The Heart of Our Church
We are a Bible-Believing Church
A church desperately relies on the Bible to get its vision, mission, and design. All ministries and messages here at Tulare First Baptist Church will be rooted in the Word for the building up of every Christian (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
We are a Discipleship-Driven Church
The Bible tells us every Christian has been given a spiritual gift. This gift is meant to be used. Here at Tulare First Baptist Church, we are committed to using these gifts to build up one another. Pastors and teachers are disciple-makers who will help each Christian to use their gifts and grow in Christ (2 Timothy 2:1-2).
We are a Family-Friendly Church
At Tulare First Baptist Church we are committed to helping everyone cultivate a Christ-centered home for the next generation of believers. We desire to partner with families by offering family-friendly classes, discipleship, counseling, and more to help equip families with all they need to honor God in all that they do (Proverbs 22:6).
We are a Community-Connected Church
The church was designed by God to attract the lost to Himself. Tulare First Baptist is committed to serving the community of Tulare, the Central Valley, and even the globe to see people saved by Jesus Christ (John 13:34-35).
We are a Lost-Loving Church
Tulare, like any city, is in desperate need of the life-saving message of Jesus. We will love people and share the gospel with everyone. Our ministries, programs, and events are designed for people to come to this campus and hear the gospel (Luke 19:10).
Our Proposed By-Laws
"We Exist to Lead an Ever-Increasing Number of People to Love God, Love Others, and Serve Joyfully."
What We Believe
We believe in one God—Creator of all, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4).
We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a perfect, sinless life, died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of God, He is our High Priest and Advocate (Jn. 1:1,2; Lk. 1:35; Rom. 3:24‐25; 1 Pet. 1:3‐5; Heb. 9:24; Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 Jn. 1:1‐2; 1 Thess. 4:13‐18; Rev. 20:6c, 1 Pet.2:22).
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ, convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, and empower the believer for godly living and service (Jn. 15:26, Jn. 16:8; Rom. 8‐9; Eph. 1:13‐14; Jn. 14:26; Jn. 16:13; 1 Cor. 12:7; Eph. 5:18).
We believe that the New Birth (Salvation) and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are the same experience. All believers have been baptized into Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit making one unified body; because of this, we do not teach a second definite work of grace. As a result of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, His gifts and fruit are to be manifested during this church age (Rom. 6:1‐4; 1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Cor. 6:19; 1 Cor. 12:4‐11; Eph. 4:4‐7).
We believe the Bible to be the only inspired Word of God, without error in the original, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the final authority for all Christian faith and life (2 Tim. 3:16‐17; 2 Pet. 1:20‐21).
We believe that mankind, created in the image of God, fell into sin and is therefore lost. Only through faith in Christ and the regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained (Gen. 1:25‐26; Rom. 3:22‐23; Rom. 5:12‐21; Eph. 1:1‐3, 12; Titus 3:5; Eph. 2:8‐9).
We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22‐23).
We believe that life begins at conception and that all human beings are made in the image of God. (Psalm 139:13‐16; Genesis 1:26‐27; Job 3:16; 33:4; Exodus 20:13; Psalm 51:5, Romans 8:1; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1,5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15‐18; Luke 1:44)
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of fornication, adultery, homosexuality, pornography and other forms of immorality are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5,13; Leviticus 18:1‐30; Romans 1:26‐29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1‐8; Hebrews 13:4).
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for redemption, and only those who receive Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and are the children of God (Jn. 1:12; Acts 4:12; Heb. 9:22).
We believe that the Lord’s Supper and water baptism are ordinances to be observed by the Church. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation (Mt. 28:18‐20; Rom. 6:1‐4; Lk. 22:19).
We believe that the true Church is composed of all who have been regenerated by saving faith and are united as the body of Christ, of which He is the head (Eph. 1:22‐23; Eph. 5:23).
We believe in the physical and bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ. This “Blessed Hope” is to encourage and to have a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. As we long for His appearing, believers are called to be confident, ready, and to “stay awake” (Rev. 22:20; Acts 1:11; 1 John 3:1‐3; 1 Thess. 4:13‐18; Titus 2:11‐13; Matt. 24:42‐44; 2 Timothy 4:8).
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, of the believer to eternal joy with the Lord, and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting punishment (Mk. 9:43‐48; Rev. 20:10‐15; Rev. 22:3‐5; 1 Thess. 4:13‐18).