The Mission of First Baptist Church

The Gospel of Matthew and again in the book of Acts records for us the final commandments of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Acts 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Our mission therefore is very clear.  First Baptist Church of Avinger is to declare to our city, our county, our state, our country and to all the earth about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.—John 3:16

Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. —Isaiah 12:5

The Gospel of Jesus Christ means "a good message" or "good news."  It is the most important message that anyone could ever hear.

This Gospel of Jesus Christ answers all the questions.  "Why am I here?"  What is my purpose?"  "Is there life after death?"  The Gospel explains how to have peace, love, and joy is through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ the risen Lord.  Substitutionary because Jesus died in our place to pay for all the sin in our lives.  His desire is that we join him in heaven for eternity.

This Gospel is the central message of the Bible, and the only way to understand them is through this key.

This Gospel identifies Jesus Christ as the Messiah of Israel, as as the Son of God, Son of Man and part of the Trinity.  His whole life was the fulfillment of prophecies in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.  His birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and resurrection is the plan of Salvation for mankind from the very foundation of the world.  God does not want to see anyone perish and his proof is in the sending of his "only begotten Son" to earth from heaven.  Jesus death was an atonement for sins and his resurrection from the dead were promised beforehand by the prophets and attested by eyewitnesses.

When time time is right, Jesus Christ shall return to earth as glorious Lord and Judge of all.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Matthew 25:31-32 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

This Gospel then identifies Jesus Christ as the only living Savior, Master, Author of Life, and Hope for anyone who will put their hope and trust in him. The Gospel tells us that the eternal destiny of people everywhere depends on only one thing:  "Do you have a personal relationship in the Savior, Jesus Christ.