What We Believe
:: The verbal plenary inerrant inspiration of the Bible (66 books).
:: There is only one living and true God, the creator of heaven and earth.
:: The unity of the Godhead consisting of three Divine persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
:: The virgin birth, absolute deity and sinless life of Jesus Christ.
:: The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ to provide salvation for all who put their faith in Him for the forgiveness of sin.
:: The person and work of the Holy Spirit.
:: The reality of Satan, his destructive work today and ultimate judgment.
:: The personal and bodily return of Jesus Christ.
:: The bodily resurrection of all men; some to eternal life and some to everlasting punishment.
:: There is only one living and true God, the creator of heaven and earth.
:: The unity of the Godhead consisting of three Divine persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
:: The virgin birth, absolute deity and sinless life of Jesus Christ.
:: The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ to provide salvation for all who put their faith in Him for the forgiveness of sin.
:: The person and work of the Holy Spirit.
:: The reality of Satan, his destructive work today and ultimate judgment.
:: The personal and bodily return of Jesus Christ.
:: The bodily resurrection of all men; some to eternal life and some to everlasting punishment.
What we believe about worship
Worship, simply stated, is the logical response of individual believers to God for who he is and what he has done for them (Romans 12:1). We believe that corporate worship should be an extension of what is already taking place in the individual believer’s life on a regular basis. The goal of our services is to glorify God and direct hearts and minds toward Him. We hope that through prayer, praise, and the reading and teaching of God’s Word we can both foster a spirit of admiration and love for God, and provide an opportunity for individual believers to worship God together in spirit and in truth.
Statement of Faith
The Doctrine of Scriptures
Inspiration
1. We believe that the entire Bible, containing 66 books from Genesis to Revelation, is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).
2. We believe that the Scripture was written by holy men of God who spoke as they were moved (controlled) by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20–21).
Inerrancy
1. We believe that the Scripture is inerrant in the original writings, including doctrine, matters of history, geography, and science.
2. It is the supreme standard of authority by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried (Matthew 5:18; Isaiah 8:20).
Canon
We believe that the canon of Scripture is closed. The process of inspiration was terminated with the inscription of the book of Revelation.
Interpretation
We believe that it is the responsibility of every believer to diligently study the Word of God through the aid of the Holy Spirit, using the literal, grammatical-historical method of interpretation to ascertain the meaning and application of Scripture (John 16:12–13; 2 Timothy 2:15).
The Doctrine of God
Who God Is
1. We believe that there is only one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4), infinite in being and perfect, the creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1), glorious in holiness (Exodus 15:11), and worthy of our worship (Revelation 15:4).
2. We believe that in the unity of the Godhead there are three divine persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
3. We believe that these three persons are co-equal (John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4c).
God the Father
1. We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Holy Trinity (1 Corinthians 8:6).
2. We believe that the fatherhood of God involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with mankind.
3. We believe that God the Father created all things through His Son, Jesus (Colossians 1:16).
4. We believe that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10, 14).
5. We believe that God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26).
God the Son
1. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity and the eternal Son of God (John 1:1; 8:58). There was never a time when He was not the Son of God, and there has always been a Father/Son relationship within the Godhead (John 17:5).
2. We believe that He is the eternal Son of God who became man (incarnate) without ceasing to be God (Philippians 2:6−7).
3. We believe that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:30–35).
4. We believe that He was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:23) in a miraculous manner, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born, in order that He might redeem sinful man.
5. We believe that He gave proof that He accomplished man’s redemption by His bodily resurrection from the grave (Matthew 28:6; John 2:18–21; 1 Peter 1:3) and His many miracles (John 20:30–31).
6. We believe that His resurrection confirmed His deity (Romans 1:4).
7. We believe that He ascended to the right hand of His Father (Hebrews 8:1).
8. We believe that He will return to receive the Church, the body of Christ, at the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17).
9. We believe that all men who reject Christ as their Lord must stand before Him as their judge (Acts 17:30–31).
God the Holy Spirit
1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity (Acts 5:3–4c).
2. We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin (John 16:7–11).
3. We believe that He brings new life to those who believe in Christ (John 3:5–6; 1 Corinthians 12:3).
4. We believe that He baptizes (places) all believers into the one true Church, which is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
5. We believe that He indwells believers permanently and seals them unto the day of redemption (1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13).
6. We believe that He bestows spiritual gifts upon believers (1 Corinthians 12:7).
7. We believe that it is the privilege and duty of every believer to be controlled by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and evidence the fruits of the Spirit in his or her life (Galatians 5:22–23).
