Our Beliefs

First Baptist Church

First Baptist Church of Park Forest (FBC) is an autonomous non-affiliated Baptist Church. We believe in the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and the Bible being the divinely inspired word of God. We practice two religious ordiannces: baptism and communion. An "ordinance" is generally thought to be something Jesus told us to observe with other Christians. Baptism is the first ordinance you completed as a baptized believer.

Baptism

The word "baptism" comes from a Greek word baptisma. This word literally means immersion or submersion. At the time of Jesus, there was John's baptism. John the Baptist baptized Jesus when he was 30 years old in the Jordan River. This was an immersion baptism considered as a purification rite where people received pardon for their past sins.

After the Resurrection of Christ, the ritual of baptism changed. People were now baptized in the name of Christ. Christian baptism, called believer's baptism, was not only a ritual for confessing sins but also an acknowledgement of having been born again by the Holy Spirit with a new life publicly embracing the fellowship of Christ and the church. This idea is supported by the Great Commission. Jesus instructed his disciples to go forth evangelizing and baptizing all nations. It is found in

Matthew 28:19-20:

19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)

People often ask from where did John the Baptist get the idea of baptism? Scholars believe the idea originated with the Jewish custom of "Mikvah." Mikvah is a ritual washing procedure that symbolizes purification. This purification is only temporary. Some Jews take a Mikvah every Friday in preparation for the weekly Sabbath or before Jewish Holy Days. The Mikvah is also done before weddings and other spiritual undertakings. All Judaic converts takes a Mikvah when they enter the faith and that is the basic symbol of purification.

Baptist churches are charged with only baptizing people who understand the significance of the act: you are resurrected to a new life in Jesus Christ. Small children and babies do not have the maturity to accept this concept. They can be dedicated to the Lord and, when mature enough, choose to be baptized by immersion.

Beliver's baptism is only required when you first become a Baptist. Although some have left the faith and then returned and requested re-baptism, you are only required to be immersed once.

For more information on Baptism:

Communion

The second ordinance we practice is that of communion. Communion, usually called the Lord's Supper, follows Jesus commandment as spoken in

Luke 22:19:

19 "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (NIV)

Communion is often the most misunderstood practice in the church. Depending on whether you are Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist of Multi-Denominational, you view communion in different ways. The three views of communion are Symbolic, Transubstantiation and Consubstantiation.

The Symbolic view is usually held by Baptists, Presbyterian and many independent churches. This view holds that the bread and wine presented in Communion are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ. This is what First Baptist Church and JTTC practice.

Catholics believe in Transubstantiation which holds that the bread and wine offered at communion becomes the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ after being consecrated by a priest. The Consubstantiation view, which was proposed by Martin Luther, maintains that the bread and wine do not change into the actual body and blood of Jesus but brings Christ's presence to the table.

Holy Communion

At First Baptist Church, Holy Communion is never to be taken lightly. It is a time when you should be focused on God and your personal relationship with him. Communion, the Lord's Supper, commemorates the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and iniquities (wickedness, evil deeds). The bread or cracker symbolizes the broken body of Christ while the cup symbolizes his blood. This sacrifice illustrates the great love God has for us all.

In today's churches, Communion is generally served in one of three ways:

The Common Cup - Often used in Catholic and Episcopalian services. This method has each person drink from a common cup.
Intinction - This method has a common cup and loaf of bread. The individual takes a piece of the common bread and dips it in the cup so that the bread and wine/juice are taken at the same time.
Individual Cup - In this method, each person receives and individual cup and piece of bread.

At First Baptist Church, Communion is on First Sunday. First Baptist Church serves communion in individual cups with unleavened bread attached. We practice open communion and as a baptized believer, you are welcome to take communion.

For more facts on communion please visit: