CORE BELIEFS


"In essentials, unity. In nonessentials, liberty. In all things, love."

The Bible

We believe the whole Bible is verbally and fully inspired by God and it is the supreme and final authority in faith and life
(2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:21; John 17:17).

The Trinity

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

Jesus Christ

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God, fulfill prophecy, and redeem sinful humankind
(John 1:1,14,18; Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:18).

We believe He accomplished our redemption through His substitutionary and sacrificial death on the cross, burial, and bodily resurrection. We believe our redemption and salvation are guaranteed by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead and that He is the only means of salvation
(Matthew 28:5–6; John 1:1, 14, 18; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24–26, 4:25; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:5–8; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14, 7:25; 1 John 2:2).

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Head of the church. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, exalted to the right hand of God where, as High Priest to His people, He serves as our Advocate and intercedes for us
(Colossians 1:15–19; Hebrews 1:3, 3:1, 7:23–25; 1 John 2:1–2).

Holy Spirit

We believe God the Holy Spirit is a person who restrains evil in the world and convicts people of sin.  He also regenerates those who receive Christ as Savior, baptizes them at the moment of regeneration into the body of Christ, the Church, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts on each one and fills those yielded to Him
(John 3:8, 14:16–17, 16:7–11; 1 Corinthians 12:4–13; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18).

Angels

We believe angels are spiritual beings who were created sinless personalities and that they presently exist in both fallen and unfallen states, the former including Satan and his demons
(Isaiah 14:12–14; Genesis 3:1–19; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:10).

Humanity

We believe man was created innocent and in the image and likeness of God, but that man sinned, bringing both physical and spiritual death to himself and his posterity (Genesis 1:27, 2:7, 3:19), can do nothing to merit God’s favor, and as such is in need of salvation (Isaiah 59:1–2; Romans 6:23). We believe that mankind’s sinful nature is rebellious toward God and His good design for life and worship (Romans 1:20–24; Ephesians 2:1–3). Mankind’s rebellion causes confusion about good and evil and harm to people ultimately ending in judgment, despair, and death (Genesis 1:31; Galatians 5:16–21; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; James 1:13–15).

We believe God created mankind in His image and assigned gender to His people, male (man) and female (woman), creating them sexually and biologically different, but with equal personal dignity and value (Genesis 1:26–28).

We believe God ordained marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:18; Matthew 19:4–9; Ephesians 5:31–33). Those who accept and live within God’s design for sex, biological gender, and marriage experience the blessing of His good design (Psalm 1:1–3, 128:1–4); and decisions to change, alter, or modify God’s will in marriage, sex, or gender are part of man’s brokenness and lead to despair (Romans 1:21–22; James 1:13–15).

We believe God loves and pursues mankind despite our rebellion (Romans 5:8). He offers forgiveness, healing, and abundant life to anyone who turns to Him in humility (John 3:17, 10:10; Titus 3:3–7; 1 Peter 5:6–7).

Salvation

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ died in our place for our sins on the cross, and that all who believe in Him are saved because of His shed blood
(Romans 3:24–26; Acts 16:31; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

We believe salvation is a gift of God and is received through personal faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin.  We believe that man is justified by grace through faith apart from works
(Acts 13:38, 39; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8–10; Romans 8:1).

We believe that all believers still possess a sinful nature in this life but that God has made full provision for believers to overcome this sinful nature and to live for God through identification with Christ, a knowledge of the Scriptures,
and by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit
(Romans 7:15–21, 6:1–11, 8:11–13; Ephesians 2:10).

Second Coming of Christ

We believe in the future, visible, and bodily return of Jesus Christ to the earth, commonly called the Second Coming, to rule the nations and establish His kingdom on earth
(Philippians 3:20; Matthew 24:15–31; Zechariah 14:4–11; Revelation 19:11–21).
Every member of FBC consents to agree with these Core Beliefs. A more comprehensive doctrinal statement can be found herewhich is supported by FBC ministry leaders (elders, deacons, pastoral staff, adult seminar teachers, small group leaders, and ministry team leaders).

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