Once born again, you cannot lose your salvation. Salvation is sustained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. (John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5)
Eternity
We believe heaven is a literal place where God will wipe away every tear and there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. Believers will live forever in God’s presence. We also believe in a literal hell, which is a place of physical and spiritual torment, experienced as a result of eternal separation from God. (John 3:16; John 14:7; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15, 1Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Church
We believe that the true Church is composed of all who have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ. We also believe members of the true Church, which is the bride of Christ, are eligible for membership in the local church. God primarily ministers on earth through the local church. Christ is the head of the church, not any person, group, or religious organization. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians, we believe that the local church should be independent, self-governing, and free from any denominational control. (Matthew 16:18; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Hebrews 10:25; Colossians 1:18)
Christian Home
We believe that God has given parents the responsibility to bring their children up in the nurture and discipline of the Lord. We believe that it is the parent’s responsibility to educate and disciple their children in the truth of God. We believe that the church must work to compliment the parent’s efforts and facilitate Godly living within the home. (Ephesians 6:4, Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Joshua 24:15)
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that Jesus instructed His disciples that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are two visible symbols (called ordinances) given to the church as reminders of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Bible teaches that Baptism is to be done by immersion, following salvation, as a one-time act of obedience and identification with Jesus Christ as Lord. The Lord’s Supper is an ongoing symbol remembering our Lord’s death, burial, resurrection and promised return. We do not regard participation in these ordinances as a means to salvation. (Matthew 28:18-20, 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:23-32, Colossians 2:12)
Christian Life
We believe that God calls us – with a holy calling — to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. God wants us to live in the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit, so we will not fulfill the lusts of our physical bodies. We believe that the fallen, Adamic nature of the flesh cannot be eradicated in this life. Therefore, keeping ourselves constantly in subjection to Christ, we must allow God’s Holy Spirit to live through us in a daily “walk” of faith. Otherwise, the flesh will certainly demonstrate its presence in our lives, to the Lord’s dishonor. It is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ while also seeking to make growing disciples. (Leviticus 26:30, Philippians 2:13, Ephesians 5:18, 1 Peter 3:15, Galatians 5:16)
Christian Marriage
Our statement of faith, the Baptist Faith and Message 2021, expresses our fundamental biblical conviction that Christian marriage is, by definition, the spiritual and physical uniting of one man, born a male (XY chromosome), and one woman, born a female (XX chromosome), in an exclusive covenant commitment for their joint lifetime. Christian marriage is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His Church.