The Mission
Our mission at Bonaire First Baptist Church is to breathe the very spirit of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) and as a natural expression of this, we will faithfully obey the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
Purpose Statement
1. "Loving the Lord with all our hearts," The church exists to worship God (Matt. 4:10, Ps. 34:3). Our worship should be an expression of and a witness to our love and devotion to God.
2. "Loving our neighbors as ourselves." The word here is ministry, and the Bible says the Saints are to be equipped for ministry (Eph. 4:12). Our members should be equipped to provide a "holistic" ministry to those around us. A ministry that touches the "Whole" person, meeting their spiritual, physical, mental and emotional needs. Jesus' words ring true here, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Jesus gives us our example of ministry.
3. "Going and making disciples." Evangelism - It is every Christian's responsibility and privilege to share Christ as we go. This task is so important we actually have five Great Commissions in the New Testament: Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8. The Gospel is truly the best news in the world!
4. "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." Baptism is to identify our fellowship in Christ's body. Baptism says you belong to Christ and His Church now (Eph. 2:19). As Christians we are called to belong to a family even as we are called to believe.
5. "Teaching them to be obedient in all things our Lord has commanded." The church also exists to edify (build up) and educate the people of God (Eph. 4:12-13; Col. 1:28). People who make decisions for Christ, who are called out by the Holy Spirit to be His disciples, must be educated for ministry.
1. "Loving the Lord with all our hearts," The church exists to worship God (Matt. 4:10, Ps. 34:3). Our worship should be an expression of and a witness to our love and devotion to God.
2. "Loving our neighbors as ourselves." The word here is ministry, and the Bible says the Saints are to be equipped for ministry (Eph. 4:12). Our members should be equipped to provide a "holistic" ministry to those around us. A ministry that touches the "Whole" person, meeting their spiritual, physical, mental and emotional needs. Jesus' words ring true here, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Jesus gives us our example of ministry.
3. "Going and making disciples." Evangelism - It is every Christian's responsibility and privilege to share Christ as we go. This task is so important we actually have five Great Commissions in the New Testament: Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8. The Gospel is truly the best news in the world!
4. "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." Baptism is to identify our fellowship in Christ's body. Baptism says you belong to Christ and His Church now (Eph. 2:19). As Christians we are called to belong to a family even as we are called to believe.
5. "Teaching them to be obedient in all things our Lord has commanded." The church also exists to edify (build up) and educate the people of God (Eph. 4:12-13; Col. 1:28). People who make decisions for Christ, who are called out by the Holy Spirit to be His disciples, must be educated for ministry.
Doctrinal Statement of Bonaire First Baptist Church
The following Doctrinal statement is consistent with the best of Baptist creeds* and Southern Baptist creeds** through the years. These statements are founded upon scriptural truths and focus upon core issues. We take Biblical truth as being non-negotiable in all matters. We also hold that the Bible is above all human rules (legalism), human traditions, and human sentiments. We are committed to bow to the Bible's authority and to be taught its deep riches under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit.
1. The Doctrine of Scripture. We believe in order for God to be disclosed to human beings, He must take the initiative. God has revealed Himself through creation (Psalms 19:1-6), Scripture (Psalms 19:7-11), and ultimately through His Son, Jesus Christ, (Hebrews 1:2). The Scripture contains everything sufficient for salvation, obedient living, and completeness in the Christian's life. The Scriptures are inspired of God in that He guided human writers and used their circumstances to produce exactly what He (God) intended to say. We further affirm God's Scripture is inerrant (in the originals) and contain absolute truth.
2. The Doctrine of God. We believe there is but one living and true God (1 Corinthians 8:4-6) who is an infinite and ultimate being and cannot be comprehended by anyone but Himself. He is all-powerful, everywhere present and possesses all knowledge and wisdom. He is Holy, Holy, Holy, (Isaiah 6) and cannot tolerate sin because He delights in holiness.