The Doctrine of Creation
The Creation
1. We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man and all things in the universe came to be by the direct creation of God and not through any evolutionary process (Genesis 1:1).
2. This creation was accomplished recently in six literal 24-hour days (Genesis 1:31; Exodus 31:16–17).
The Creator
1. We believe that God created ex nihilo (out of nothing). He did not use any preexisting materials (Hebrews 11:3).
2. We believe that Jesus Christ sustains the created universe (Colossians 1:17).
The Doctrine of the Fall of Man
His Nature and Transgression
1. We believe the first man, Adam, was directly created by God (Genesis 1:27) without sin and with a rational nature under the law of his maker, but by voluntary disobedience, he fell from that state (Genesis 3:1–13).
2. We believe that all men are descended from Adam and inherit from him their corrupt nature (Romans 5:19). Therefore, all men are alienated (separated) from God in their corrupt state (Colossians 1:21) and deserve God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:3).
The Effect
1. We believe that the consequence of the fall is that all men are now sinners, not only by the inheritance of a sin nature (Psalm 51:5) but also by choice (Romans 3:23; Ecclesiastes 7:20).
2. We believe that the fall brought about death immediately, in the sense that Adam and Eve were spiritually separated from God (Genesis 2:17; 3:8). Their sin also introduced into their bodies the process of decay, aging, and physical death (Genesis 2:17; Ezekiel 18:20). Eternal death is the culmination and completion of spiritual death—the soul is separated from God forever and will suffer endless punishment (Matthew 25:40–41; Revelation 20:15).
3. We believe that spiritual death results in eternal death unless a man is saved by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:14).
The Doctrine of Satan and the Realm of Fallen Angels
His Nature and Fall
1. We believe in the personality of Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:9). He was one of God’s angels who rebelled and fell from his original state, became the open and avowed enemy of God and men (1 Peter 5:8), and the prince and ruler of this present world (John 16:11).
2. We believe that a great multitude of angels fell with Satan (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:3–4). These unholy angels constitute the demonic host.
3. We believe that Satan introduced sin into the human race by his successful temptation of Adam (Genesis 3:1–15).
Satan and the Christian
1. We believe that it is the Christian’s responsibility to resist Satan (James 4:7) and all his evil solicitations.
2. We believe that God has equipped the believer to stand against Satan (Ephesians 6:11–18; 2 Peter 1:3).
3. We believe that a Christian cannot be demon possessed (1 John 5:18).
The Judgment of Satan
1. We believe Satan is destined to be judged by God.
2. He will suffer eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10).
The Doctrine of Salvation
God’s Work in Salvation and Man’s Response
1. We believe that the salvation of sinful humanity was accomplished according to the will of God in sending forth His Son into the world to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind (John 3:16). Because of the fall of Adam, it was necessary for Jesus Christ to freely take upon Himself our nature, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He honored the divine law by His perfect obedience (John 8:29), and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for the sins of the whole world (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2).
2. We believe that Jesus rose from the dead and is now enthroned in heaven (Hebrews 1:3). He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior. The moment a person believes in Christ as Lord and Savior, that person passes from death to eternal life and stands before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ (Romans 10:9; Romans 4:5).
The Extent of the Atonement
1. We believe that the atonement of Christ was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place—the just dying for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18).
2. We further maintain that Jesus Christ, the Second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45), came as the Savior of mankind to bear the sins of the world (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2) in his own body (Isaiah 53:5). However, only those joined to Christ by faith actually share in the merits of the atonement. Jesus is the Savior of all men potentially (1 Timothy 1:15; Hebrews 2:9) but of believers alone actually (1 Timothy 4:10; Acts 2:21). Faith alone in Christ is the sole condition for salvation.
3. We believe in the doctrine of the unlimited atonement of Christ which maintains that every human being who is presented with the gospel has the opportunity to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:3–6). The offer of the gospel to all (Revelation 22:17) is a bona fide offer.
4. In Leviticus 16 we are told that the sacrifices on the Day of Atonement were for “all the congregation of Israel” (v. 17), with regard to “all their iniquities” (v. 22). Yet we are also told that “if there is any person who will not humble himself on that day, he shall be cut off” (Leviticus 23:29). This teaches a universal provision, with a particular appropriation or application. Provision for all sinners is also seen in the typology of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness (John 3:14–17; Numbers 21:4–9).
5. We believe that a universal provision of salvation does not mean that every man will be saved (Revelation 20:12–15). Jesus said, "if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). God was, in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19), but sinners must be reconciled to God through faith in Christ’s death on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:20). Christ’s death on the cross was an adequate penalty for sin, but we are not to view this as an individual and separable penalty for each sin of each individual. Because His death was of infinite value, Jesus bore a penalty which was more than equal to the penalty that could be paid by all humans throughout all eternity.
