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Our Beliefs

First Baptist Church Melissa is an autonomous, independent congregation of baptized believers choosing to cooperate with the Collin Baptist Association, the Southern Baptists of Texas, and the Southern Baptist Convention through cooperative missions giving, in on-going mission, ministry, and institutional support. First Baptist Church Melissa is conservative in theology, traditional in Baptist polity, and generous in missions giving.

As an autonomous Baptist congregation serving within the larger body of the New Testament Church, First Melissa holds dear certain core values, beliefs, and strategies as we together serve Christ and maintain fellowship with one another.

And, since we do strongly believe in the soul competency of each individual, and that each Christian is called to act as a believer priest, we also hold that covenants are to be made only between a believer and God. However, we do hold that inherent with church membership is by design a definite sense of agreement and adherence by the member to basic beliefs, structure, and mission.

Therefore, this core values statement is prepared with two possible purposes in mind. First, to help in your decision as to whether you feel God is calling you to become a part of this congregation. Second, to aid you as a member in evaluating and implementing your role, commitment, and calling to this local body of believers.·

The following statements are derived from and based upon the 2000 version of the Baptist Faith and Message. For the complete document, you may visit the Southern Baptist Convention web site at www.sbc.net.

  • God is defined as one living and true God. The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being. Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalms 90:2; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24, John 10:30; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14.

  • The Father - God reigns in providential care of the universe and He is personal Father to those who become children through faith in Jesus Christ. Gen. 1:1; 2:7; Ex. 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Lev. 22:2; Deut. 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chron. 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isa. 43:3;, 15; 64:8; Jer. 10:10; 17:13; Matt. 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Rom. 8:14-15; 1 Cor. 8:6; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 4:6; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.

  • The Son - Jesus is the eternal Son of God who became incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He honored God and man through a sinless life and his sacrificial life and death provides for the opportune redemption of mankind from sin's penalty. Gen. 1:18ff.; Psalm 2:7ff; 110:1f.; Isa. 7:14, 53, 9:6; Matt. 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27; 17:5, 27; 28:1-6, 19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18, 29; 10:30, 38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-30; 16:15-16, 28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20, 28; Acts 1:9-11; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5, 20; Rom. 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3, 34; 10:4; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8, 24-28; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Eph. 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16, 6:14-15; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15, 24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9, 20; 2 John 7-9; Rev. 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.·

  • The Holy Spirit - As Spirit, God exalts Christ and convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Spirit indwells every believer at the moment of salvation, and enlightens and empowers the surrendered believer. Gen. 1:2; Judg. 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalm 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isa. 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matt. 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10, 12; Luke 1:35; 4:1, 18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 3:3-7, 4:24; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17, 39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Rom. 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Cor. 2:10-14, 3:16, 6:19, 12:3-11; II Corinthians 3:17; Gal. 4:6, 5:25; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; Col. 3:14; 1 Thess. 5:19; 1 Tim. 3:16; 4:1; 2 Tim. 1:14; 3:16; Heb. 9:8, 14; Titus 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev. 1:10; 22:17.

  • Man was created by God in His own image, as God's crowning act of creation. Man chose to sin and introduced sin's consequence to mankind and creation at large. The value of mankind is reflected in the distinctness of containing God's own image and is confirmed in the illustration of God's extreme expression of sinless sacrifice through the person of Jesus Christ; therefore every created human being possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christ-like love. Gen. 1:26-30; 2:5, 7, 18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalm 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isa. 6:5, 53:6, 59:1-2; Jer. 17:5; Matt. 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Rom. 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18, 29; 1 Cor. 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Eph. 2:1-22; Col. 1:21-22; 3:9-11.

  • Salvation redeems the entire human being, and is offered freely to any who accept Jesus Christ as Savior. The sacrifice of Jesus secures the opportunity of salvation. Gen. 3:15; Ex. 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matt. 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14, 29; 3:3-21, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28-29, 14:6, 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 13:38-39, 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Rom. 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18, 29-39; 10:9-10, 13; 13:11-14; 1 Cor. 1:18, 30; 6:19-20; 15:1-4, 10; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; Gal. 2:20; 3:13, 26; 5:22-25; 6:15; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Tim. 1:12; Titus 2:11-14, 3:5; Heb. 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8, 14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Rev. 3:20; 21:1-22:5.

