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(Choose A Topic From These Links)
Name | Covenant | Scriptures | Godhead | Christ | Holy Spirit
Total Depravity | Salvation | Two Natures | Separation | Missions
Church | Dispensationalism | Satan | Second Advent | Eternal State
Israel | Sunday | Marriage | Divergent Doctrine | Purpose
ARTICLE I
The name of this local church is Faith Bible Church. to the top
ARTICLE II
Having been led by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to give it a sacred preeminence over all institutions of human origin; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and personal devotions; to train our children according to the Word of God; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, and always, mindful of the rules of the Saviour, ready for reconciliation without delay.
We moreover engage, that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word. to the top
ARTICLE III
Statement of Faith
A. The Holy Scriptures - We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:20,21). to the top
B. The Godhead - We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (II Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:19). to the top
C. Creation - We believe that God created the Heavens and the Earth and all things therein from nothing in six literal days (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 11:3). to the top
D. The Person and Work of Christ
1. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, became man without ceasing to be God, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (John 1:1-18; Luke 1:26-35).
2. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice and that our justification is made sure by His literal physical resurrection from the dead (I Corinthians 15:3,4; Hebrews 9:22; Romans 5:8,9; Ephesians 2:8-10).
3. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, Mediator and Advocate (Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; I John 2:1,2). to the top
E. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8; 3:3-6; I Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13).
2. We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth, and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (Acts 4:29-31; Ephesians 5:18). to the top
F. The Total Depravity of Men - We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God and that man is totally depraved and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Romans 5:12; 3:9-20; John 3:1-21). to the top
G. Salvation - We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (John 1:12, 13). to the top
H. The Two Natures of the Believer - We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Romans 7:15-25; I John 1:8-10). to the top
I. Separation - We believe that all saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; and be separated from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, including but not limited to:
1. Separation from the world and worldly amusements (I John 2:15-17; James 4:4; Titus 2:11-15).
2. Freedom from membership in oath bound religious or social secret organizations, or other entangling alliances with unbelievers (II Corinthians 6:14; 7:1).
3. A moral conduct beyond reproach and freedom from carnal indulgence, such as the use of intoxicating liquors, tobacco in all its forms, and narcotic drugs, all of which are harmful, a stumbling block, and out of harmony with a dedicated life as set forth in Romans 8:12,13; 12:1,2;13:14; 14:21; Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:1-17; I Peter 1:14-16; I John 3:5-9. to the top
J. Missions - We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scriptures and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind (Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47-49; John 20:21; Acts 26:17-18). to the top
1. We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age (Revelation 19:7; Ephesians 5:25-27).
2. We believe that for the person who receives the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour, water baptism by immersion before church membership portrays the believer's union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. We believe that Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's Supper to commemorate His death till He comes. Moreover, we believe that neither water baptism nor the Lord's Supper has any saving merit (John 1:12,13; Romans 6:3,4; I Corinthians 11:23-26).
3. We believe the sovereignty of God in controlling the giving of all gifts as taught in His Word, and that all gifts do not have the same importance, nor are all to be emphasized and practiced during all periods of the church age. Concerning tongues, we believe God's Word teaches:
a. That the gift of tongues was a gift of foreign languages for the purpose of telling the Gospel to others (Acts 2:4-8).
b. That such a gift was neither essential to prove the presence of the Holy Spirit nor indicative of deep spiritual experience (I Corinthians 12),
4. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 2:41; Philippians 1:1).
5. We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. to the top
L. Dispensationalism - We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man's responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these -- the age of law, the age of the Church, and the age of the Millennial Kingdom -- are the subjects of detailed revelation in scripture. to the top
M. The Personality of Satan - We believe that Satan is a fallen being, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Isaiah 14:12-15; II Corinthians 11:14,15; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9-11; 20:10). to the top
N. The Second Advent of Christ - We believe in the "Blessed Hope," the personal, imminent, pretribulation and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; Matthew 24:27-30; Revelation 1:7). to the top
1. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (I Corinthians 15:26, 51-54; Revelation 20:11-15).
2. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (II Corinthians 5:7-9).
3. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment (Revelation 19:20; 20:10,14,15; 21:8). to the top
P. The Nation Israel - We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God's covenant people; that she is now being disciplined because of her rejection of Christ; and that she will be regathered in the Holy Land and saved as a nation at the Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 7:1-8). to the top
Q. The First Day of the Week - We believe that Sunday is to be set aside for special worship in commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ. This day should, therefore, be observed in a manner that calls the world toremembrance of Him. to the top
R. Marriage - We believe that holy matrimony was instituted of God and sanctioned by our Lord Jesus Christ and should be held in honor by all. This relationship should be between one man and one woman until separated by death and that any other separation and remarriage constitutes adultery. to the top
S. Divergent Doctrine - We believe that the foregoing statements in this "Statement of Faith" include only items in keeping with the Scriptural admonition to "speak those things which become sound doctrine." We are, therefore, unalterably opposed to the inclusion of any item(s) that would be divergent in nature. to the top
ARTICLE IV
A. This assembly is organized and maintained for the following purposes:
1. To edify Christians through preaching and teaching the whole counsel of God (II Timothy 4:2; Acts 2:42; 20:27; Ephesians 4:12; 3:8).
2. To promote fellowship among believers (Matthew 28:20; John 17:24).
3. To promote the worship of God (Ephesians 1:3-14; I Peter 2:5-10).
4. To encourage prayer (Acts 2:42).
5. To administer the church ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Romans 6:3,4; I Corinthians 11:23-26).
6. To earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
7. To fulfill the Great Commission as given in Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15.
B. Means of Promoting the Purposes: In order to fulfill these purposes, this church shall engage in activities and conduct ministries which may include, but are not limited to, worship services, evangelistic services, prayer meetings, youth activities, radio and television programs, a day school, a Sunday school, a bus ministry, missionary activities, nursing homes, a Bible institute, college, and/or seminary. to the top
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