What We Believe
We Believe
The Holy Scriptures
We affirm that the Bible is God’s full and complete written revelation to man. These sixty-six books of the Bible that were given by the Holy Ghost make up the plenary (inspired equally in all parts) Word of God.
We instruct that the Word of God is an objective, propositional disclosure (I Thessalonians 2:13; I Corinthians 2:13), verbally inspired in every word (2 Timothy 3:16), undeniably unerring in the original manuscripts, infallible, and God-breathed. God has also promised to preserve His Word (Psalm 12:7) which includes their reliability and access for humanity. We believe the original text has been preserved for the English speaking people in the King James Version. We impart the literal, grammatical, historical interpretation of Scripture which upholds the belief that the opening chapters of Genesis depict creation in six literal days (Genesis 1:31; Exodus 31:17), define the unique and specific creation of man and woman (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:5-25), and outline marriage as between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5). Scripture also decrees that any sexual activity outside of a marriage relationship is an abomination to the Lord (Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 18:130; Matthew 5:27-32; 19:1-9; I Corinthians 5:1-5; 6:9-10; I Thessalonians 4:1-7).
We teach that the Bible establishes the only reliable and perfect directive of faith and practice (Matthew 5:18; 24:35; John 10:35; 16:12-13; 17:17; I Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
We impart that God spoke in His written Word by a process of dual authorship. The Holy Spirit so controlled the human instrumental authors and utilized their individual personalities and different writing styles to compile and record God’s Word to man (2 Peter 1:20-21). This record is completely without error in the totality or in the part (Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16). We believe, that while there are possibly numerous applications of any given passage of Scripture, there is only one true interpretation. As one diligently applies the literal, grammatical, and historical method of interpretation led by the instruction of the Holy Spirit, the meaning of Scripture will be thus discovered (John 7:17; 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-15; 1 John 2:20). It is the responsibility of believers to discover carefully the actual intent and meaning of God’s Word, understanding that proper application is binding on all generations. Yet the truth of Scripture stands in judgment of men; never do men stand in judgment of it.
God
The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty. ( 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12; Exodus 3:14; John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:15, 16; Malachi 3:6; 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23; Psalms 90:2; Genesis 17:1; Isaiah 6:3; Psalms 115:3; Isaiah 46:10; Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36; Exodus 34:6, 7; Hebrews 11:6; Nehemiah 9:32, 33; Psalms 5:5, 6; Exodus 34:7; Nahum 1:2, 3 ). God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain; he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands; to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them. ( John 5:26; Psalms 148:13; Psalms 119:68; Job 22:2, 3; Romans 11:34-36; Daniel 4:25, 34, 35; Hebrews 4:13; Ezekiel 11:5; Acts 15:18; Psalms 145:17; Revelation 5:12-14 ). In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him. ( 1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Exodus 3:14; John 14:11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:14,18; John 15:26; Galatians 4:6 )
We teach, believe, and admonish that there is only one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4), which exists as an infinite, all-knowing Spirit (John 4:24), who remains perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)—each equally deserving worship and obedience.
God the Father
God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, mandates and arranges all things according to His own purpose and grace (Psalm 145:8-9; 1 Corinthians 8:6). He is the Creator of everything that exists (Genesis 1:1-31; Ephesians 3:9). He is the sole and absolute omnipotent Ruler in the universe, and He remains sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption (Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:36). His fatherhood encompasses both His designation within the Trinity and His connection with mankind. Though He is Creator of all things, He also serves as Father to all men as well (Ephesians 4:6), but He is spiritual Father to only those who have believed (Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 6:18). For the purpose of His own glory, He has ordered all things that come to pass (Ephesians 1:11). He is constantly and continually supporting, directing, and regulating all creatures and events (1 Chronicles 29:11). By His complete sovereignty He is not the author of nor does He ever approve or condone sin (Habakkuk 1:13; John 8:38-47), neither does He curtail the accountability of moral intelligent created beings (1 Peter 1:17). The Scriptures make plain that the Father has graciously chosen from eternity past those who are saved (Ephesians 1:4-6); He saves from sin all who come to Him through Jesus Christ; He adopts as His own those who come to Him; and He becomes, upon adoption, Father to His own (John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Hebrews 12:5-9).
God the Son
Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, possesses all the divine excellencies, and in these, He is coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the Father (John 10:30; 14:9).
Through Jesus Christ, God’s Son, all things were brought into being, the Scriptures stating that the Father created all things by the Son. Through Him, all things continue in existence and in operation, and work according to the Father’s own will (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2).
When Jesus Christ became incarnated (God becoming man), Christ surrendered only the prerogatives of deity but nothing of the divine essence, in either degree or kind. Eternally existing as the second Person of the Trinity, in His incarnation He assumed all the essential characteristics of humanity and so became the God Man (Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9). We teach that Jesus Christ exemplifies humanity and deity in inseparable oneness (Micah 5:2; John 5:23; 14:9-10; Colossians 2:9).
We believe Scripture advises that our Lord Jesus Christ was virgin born (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23, 25; Luke 1:26-35); that He was God incarnate (John 1:1, 14); and that the purpose of the incarnation was to reveal God, redeem men, and rule over God’s kingdom (Psalm 2:7-9; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:29; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 7:25-26; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
This second Person of the Trinity laid aside His right to the full entitlements of coexistence with God in His incarnation, and took on an existence suitable to a servant while never stripping Himself of His divine aspects (Philippians 2:5-8).
Our Lord Jesus Christ acquired our redemption through the shedding of His blood and sacrificial death on the cross and His death was voluntary, vicarious, substitutionary, propitiatory, and redemptive (John 10:15; Romans 3:24-25; 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24).
We explain that through His literal and physical resurrection from the dead, our justification is hereby acquired, and that He is now ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He continuously mediates as our Advocate and High Priest (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:38-39; Acts 2:30-31; Romans 4:25; 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1).
In Jesus’ resurrection from the grave, God verified the deity of His Son and gave proof that He has accepted the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Jesus’ bodily resurrection is also the guarantee of a future resurrection life for all believers (John 5:26-29; 14:19; Romans 1:4; 4:25; 6:5-10; 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23).
We instruct that Jesus will one day return to collect the church, which is His Body, unto Himself at the rapture, and returning with His church in glory, will establish His millennial kingdom on earth (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20).
We inform that the Lord Jesus Christ is the One through whom God will judge all of mankind (John 5:22-23):
• Believers (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
• Living residents on the earth at His glorious return (Matthew 25:31-46)
• Unbelieving dead at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)
He acts as Mediator between God and man (1Timothy 2:5), the Head of His Body the church (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18), and the soon returning universal King, who will reign on the throne of David (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:31-33), and He is the final Judge of all those who fail to place their trust in Him as Lord and Savior (Matthew 25:14-46; Acts 17:30-31). Through His satisfactory and sufficient death, Jesus Christ has freed the believing sinner from the punishment, the penalty, the power, and one day the very presence of sin; and these believers are now declared righteous, given eternal life, and adopted into the family of God (Romans 3:25; 5:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18).
God the Holy Spirit
We instruct that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, eternal, underived, possessing all the attributes of personality and deity including intellect (1 Corinthians 2:10-13), emotions (Ephesians 4:30), will (1 Corinthians 12:11), omnipotence (Romans 15:13), and truthfulness (John 16:13). In all divine attributes, He is consubstantial and coequal with the Father and Son (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 28:25-26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; and Jeremiah 31:31-34 with Hebrews 10:15-17).
We teach that the Holy Spirit works to carry out the divine will in relation to all mankind. We recognize His sovereign activity in creation (Genesis 1:2), the incarnation (Matthew 1:18), the written revelation (2 Peter 1:20-21), and the work of salvation (John 3:5-7).
We admonish that the work of the Holy Spirit in this era began at Pentecost when He descended from the Father as promised by the Son (John 14:16-17; 15:26) to initiate and complete the building of the Body of Christ, which is His church (1 Corinthians 12:13). The broad scale of His divine acts include convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ and transforming believers into the image of Christ (John 16:7-9; Acts 1:5; 2:4; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22).
We impart that the Holy Spirit is the supernatural and sovereign Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Holy Spirit also indwells, sanctifies, instructs, empowers them for service, and seals them unto the day of redemption (Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13).
We believe that the Holy Spirit works as divine Teacher, who guided the apostles and prophets into all truth as they were entrusted to write God’s revelation, the Bible. Every believer enjoys the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation, and it is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with or controlled by, the Spirit (John 16:13; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 1 John 2:20,27).
We recognize that the Holy Spirit dispenses spiritual gifts to the church. He glorifies Christ by executing His work of redeeming the lost and building up believers in the most holy faith (John 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
In this respect, we believe that God the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the conferring of all His gifts for the perfecting of the saints today and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles in the beginning days of the church were for the purpose of pointing to and confirming the apostles as revealers of divine truth, and were never intended to be characteristic of the lives of believers (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 13:8-10; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:7-12; Hebrews 2:1-4).
Man
We impart that man was directly and immediately created by God and in His image and likeness. Man was created free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, self determination, and moral responsibility to God (Genesis 2:7; 15-25; James 3:9).
We teach that God’s original intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God, enjoy God’s fellowship, live his life in the will of God, and by this, complete God’s purpose for man in the world (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11).
We believe that in Adam’s sin of disobedience to the revealed will and Word of God, man lost his innocence; incurred the consequence of spiritual and physical death; became subject to the wrath of God; and became innately corrupt and totally inept of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. With no recuperative powers to enable him to recover himself, man is hopelessly lost. Therefore, man’s salvation is wholly of God’s grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-19; John 3:36; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; 1 John 1:8).
We believe that because all men were in Adam, the nature of man that was corrupted by Adam’s sin has been conveyed to all men of all ages, with the only exception being Jesus Christ (through a virgin’s conception). All men are hereby sinners by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration (Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12).
Salvation
We believe that salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of human virtue or works (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
Regeneration
We teach that regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which the divine nature and divine life are afforded (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5). It is immediate and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God (John 5:24), when the repentant sinner, as facilitated by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith to the divine provision of salvation. Genuine regeneration is manifested by fruits worthy of repentance as expressed in righteous attitudes and conduct. Good works will be its proper evidence and fruit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:10), and will be experienced to the extent that the believer submits to the control of the Holy Spirit in his life through faithful obedience to the Word of God (Ephesians 5:17-21; Philippians 2:12b; Colossians 3:16; 2 Peter 1:4-10). This obedience produces the believer to be increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Such a conformity is climaxed in the believer’s glorification at Christ’s coming (Romans 8:17; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:2-3).
Election
We believe that election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1-2).
We teach that sovereign election does not contradict or counteract the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord (Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11; John 3:18-19, 36; 5:40; Romans 9:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Revelation 22:17). Nevertheless, since sovereign grace includes the means of receiving the gift of salvation as well as the gift itself, sovereign election will result in what God determines. All whom the Father calls to Himself will come in faith and all who come in faith, the Father will receive (John 6:37-40, 44; Acts 13:48; James 4:8).
The unmerited favor that God grants to totally depraved sinners is not correlated to any initiative of their own part nor to God’s expectancy of what they might do by their own will, but is exclusively of His sovereign grace and mercy (Ephesians 1:4-7; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:2).
Election should not be viewed as based merely on abstract sovereignty. God is truly sovereign but He exercises this sovereignty in harmony with His other attributes, especially His omniscience, justice, holiness, wisdom, grace, and love (Romans 9:11-16). This sovereignty will always exalt the will of God in a manner totally consistent with His character as revealed in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:25-28; 2 Timothy 1:9).
Justification
We believe that justification before God is an act of God (Romans 8:33) by which He pronounces righteous those who, by way of faith in Christ, repent of their sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Isaiah 55:6-7) and confess Him as sovereign Lord (Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 2 Corinthians 4:5; Philippians 2:11). This righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of man (Romans 3:20; 4:6) and includes the imputation of our sins to Christ (Colossians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 5:21). By this means, God is enabled to “be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). These justified are now reckoned to have the righteousness of Christ. This goes beyond normal forgiveness and shows the believer as incapable of even sinning in the first place.
Sanctification
We believe that every believer is sanctified (set apart) unto God by justification and is therefore declared to be holy and is hence labeled as a saint. This sanctification is positional and instantaneous and should not be confused with progressive sanctification. This sanctification has to do with the believer’s standing, not his present walk or condition (Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 2:11; 3:1; 10:10, 14; 13:12; 1 Peter 1:2).
We confirm that there is also, by the work of the Holy Spirit, a progressive sanctification by which the state of the believer is brought closer to the standing the believer positionally enjoys through justification. Through obedience to the Word of God and the enabling of the Holy Spirit, the believer is able to live a life of ever-increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, becoming more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:17, 19; Romans 6:1-22; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 5:23).