  • God's grace is the catalyst for salvation. God's grace initiates the conviction of sin and enables the believer to establish and maintain the relationship with God through Christ until the return of Christ. Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-8; 1 Sam. 8:4-7, 19-22; Isa. 5:1-7; Jer. 31:31ff.; Matt. 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22, 31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45, 65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6, 12, 17-18; Acts 20>32; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7, 26-36; 1 Cor. 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Eph. 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Col. 1:12-14; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:12; 2:10, 19; Heb. 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 1:2-5, 13; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.

  • Scripture was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of God's revelation of Himself to man. It has God for its author, salvation for its end and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter....The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ. Ex. 24:4; Deut. 4:1-2; 17:19; Josh. 8:34; Psalm 12:6, 19:7-10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140, 160; Isa. 34:16; 40:8; Jer. 15:16; 36; Matt. 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16 ff, 17:11; Rom. 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Tim. 1:13, 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

  • The Church is both local and universal. A local New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ, committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. This church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In such a congregation members are equally responsible. Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. The New Testament speaks also of the universal church as the body of Christ which includes all the redeemed of all the ages. Matt. 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23, 27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-32; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-15; 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3; 21:2-3.

  • Baptism and Lord's Supper are recognized as the two ordinances of the local church. Matt. 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26, 16:15-16; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:12, 35-39; 9:18, 10:47, 16:30-33, 20:7; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 10:16, 21; 11:23-29; Col. 2:12.Believer's baptism symbolizes the believer's faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior and also testifies of the believer's death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ that salvation has brought. The Lord's Supper memorializes the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and celebrates the surety of his Second Coming.

  • The Lord's Day is the first day of the week commemorating the resurrection of Christ and it is set apart for worship and celebration. Ex. 20:8-11; Matt. 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3, 33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1, 19-28; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Col. 2:16; 3:16; Rev. 1:10.

  • Evangelism and Missions are the heartbeat of our co-mission with Christ. The church seeks to introduce people to Jesus Christ and help them grow in spiritual maturity to be like Him. Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-6; Isa. 6:1-8; Matt. 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8, 16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 3:1-11; 1 Thess. 1:8; 2 Tim. 4:5; Heb. 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Rev. 22:17.

  • The kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the kingdom may come and God's will be done on earth. The full consummation of the kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age. Gen. 1:1; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5-6; Matt. 3:2; 4:8-10, 23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52; 25:31-46; 26:29; Mark 1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32; 17:20-21; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Rom. 5:17; 8:19; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Col. 1:13; Heb. 11:10, 16; 12:28; 1 Peter 2:4-10; 4:13; Rev. 1:6, 9; 5:10; 11:15; 21-22.

  • Last Things refers to the timing in which God will bring creation to an appropriate transition. Christ will return and mankind will be judged. God will reward those who are in Christ and unbelievers will be separated from God's presence for eternity, sentenced to a real place of judgment called hell. Isa. 2:4; 11:9; Matt. 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28, 24:21, 29-30, 25:31-46, 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40, 48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 4:5; 15:24-28, 35-58; 2 Cor. 5:10; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 1:5; 3:4; Titus 2:18; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 5:1ff., 2 Thess. 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Rev. 1:18; 3:10-11; 20:1-22:13.

  • Education in and through the church is held accountable to faithful interpretation of the pre-eminence of Christ, a responsible stewardship of the authoritative scriptures. Deut. 4:1, 5, 9, 14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Neh. 8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalm 19:7ff.; 119:11; Prov. 3:13ff/; 4:1-10; 8:1-7, 11; 15:14; Eccl. 7:19; Matt. 5:2; 7:24ff.; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40; 1 Cor. 1:18-31; Eph. 4:11-16; Phil. 4:8; Col. 2:3, 8-9; 1 Tim. 1:3-7; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:14-17; Heb. 5:12-6:3; James 1:5; 3:17.

  • Stewardship acknowledges that all things are created by God and belong to God and that we are indebted to manage all we have been given for God's honor and glory. Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27:30-32; Deut. 8:18; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 6:1-4, 19-21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21, 42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Rom. 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9; 12:15; Phil. 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19.

  • Cooperation for unity of purpose within diversity of practice is a Southern Baptist distinctive. Every ministry of the local church seeks to complement our shared mission and to honor the church at large. Ex. 17:12; 18:17ff.; Judg. 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Neh. 4; 8:1-5; Matt. 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff.; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1 Cor. 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2 Cor. 8-9; Gal. 1:6-10; Eph. 4:1-16; Phil. 1:15-18.

  • The Christian and Social Order should be reflected by a church membership that seeks to be Christ-like in the midst of community. The life of each church member should remain free of selfish ambition. Our church body is called to be involved our community and influence it for the cause of Christ. Ex. 20:3-17; Lev. 6:2-5; Deut. 10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Mic. 6:8; Zech. 8>16; Matt. 5:13-16, 43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3ff.; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Rom. 12-14; 1 Cor. 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Gal. 3:26-28; Eph. 6:5-9; Col. 3:12-17; 1 Thess. 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8.

  • Religious Liberty indicates that the state owes every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. There is to be a free church in a free state. Gen. 1:27; 2:7; Matt. 6:6-7, 24; 16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Rom. 6:1-2; 13:1-7; Gal. 5:1, 13; Phil. 3:20; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19.

  • Family is ordained by God. Marriage is the covenant commitment of one man and one woman for a lifetime. Husbands and wives are equal, created in God's image. The marital relationship should reflect the biblical model of God's relationship with His people. As children are conceived they are to be considered a blessing and heritage from the Lord, raised to know Christ as Savior and serve Him faithfully. Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.

Having received Christ as my Lord and Savior and been baptized by immersion after my salvation, and being in agreement with First Baptist Church Melissa's statements, strategy and structure, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the First Melissa church family. In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members to do the following:

  1. I WILL PROTECT THE UNITY OF MY CHURCH...By acting in Christ-like love toward other members...By refusing to gossip...By following and showing loyalty to the church's leaders. "So let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony, and on the growth of our fellowship together." Rom. 15:19 (Ph)"Live in complete harmony with each other - each with the attitude of Christ toward each other." Rom 15:5 (LB)"Have a sincere love for your fellow believers, love one another earnestly with all your hearts." 1 Peter 1:22 (GN)"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs..." Eph. 4:29"Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be no advantage to you." Heb. 13:17

  2. I WILL SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MY CHURCH...By praying for its growth...By inviting the unchurched to attend...By warmly welcoming those who visit our church...By lovingly and willingly sharing my faith with those who do not know Christ as Savior...By praying regularly for my church staff and our ministry in this community. "To the church...we always thank God for you and pray for you constantly." 1 Thess. 1:2 "Go out into the country...and urge anyone you find to come in, so that My House will be full." Luke 14:23 (LB)"So, warmly welcome each other into the church, just as Christ has warmly welcomed you; then God will be glorified." Rom. 15:7 (LB)"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes-Jews first and also Gentiles." Rom. 1:16 (LB) "Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do." Heb. 13:18 (LB)

  3. I WILL SERVE THE MINISTRY OF MY CHURCH...By discovering and employing my spiritual gifts and talents...By being equipped to serve by my pastors and teachers...By serving willingly and faithfully in at least one ministry area...By developing a servant's heart. "Serve one another with the particular gifts God has given each of you..." 1 Peter 4:10 (Ph)"God gave...some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God's people for works of ministry, so that the body of Christ may be built up..." Eph. 4:11-12 "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ...who took on the very nature of a servant..."Phil 2:3-4,7

  4. I WILL SUPPORT THE TESTIMONY OF MY CHURCH...By attending faithfully...By participating actively in a Sunday Morning Bible Study class...By seeking to grow spiritually and live a Christlike life...By giving regularly to support my church financially. "Let us not give up the habit of meeting together...but let us encourage one another." Heb. 10:25 "But whatever happens, make sure that your everyday life is worthy of the gospel of Christ." Phil. 1:27 (Ph) "But grow in the special favor and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." II Pet. 3:18 (LB) "Each one of you, on the first day of each week, should set aside a specific sum of money in proportion to what you have earned and use it for the offering." 1 Cor. 16:2 "A tenth of all you produce is the Lord's, and it is holy." Lev. 27:30


Our mission is to is to love God, love one another. We do this by being Satisfied in God, Savoring His word, Seasoning His world, and Sharing in His work. The result is a spiritual home where people are Welcomed, Loved Discipled, and Commissioned.