What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of First Baptist Church of Gahanna based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. We believe the Holy Scriptures to be the supreme and final authority in testing all claims about what is true, beautiful, and good.  All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Christianity is a revealed religion.  What can be known about God must first be revealed to us by God.  First, God revealed Himself through creation, namely His eternal power and divine nature are evident in the beauty, complexity, and vastness of visible universe.  Second, He revealed Himself though the Prophets beginning with Moses.  Finally, God has revealed Himself to us through His son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God.  

Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin and appointed as caretakers of the rest of God's creations.

When Adam and Eve chose not to believe God's word and disobeyed Him, they experienced God's impartial justice.  The consequence of their actions was the very spiritual death they disbelieved.  In dying spiritually, they became distorted and broken images of God who were now in conflict with Him.  In mercy, God removed them from the Garden in order to prevent this broken state from becoming permanent.  Because of Adam's sin, the whole of creation, which he was supposed to guard and nurture, was impacted and ever since that time is deteriorating under the weight of sin.

Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised Him from the dead and now, by grace, offers as a free gift eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.

The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, make disciples of all nations, and accomplish good works in service to others to the glory of God.

Jesus Christ is returning one day to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth.