About BAPTISM AND COMMUNION

We believe that Jesus commanded His followers to be baptized and to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, also known as Communion. Baptism is a public testimony of death to sin and resurrection to a new life after accepting Christ as personal Savior. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ’s sacrificial death. This church practices Believer’s Baptism by immersion and observes the Lord’s Supper as a symbolic memorial reserved for believers.

(Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30)

About SPIRITUAL GIFTS

We believe that spiritual gifts are sovereignly given by God to every believer as He wills. These gifts are to be used for the building up of the Body of Christ. Although we believe that God continues to act in supernatural ways, we believe and teach that the "charismatic gifts" (for example: the gift of tongues, the gift of miracles and the gift of healing) had a special significance during the New Testament era in order to authenticate God’s message. Today, we have God’s completed message (the Bible); therefore such gifts are no longer essential and this congregation does not practice, encourage, or seek the exercise thereof. 

(1 Corinthians 12-14)

About MARRIAGE

God’s creation intent in marriage is for a faithful, lifelong commitment between one man and one woman. This church defines “marriage” as a covenantal union of one man and one woman. Only marriage ceremonies consistent with this definition will be performed in this church or by our pastors. A civil government’s sanction of a union will be recognized as a legitimate marriage by this church only to the extent that it is consistent with this definition.

(Genesis 2:23-24; Malachi 2:13-15; Matthew 19:1-12;
1 Corinthians 7; Ephesians 5:22-33)

About LEADERSHIP

We believe in a plurality of leaders, both lay and vocational (Acts 15:2-23). Our pastors and ministry leaders join with our Deacon Board, under their authority, to collectively lead our church family in ministry. Our pastors, as overseers and shepherds, are expected to provide vision and leadership for the ministries of our church (1 Timothy 5:17); they provide spiritual care, nourishment, protection for the flock and direction for its members (Acts 20:28-31). Our deacons are similarly called to manage their specific areas of ministry and also function as the Board of Directors for the corporation. God’s Word calls for our leaders to lead with Godly maturity, wisdom, humbleness of heart, serving our church family and others. God’s Word also calls for our church family to respectfully support our leaders.

(Matthew 20:25-28, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Hebrews 13:17)

About CHURCH GOVERNANCE AND POLITY

God has not ordained any single means of church governance other than the Word of God, the Lordship of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. The First Baptist Church of Torrance has elected to vest its government in the members who comprise it. For purposes of church doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the collective membership of this church, as represented by the Board of Deacons, is the final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application. The church is self-governing, choosing its own leadership, managing its inner life, and determining its relationship to other churches. Torrance First Baptist Church is associated with Transformation Ministries which is a partnership of many ethnically and culturally diverse churches, adhering to baptistic convictions.