6. We believe that the free exercise of a man’s grace-enabled faith in Christ is not to be construed as a work that merits salvation (Romans 4:5). Faith in Christ is the guilty sinner’s acknowledgment that he has no righteousness of his own (Romans 4:1–5; Galatians 3:6–7). We further maintain that regeneration does not precede faith (John 20:31).
The Doctrine of Justification
The Nature of Justification
1. We believe that the great gospel blessing Christ secures to those who believe in Him is justification (Romans 3:21–28). To justify means to declare righteous.
2. Justification is a legal act whereby man’s status before God is changed for the good—a reversal of God’s attitude toward the sinner, because of the sinner’s new relation to Christ (Romans 5:1).
The Means of Justification
1. We believe that this justification is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in Christ's redemptive work, in which His righteousness is imputed to the believer (Acts 13:39; Romans 4:1–5; Galatians 2:16).
2. We believe that the objective basis of justification is the person and work of Jesus Christ (John 19:30). Faith in Christ is the means by which one appropriates justification and makes it their own (Galatians 2:16; 3:24).
The Doctrine of Sanctification in Relation to the Christian
We believe that every believer has been sanctified, set apart with a perfect standing before God, at salvation (Hebrews 10:10). As we yield to the Holy Spirit we will experience spiritual growth in holiness, but we will not experience perfection in conduct in this present life (Ephesians 5:8–9; 1 John 1:8–9).
The Doctrine of the New Birth
The Necessity of the New Birth
1. We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again (John 3:3).
2. We believe that the new birth is necessary because of man’s sinful state (Ephesians 2:1–5).
The Blessing of the New Birth
1. We believe that the wages of sin is death and eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23a). But by the miracle of regeneration, the sinner is reconciled to God and granted eternal life (Ephesians 2:5–7; Colossians 1:13).
2. We believe that regeneration is God's act of begetting eternal life in the one who believes in Christ (John 1:12–13; John 20:30–31).
The Agent of Regeneration
1. We believe that the Divine agent in regeneration is the Holy Spirit (John 3:5; Titus 3:5).
2. The Spirit works in concert with the Word of God (James 1:18) through the preaching of the gospel (1 Corinthians 4:15).
The Fruit of Regeneration
1. We believe that a proper evidence of the new birth appears in the fruits of repentance and faith.
2. These fruits are demonstrated in a life of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 4:21–24).
The Doctrine of the Christian Life
Liberty in Christ and the Christian’s Responsibility
1. We believe that the Christian life should be characterized by joy, peace, and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Each believer is free to be guided by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God and is not bound by the Old Testament legal code. This liberty in Christ is never to be used as an excuse for sin (Romans 6:1–2).
3. The high calling of God in Christ teaches us that we should deny ungodliness and worldly desires and should live sensible, righteous, and godly lives (Titus 2:11–12).
4. The Christian should live in such a way as to positively testify of the new life he has received in Jesus Christ and never bring reproach to His glorious name.
Personal Godliness
1. We believe that all true Christians should be separate from religious apostasy, compromise, and sinful, worldly practices.
2. A Christian should demonstrate a life of consistent obedience to the Word of God, fervent love for other believers (1 Peter 1:22), and a walk that is Christ like (2 Corinthians 6:14; Galatians 5:22–25; Romans 13:13–14).
The Doctrine of Eternal Security
1. We believe that the Bible teaches that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are safe and secure in Christ forever.
2. It is therefore impossible for a born-again child of God to lose his salvation (Romans 8:28–39; John 10:27–28; 1 Peter 1:3–5; 1 John 5:13; Jude 1).
The Doctrine of the Church Universal
1. We believe that the Church universal is composed of all who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the saving of their souls.
2. All such believers are united in one body with Jesus Christ as their only true and proper head (Colossians 1:18).
The Doctrine of the Local Church
Definition of the Local Church
1. We believe that the local church is a congregation of believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship in the gospel.
2. Within this congregation believers observe the ordinances of Christ under the authority of His Word and exercise the gifts, rights, and privileges given to them by His Word (Acts 2:42, 46).
Authority of the Local Church
1. We believe that each local church is autonomous.
2. By following scriptural standards, a church shall determine for itself all matters pertaining to membership, government, discipline, and benevolence (Matthew 18:15–20; Acts 2:41, 42; Acts 20:17–18; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Acts 15:13–18; 1 Timothy 3:1–15).
