Doctrinal Statement
The Holy Scriptures – We believe the words of both the Old and New Testaments in their original form to be the verbally inspired Word of God, without error, infallible, God-breathed and the final authority in faith and conduct. (Matt. 5:18; John 16:12-13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
The Godhead – We believe in one Triune God, existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – eternal in being, identical in essence, equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4; Acts 5:3-4; Phil. 2:6)
The Person and Work of God the Father – God the Father sovereignly orders and directs all things according to His own purpose, pleasure, and glory. This includes saving from sin and death all who come to Him through faith in Jesus, and hearing and answering prayer. (Romans 10:9-13; Psalm 91:15; Hebrews 13:8)
The Person of Jesus Christ – We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. (Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1, 14, 18; Heb. 4:15).
The Condition of Man – We believe that man was created in the image of God, for the glory of God, to enjoy fellowship with Him, and to fulfil His will on earth. God created the human race male and female. We believe that in Adam, man sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death which is separation from God for all eternity; that Adam’s sinful nature is transmitted to the whole race of mankind, which means that all human beings are born sinners. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:20-23; 5:12; Eph. 2:12; Heb.9:27; Rev 20:14-15)
The Work of Jesus Christ – We believe that Jesus Christ came to reveal God and die as the substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all men, was buried, was raised from the dead in a physical body, ascended into heaven, and exalted to the right hand of God, whereas His people’s High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of intercession and advocacy. (Luke 1:35; 24:39, 51; John 1:1-2, 9, 14; 29; 3:15-28; 20:27; Acts 1:11; Rom. 3:24-26; 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:4; Eph. 1:22-23;
Heb. 1:3; 3:1; 7:23-25; 9:24, 26; 12:2; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; 1 John 2:1-2)
Salvation – We believe that salvation is a gift of God in grace and is received by man only through personal faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ whose precious blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. (Eph. 2:8-9 – “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”) (John 1:12; Eph. 1:7) We believe that each individual who believes in the person and work of Jesus Christ is cleansed of all his sins and stands before God accepted in the character and merit of Jesus Christ, possessing a new nature and eternal life. (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8-9; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Pet. 1:23; 1 John 5:11-13). Furthermore, the salvation of every believer is secure for all eternity from the moment he truly believes in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This security is guaranteed by the fact that the life that is imparted is eternal life by the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit. (John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; Eph. 1;13-14)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit – We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He also, in the present age, regenerates believers in Christ, baptizes them into the church, the body of Christ, at the time of salvation, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon each one, and fills those yielded to Him. (John 3:8; 4:16; 15:26-27; 16:7-15;
Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:4-14; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18)
The Church – We believe that the church, the Body and Bride of Christ which began on the Day of Pentecost, is a spiritual organism made up of all those who truly believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ irrespective of their affiliation with Christian organizations. (1 Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27)
Future Events – We believe in the personal and imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to receive His own, the Church, to Himself. (Zech. 14:4-11; Matt. 24; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 1 Thess. 1:9-10; 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 2:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Rev. 3:10; 20, 21)
The Eternal State – We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved and unsaved, and the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the unsaved. (Dan. 12:2; Luke 16-19; John 3:36; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 20:11-15)
Church Ordinances – We believe that the Lord Jesus instituted the ordinances of baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is to be observed regularly by all believers until His return. (Matt.28:19-20; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)
The Responsibility of Believers – We believe that all believers should seek to walk by the Spirit, separating themselves from worldly practices, witnessing by life and by word to the truths of the Holy Scripture. (Acts 1:8; Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 6:17; 7:1; Gal. 5:16, 25)
Position Papers
Also below are overviews of what we believe about several key areas of doctrine and practice.
FBC Church Position on Biblical Counseling
FBC Position on Gender & Sexuality