I. OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and, therefore, is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct creeds and opinions should be tried.
1. By “The Holy Bible” we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written, does not only contain and convey the Word of God but IS the very Word of God.
2. By “Inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
II. THE TRUE GOD
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God an infinite intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
III. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the Creation, and in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.
IV. OF THE DEVIL OR SATAN
We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the inspirer of all apostasy, the lord of the Antichrist, and the chief of all the powers of darkness–destined, however, to a final defeat at the hands of God’s Son, and to suffer the judgment of an eternal justice in a place prepared for him and his angels.
V. OF THE CREATION
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or developments through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life were made directly, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.” We believe that Genesis 1:1 is the record of the heavens and the earth being brought into existence in a basic form on the first day of the Creation Week; that this work plus the work of bringing light into existence constitute, not two works of God widely separated by millions or billions of years, but the two works of God on Day one of Creation Week; that each of the six days, plus the seventh day of rest, in Creation Week was, not an age, but a day such as each day in the command of God to work six days and to rest one day.
VI. OF THE FALL OF MAN
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but by choice; and, therefore, under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
VII. OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and He is both- the Son of God, and God the son.
VIII. OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His perfect obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but in the voluntary substitution of Himself in the {sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Saviour.
IX. OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again, that the new birth is a new creation in Jesus Christ; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner beyond our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, not by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. We believe that all born again believers make up the Body and Bride of Christ.
X. OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION
We believe in God’s electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; this rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
XI. OF JUSTIFICATION
We believe that the great Gospel which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works or righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us.
XII. OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of Salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy, at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only all-sufficient Saviour.
XIII. OF THE CHURCH
We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second, to build up the Church; Third, to teach and instruct as He commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of his order; we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organization; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; that on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
XIV. OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer; in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church, to show fourth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation to the Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always by solemn self examination.
XV. OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
We believe that only those are real believers who endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark that distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.
XVI. OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all those who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse, and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious sufferings of the lost.
XVII. OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming Prince of the kings of earth.
XVIII. OF THE RESURRECTION AND RETURN OF CHRIST AND RELATED EVENTS
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the resurrection, we believe that Christ arose bodily “the third day according to the Scriptures;” that He ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God.” “That 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”–bodily, personally, and visibly; that the “dead in Christ shall rise first;” that the living saints “shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” “that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David” and that “Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until he hath put all enemies under His feet.”
We believe that seven years before Christ returns to set feet on the earth, and to rule one thousand years over all the peoples of the earth. He will appear in the clouds in the air; “the dead in Christ shall rise” that “we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air” that the rise and rule of the Antichrist, and terrible judgments of God, shall come to pass during the seven year period of time between the appearing of Christ in the air to callout His saints, living and dead, and His return to earth to rule over all people for one thousand years.
XIX. OF MISSIONS
We believe that the command to give the Gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this commission was given to the churches.
XX. OF THE GRACE OF GIVING
We believe that God’s method of financing His earthly work of spreading the Gospel to all nations, the care of the churches, and the support of the ministry is by the tithes and offerings of His people; that it is to be given to the Lord through His church to be distributed as directed by the leadership of the church as the need arises; that the time to tithe is upon the first day of the week that everyone is accountable to the Lord for one-tenth of his income and that tithing was instituted long before the law was ever given and was practiced by the early church.
XXI. OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that the Holy Spirit gives every born again believer one or more Spiritual gifts to be exercised for the edification of the Saints and the furtherance of the Gospel. We believe that special sign gifts were given during the apostolic age for the confirmation of the authority and ministry of the early church. We believe that after the apostolic age, these sign gifts ceased to exist. Therefore, we believe that the modern charismatic movement as we see it today is not scriptural.
XXII. FINAL AUTHORITY FOR MATTERS OF BELIEF AND CONDUCT
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of FBC’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Pastor, Deacon Body, and Trustees are FBC’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application in areas not directly addressed in this statement of faith.
XXIII. STATEMENT ON THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps 139.)
XXIV. STATEMENT ON CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT
The membership of this Church shall be composed of individuals who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and affirm the tenets of the Statement of Faith and Church Constitution, and who offer evidence, by their confession and their conduct, that they are living in accord with their affirmations to the Statement of Faith and Church Constitution, and are actively pursuing and continuing in a vital fellowship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. The Pastor and Deacons of this Church shall have final authority in all matters of church governance, as set forth and described in the Church Constitution. A person may enter the church through baptism, vote, or transfer and may exit the church only through transfer, letter of recommendation, death, or discipline.
XXV. STATEMENT ON GENDER, SEXUALITY, AND MARRIAGE
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27.) Rejection of one’s biological gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. (Ex. 20:14; Rom. 13:9)
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, and incest) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10.)
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Faith Baptist Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Faith Baptist Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Faith Baptist Church or any of its ministries, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Gender, Sexuality, and Marriage. (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22.)
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11.) We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Faith Baptist Church.
We believe that the Bible teaches that in the beginning God created man then woman (Gen. 1:28; 2:18; 2:21-25). The order and manner of this creation indicates His design was for them to be complimentary (Gen 3:16). Marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman before God (Mal. 2:14). As such, the ceremony is an act of worship of the Creator for the blessing of marriage (Prov. 18:22; 19:14). Weddings in the church should rightfully be referred to as worship services.