3. The Doctrine of Man. We believe God created man upright and perfect in God's own image (Genesis 1:26; 1:31) and placed him in a garden with a righteous law under the threat of death if man broke this law (Genesis 2:17). Adam and Eve subsequently broke this law upon temptation, this they did willingly breaking God's law (Genesis 3:6). Through their sin, the entire race was brought under the condemnation (Romans 5:14). The result is a marring of God's image and a rebellion against God by the entire fallen race (Romans 3:10-19). Consequently, men are described as hopelessly lost in sin being spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1), ignorant (1 Corinthians 2:14), and haters of light (John 3:19-20). There is nothing in man which has any merit before God. Therefore, salvation must come from God.
4. The Doctrine of Salvation. Man deserves hell and has no possible inherent resource and no prospect of salvation. Salvation is by grace alone through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). God the Holy Spirit regenerates (makes spiritually alive) all those who will be saved (John 3:3-8). By Christ's atonement, sinners who repent and believe are justified (forgiven of sins and given Christ's righteousness, Romans 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:21), sanctified (set apart as God's chosen vessels being progressively made into Christ's image, Romans 6:1-11) and glorified (the future act of Christ in eternity when we will be like Him, without sin, Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:53).
5. The Doctrine of the Church. The local church is to be a visible microcosm of the true church of Jesus Christ. It consists of baptized believers who come together in the covenant community of faith. We observe the ordinances (Baptism and the Lord's Supper) instituted by Christ, and practiced by the New Testament Church. Every believer is gifted by the Holy Spirit with spiritual gift(s) which are to be used for the edification of the church (Romans 12:4-8). Believers are to be "one another" people - in love, encouragement, attending worship faithfully, giving of their resources. God has given officers in His Scripture for the governance of Christ's church. They are Pastors, Elders, Bishops, and Deacons. The duties and characteristics of these officers are found in many New Testament references, especially Timothy and Titus.
2. The Doctrine of God. We believe there is but one living and true God (1 Corinthians 8:4-6) who is an infinite and ultimate being and cannot be comprehended by anyone but Himself. He is all-powerful, everywhere present and possesses all knowledge and wisdom. He is Holy, Holy, Holy, (Isaiah 6) and cannot tolerate sin because He delights in holiness.
3. The Doctrine of Man. We believe God created man upright and perfect in God's own image (Genesis 1:26; 1:31) and placed him in a garden with a righteous law under the threat of death if man broke this law (Genesis 2:17). Adam and Eve subsequently broke this law upon temptation, this they did willingly breaking God's law (Genesis 3:6). Through their sin, the entire race was brought under the condemnation (Romans 5:14). The result is a marring of God's image and a rebellion against God by the entire fallen race (Romans 3:10-19). Consequently, men are described as hopelessly lost in sin being spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1), ignorant (1 Corinthians 2:14), and haters of light (John 3:19-20). There is nothing in man which has any merit before God. Therefore, salvation must come from God.
4. The Doctrine of Salvation. Man deserves hell and has no possible inherent resource and no prospect of salvation. Salvation is by grace alone through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). God the Holy Spirit regenerates (makes spiritually alive) all those who will be saved (John 3:3-8). By Christ's atonement, sinners who repent and believe are justified (forgiven of sins and given Christ's righteousness, Romans 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:21), sanctified (set apart as God's chosen vessels being progressively made into Christ's image, Romans 6:1-11) and glorified (the future act of Christ in eternity when we will be like Him, without sin, Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:53).
5. The Doctrine of the Church. The local church is to be a visible microcosm of the true church of Jesus Christ. It consists of baptized believers who come together in the covenant community of faith. We observe the ordinances (Baptism and the Lord's Supper) instituted by Christ, and practiced by the New Testament Church. Every believer is gifted by the Holy Spirit with spiritual gift(s) which are to be used for the edification of the church (Romans 12:4-8). Believers are to be "one another" people - in love, encouragement, attending worship faithfully, giving of their resources. God has given officers in His Scripture for the governance of Christ's church. They are Pastors, Elders, Bishops, and Deacons. The duties and characteristics of these officers are found in many New Testament references, especially Timothy and Titus.