In this respect, we teach that every saved person is engaged in a daily conflict—the new creation in Christ in a constant battle against the flesh—but ample provision is made for victory through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This struggle though, stays with the believer throughout this earthly life and is never entirely ended. All claims to the abolition of sin in this life are unscriptural. Eradication of sin is not possible, but the Holy Spirit does provide for victory over sin (Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 3:12; Colossians 3:9-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).
Security
Once saved, all of the redeemed are kept by the power of God and are hence secure in Christ for eternity (John 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 5:9-10; 8:1; 31-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 7:25; 13:5; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24).
It is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality (Romans 6:15-22; 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-14).
Separation
We affirm that separation from sin is clearly admonished throughout the Old and New Testaments, and that the Scriptures clearly indicate that in the last days, apostasy and worldliness will continue to increase (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5).
All believers, out of deep gratitude for the undeserved and unmerited grace of God granted to us and because our glorious God is so worthy of our total consecration, should live in such a manner as to express our adoring love to God so as not to bring reproach upon our Lord and Savior. We also teach that separation from all religious apostasy and worldly and sinful practices is commanded of us by God (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11).
All believers should be separated unto our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; Hebrews 12:1-2) and affirm that the Christian life is a life of obedient righteousness that mirrors the teaching of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:2-12) and a continual pursuit of holiness (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 3:1-10).
THE CHURCH
We believe that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual Body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8), of which Christ is the Head (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18).
We believe that the formation of the church, the Body of Christ, began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21, 38-47) and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
The church is thus a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all born again believers in this present dispensation (Ephesians 2:11-3:6). The church is also distinct from Israel (1 Corinthians 10:32), a mystery not revealed until this dispensation (Ephesians 3:1-6; 5:32).
The establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1) and the members of the one spiritual Body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (1 Corinthians 11:18-20; Hebrews 10:25).
The one supreme authority for the church is Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18) and church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically appointed officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are pastors (also called bishops and elders; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11) and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications ( 1Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-15). These leaders lead or rule as servants of Christ (1 Timothy 5:17-22) and have His authority in overseeing the church. The congregation is to submit to their leadership (Hebrews 13:7, 17).
We teach the importance of discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2), mutual accountability of all believers to each other (Matthew 18:5-14), as well as the need for discipline of sinning members of the congregation in harmony with the standards of Scripture (Matthew 18:15-22; Acts 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; Titus 1:10-16).
We affirm the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the intervening of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations (Titus 1:5). We believe that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith. Each local church, however, through its pastors and deacons and their interpretation and application of Scripture, should be the sole arbitrator of the measure and method of its cooperation. The pastor and deacons should define all other matters of membership, policy, discipline, benevolence, and government as well (Acts 15:19-31; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:4-7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1-4).
The express purpose of the church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21) by building itself up in the faith (Ephesians 4:13-16), by education of the Word (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16-17), by fellowship (Acts 2:47; 1 John 1:3), by keeping the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38-42) and by professing and communicating the gospel to the entire world (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; 2:42).
We believe all saints are called to the work of service (1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 4:12; Revelation 22:12).
We see the need of the church to cooperate with God as He accomplishes His purpose in the world. To that end, He bestows the church with spiritual gifts. First, He gives men chosen for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:7-12), and He also gives unique and special spiritual capabilities to each member of the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-31; 1 Peter 4:10-11).
We believe that there were two kinds of gifts given the early church: miraculous gifts of divine revelation and healing, given temporarily in the apostolic era for the intention of confirming the validity of the apostles’ message (Hebrews 2:3,4; 2 Corinthians 12:12); and ministering gifts, given to equip believers for edifying one another. With the New Testament revelation now complete, Scripture becomes the sole test of the accuracy of a man’s message and confirming gifts of a miraculous nature are no longer necessary to validate a man or his message (1 Corinthians 13:8-12). Miraculous gifts can even be counterfeited and imitated by Satan so as to mislead even believers (1 Corinthians 13:13-14:12; Revelation 13:13-14). The only gifts in operation today are those nonrevelatory equipping gifts given for edification (Romans 12:6-8). We teach that no one possesses the gift of healing today, but that God does hear and answer the prayers of faith and will answer in accordance with His own perfect will for the sick, suffering, and afflicted (Luke 18:1-6; John 5:7-9; 2 Corinthians 12:6-10; James 5:13-16; 1 John 5:14-15).