Ordinances of the Church
1. We believe that an ordinance is an outward rite instituted by Christ to be administered in the church as a visible sign of the saving truth of the Christian faith. Ordinances are to be understood as symbols of theological realities rather than as actual means of bringing grace to the individual. We believe that there are two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
2. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a beautiful and solemn way the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through baptism, the believer testifies to his faith in Jesus Christ in a visible and public manner (Matthew 28:18–20; Romans 6:3–5).
3. We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of Christ's sacrificial death on the cross (Luke 22:19). We believe that this ordinance must be practiced as a memorial by believers until He comes again and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:23–29).
4. We encourage parents who allow their children to participate in the Lord’s Supper because they believe they are saved, to speak to them about following the Lord in believer’s baptism at the next available opportunity.
The Local Church and Civil Government
1. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the benefit and order of human society (Romans 13:1–7).
2. The leaders of our government are to be prayed for and honored, and the laws of the land are to be obeyed, except in things opposed to the Word of God, which is the highest authority (Acts 4:19–20; Acts 5:27–29).
The Doctrine of Christ’s Second Coming
The Rapture of the Church
1. We believe that the pre-tribulation rapture of the believer, though not explicitly taught in Scripture, is supported by inference from the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).
2. FCBC pastors and teachers will adhere to the pre-tribulation rapture view as that which best accommodates the Scripture.
3. We will, however, admit to church membership those who may disagree on the timing of the rapture or may be uncertain about it, but will agree not to make it a point of contention or division within the church.
Pre-Millennial Return of Christ
We believe in the personal and pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ for His church.
The Millennium
1. After His visible return to the earth following the seven-year tribulation period (Daniel 9:27), Christ will establish a 1,000–year millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:1–7).
2. This kingdom is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants.
3. This kingdom will be marked by the personal reign of Jesus Christ, and it will be a time of peace, equity, justice, prosperity, and glory (Isaiah 11:2–5; Zechariah 14:4–11; Matthew 24:29–31; Acts 1:9–11).
The Doctrine of the Eternal State
The Death of the Christian
1. We believe that at death, the believer immediately goes to be with Christ.
2. He is then absent from the material body, but face to face with the Lord; and there, in conscious joy, he awaits the resurrection of the body (1 Corinthians 15:51–52; 2 Corinthians 5:6–8; Philippians 1:21–23; 1 Thessalonians 4:15–18; Revelation 20:4-6).
The Death of the Unbeliever
1. We believe that at death, an unbeliever immediately goes into conscious misery until the second resurrection when he will be reunited with his resurrected body to appear before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment.
2. The unbeliever will not be annihilated, but will suffer everlasting conscious punishment in hell (Matthew 25:41–46; Luke 16:19–26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9; Revelation 20:15).
The Doctrine of Scriptures
Inspiration
1. We believe that the entire Bible, containing 66 books from Genesis to Revelation, is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).
2. We believe that the Scripture was written by holy men of God who spoke as they were moved (controlled) by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20–21).
Inerrancy
1. We believe that the Scripture is inerrant in the original writings, including doctrine, matters of history, geography, and science.
2. It is the supreme standard of authority by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried (Matthew 5:18; Isaiah 8:20).
Canon
We believe that the canon of Scripture is closed. The process of inspiration was terminated with the inscription of the book of Revelation.
Interpretation
We believe that it is the responsibility of every believer to diligently study the Word of God through the aid of the Holy Spirit, using the literal, grammatical-historical method of interpretation to ascertain the meaning and application of Scripture (John 16:12–13; 2 Timothy 2:15).
The Doctrine of God
Who God Is
1. We believe that there is only one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4), infinite in being and perfect, the creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1), glorious in holiness (Exodus 15:11), and worthy of our worship (Revelation 15:4).
2. We believe that in the unity of the Godhead there are three divine persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
3. We believe that these three persons are co-equal (John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4c).
God the Father
1. We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Holy Trinity (1 Corinthians 8:6).
2. We believe that the fatherhood of God involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with mankind.
3. We believe that God the Father created all things through His Son, Jesus (Colossians 1:16).
4. We believe that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10, 14).
5. We believe that God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26).
God the Son
1. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity and the eternal Son of God (John 1:1; 8:58). There was never a time when He was not the Son of God, and there has always been a Father/Son relationship within the Godhead (John 17:5).
2. We believe that He is the eternal Son of God who became man (incarnate) without ceasing to be God (Philippians 2:6−7).
3. We believe that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:30–35).
4. We believe that He was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:23) in a miraculous manner, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born, in order that He might redeem sinful man.
5. We believe that He gave proof that He accomplished man’s redemption by His bodily resurrection from the grave (Matthew 28:6; John 2:18–21; 1 Peter 1:3) and His many miracles (John 20:30–31).
