We are an independent, Bible-based Christian church serving the North Central Pennsylvania area. The object of the First Baptist Church of Galeton is the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, the administration of the ordinances of the New Testament, the spiritual improvement of its members, ministering to its own community, and the spread of the Gospel in all the earth.
Here’s a look at our Statement of faith and what we believe
The Scriptures We believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled men. Therefore, it is truth without any mixture of error. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
The True God We believe there is only One living and true God and infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; that in unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, executing distinct, but harmonious, offices in the great work of redemption (Ex. 20:2-3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Rev 4:11; John 5:7). Jesus Christ We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can be born of a woman, and that He is both the Son of God and God, the Son (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:14). We believe the salvation of sinners is divinely initiated and wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who, by the appointment of the Father, voluntarily took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, and honored the divine law by His personal obedience, thus qualifying Himself to be our Savior. His sacrifice was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place. Jesus Christ bore our sins in His own body on the tree, rose bodily from the dead the third day, and is enthroned in heaven now, sitting at the right hand of the Father.
The Holy Spirit We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the “evil one” until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgement; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth; that he seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer (John 14:16-17; Matt. 28:19; Heb. 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Gen. 1:1-3; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Eph. 1:13-14; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; Rom. 8:14-16, 26-27).
Creation We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by evolution (Gen. 1, 2; Col. 1:16-17; John 1:3).
Satan We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, the originator of sin, the ruler of the powers of darkness, and is destined for eternal justice in the lake of Fire (Matt. 4:1-3; 2 Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:10).
The Fall of Man We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of His Maker, but, by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless and happy state. Consequently, men are condemned sinners, not only by the sin principle within them, but also of choice. Therefore, he is under just condemnation without defense or excuse (Gen. 3:1-6, 24; Rom. 1:18, 32; 5:10-19).
Salvation We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation (Acts 16:31). We believe that sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; the the new creation is brought about solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the repentance, faith, and newness of life of the believer (John 3:3, 6-8; 2 Cor. 5:7; 1 John 5:1; Acts 16:30-33; 2 Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23, Eph. 2:1; 2 Cor. 5:19; Col.2:13).
The Local Church
We believe that a local church in a congregation of believers, baptized by immersion, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, right, and privileges invested in them by His Word. Its officers are pastors and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in Scripture. We believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men and the edification of believers for the glory of God. We hold that local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy, individuals, or organizations, and the fellowship with area churches, membership, government, discipline, and benevolence, after careful study of the Scriptures (Acts 2:41; 15:13-18; 20:17-28; 1 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22, 23; 4:11; 5:23-24; 1 Tim. 3:17; Col. 1:18).
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that there are two ordinances for the local church: Christian Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, resulting in our death to sin and resurrection to new life. It is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. The Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death until He comes, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination (Acts 8:26-39; John 3:23; Rom. 6:35; Matt. 3:16; Col. 2:12; 1 Cor. 11:23-28).
The Security of the Saints
We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6; John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:35-39; Heb. 7:25; Jude 1). We believe in the Lord’s imminent pretribulational and premillennial return for the Church.
The full Statement of Faith, Membership, and Organization of The First Baptist Church of Galeton can be found in our Constitution.