We affirm that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:38-42). Christian baptism by immersion (Acts 8:36-39) is the solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer displaying faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and his union with Him in death to sin and resurrection to a new life (Romans 6:1-11). It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible Body of Christ (Acts 2:41-42).
The Lord’s Supper is the remembrance and proclamation of His death until He comes, and should be always preceded by somber self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:28-32). We also believe that although the elements of Communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, the Lord’s Supper is however an actual communion with the risen Christ who is present in a unique way, fellowshipping with His people (1 Corinthians 10:16).
ANGELS
Holy Angels
Angels are created beings and are therefore not to be worshipped. Although created beings, they are a higher order of creation than man, and they are created to serve God and to worship Him (Luke 2:9-14; Hebrews 1:6-7; 2:6-7; Revelation 5:11-14; 19:10; 22:9).
Fallen Angels
We affirm that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin. He incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19), by taking numerous angels with him in his fall (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:1-14), and by introducing sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve (Genesis 3:1-15).
Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man (Isaiah 14:13-14; Matthew 4:1-11; Revelation 12:9-10); the prince of this world, who has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:20); and he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).
ESCHATOLOGY
Death
We believe that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness (Revelation 6:9-11), that the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8), there is a separation of soul and body (Philippians 1:21-24), and for the redeemed, such separation will continue until the rapture (1Thessalonians 4:13-17), which initiates the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6), when our soul and body will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord (Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54). Until that time, the souls of the redeemed in Christ continue in joyful fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8).
We believe in a bodily resurrection of all men: the saved to eternal life (John 6:39; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14), and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:13-15).
The souls of the unsaved at the time of death are kept under punishment until the second resurrection (Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:13-15), when the soul and the resurrection body will be united (John 5:28-29). They shall then appear at the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) and shall be cast into hell, the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41-46), cut off from the life of God forever (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
The Rapture of the Church
We believe in the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ before the seven year tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Titus 2:13) to translate His church from this earth to heaven (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:11) and, between this event and His glorious return with His saints, to reward believers according to their works (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
The Tribulation Period
Immediately following the removal of the church from the earth (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), we believe the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world (Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:27; 12:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 16), and that these judgments will be peaked by the return of Christ in glory to the earth (Matthew 24:27-31; 25:31, 46; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12). At that time, the Old Testament and tribulation saints will be raised and the living will be judged (Daniel 12:2-3; Revelation 20:4-6). This period includes the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:15-31; 25:31-46).
The Second Coming and the Millennial Reign
After the tribulation period, we attest that Christ will come to earth to occupy the throne of David (Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 1:10-11; 2:29-30) and set up His Messianic kingdom for a thousand years on the earth (Revelation 20:1-7). During this time, the resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth (Ezekiel 37:21-28; Daniel 7:17-22; Revelation 19:11-16). This reign will be preceded by the overthrow of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, and by the removal of Satan from the world (Daniel 7:17-27; Revelation 20:1-7).
We believe that the kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel (Isaiah 65:17-25; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:1-17) to return them to the land which they forfeited through their disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The result of their disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside (Matthew 21:43; Romans 11:1-26) but will again be awakened through repentance to enter in the land of blessing (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-32; Romans 11:25-29).
We believe that the Scriptures teach that this time of our Lord’s reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life (Isaiah 11; 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:33-38), and will be brought to an end with the release of Satan (Revelation 20:7).
The Judgment of the Lost
Following the release of Satan, and after the thousand year reign of Christ (Revelation 20:7), we believe that Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10) at which point Christ, who is the Judge of all men (John 5:22), will resurrect and judge the great and small at the Great White Throne Judgment.
We believe that this resurrection of the unsaved dead to the judgment will be a physical resurrection, and after receiving their judgment (John 5:28, 29), they will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20: 11-15).
Eternity
We believe that after the closing of the millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers (2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:7-15), the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which the rudiments of this earth are to be dissolved (2 Peter 3:10) and replaced with a new earth in which only righteousness will dwell (Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 20:15, 21-22). After this, the heavenly city will come down from out of heaven (Revelation 21:2) and will be the abode of the saints, where they will forever enjoy fellowship with God and with one another (John 17:3; Revelation 21-22). Our Lord Jesus Christ, having accomplished and completed His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28), that in all realms the triune God may reign forever and ever (1 Corinthians 15:28).
Address
Fellowship Baptist Church
332 Arrington Bridge Rd.
Goldsboro, NC 27530
Call Us
(919) 734-0442