6. We believe that His resurrection confirmed His deity (Romans 1:4).
7. We believe that He ascended to the right hand of His Father (Hebrews 8:1).
8. We believe that He will return to receive the Church, the body of Christ, at the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17).
9. We believe that all men who reject Christ as their Lord must stand before Him as their judge (Acts 17:30–31).
God the Holy Spirit
1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity (Acts 5:3–4c).
2. We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin (John 16:7–11).
3. We believe that He brings new life to those who believe in Christ (John 3:5–6; 1 Corinthians 12:3).
4. We believe that He baptizes (places) all believers into the one true Church, which is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
5. We believe that He indwells believers permanently and seals them unto the day of redemption (1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13).
6. We believe that He bestows spiritual gifts upon believers (1 Corinthians 12:7).
7. We believe that it is the privilege and duty of every believer to be controlled by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and evidence the fruits of the Spirit in his or her life (Galatians 5:22–23).
The Doctrine of Creation
The Creation
1. We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man and all things in the universe came to be by the direct creation of God and not through any evolutionary process (Genesis 1:1).
2. This creation was accomplished recently in six literal 24-hour days (Genesis 1:31; Exodus 31:16–17).
The Creator
1. We believe that God created ex nihilo (out of nothing). He did not use any preexisting materials (Hebrews 11:3).
2. We believe that Jesus Christ sustains the created universe (Colossians 1:17).
The Doctrine of the Fall of Man
His Nature and Transgression
1. We believe the first man, Adam, was directly created by God (Genesis 1:27) without sin and with a rational nature under the law of his maker, but by voluntary disobedience, he fell from that state (Genesis 3:1–13).
2. We believe that all men are descended from Adam and inherit from him their corrupt nature (Romans 5:19). Therefore, all men are alienated (separated) from God in their corrupt state (Colossians 1:21) and deserve God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:3).
The Effect
1. We believe that the consequence of the fall is that all men are now sinners, not only by the inheritance of a sin nature (Psalm 51:5) but also by choice (Romans 3:23; Ecclesiastes 7:20).
2. We believe that the fall brought about death immediately, in the sense that Adam and Eve were spiritually separated from God (Genesis 2:17; 3:8). Their sin also introduced into their bodies the process of decay, aging, and physical death (Genesis 2:17; Ezekiel 18:20). Eternal death is the culmination and completion of spiritual death—the soul is separated from God forever and will suffer endless punishment (Matthew 25:40–41; Revelation 20:15).
3. We believe that spiritual death results in eternal death unless a man is saved by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:14).
The Doctrine of Satan and the Realm of Fallen Angels
His Nature and Fall
1. We believe in the personality of Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:9). He was one of God’s angels who rebelled and fell from his original state, became the open and avowed enemy of God and men (1 Peter 5:8), and the prince and ruler of this present world (John 16:11).
2. We believe that a great multitude of angels fell with Satan (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:3–4). These unholy angels constitute the demonic host.
3. We believe that Satan introduced sin into the human race by his successful temptation of Adam (Genesis 3:1–15).
Satan and the Christian
1. We believe that it is the Christian’s responsibility to resist Satan (James 4:7) and all his evil solicitations.
2. We believe that God has equipped the believer to stand against Satan (Ephesians 6:11–18; 2 Peter 1:3).
3. We believe that a Christian cannot be demon possessed (1 John 5:18).
The Judgment of Satan
1. We believe Satan is destined to be judged by God.
2. He will suffer eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10).
The Doctrine of Salvation
God’s Work in Salvation and Man’s Response
1. We believe that the salvation of sinful humanity was accomplished according to the will of God in sending forth His Son into the world to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind (John 3:16). Because of the fall of Adam, it was necessary for Jesus Christ to freely take upon Himself our nature, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He honored the divine law by His perfect obedience (John 8:29), and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for the sins of the whole world (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2).
2. We believe that Jesus rose from the dead and is now enthroned in heaven (Hebrews 1:3). He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior. The moment a person believes in Christ as Lord and Savior, that person passes from death to eternal life and stands before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ (Romans 10:9; Romans 4:5).
The Extent of the Atonement
1. We believe that the atonement of Christ was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place—the just dying for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18).
2. We further maintain that Jesus Christ, the Second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45), came as the Savior of mankind to bear the sins of the world (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2) in his own body (Isaiah 53:5). However, only those joined to Christ by faith actually share in the merits of the atonement. Jesus is the Savior of all men potentially (1 Timothy 1:15; Hebrews 2:9) but of believers alone actually (1 Timothy 4:10; Acts 2:21). Faith alone in Christ is the sole condition for salvation.
3. We believe in the doctrine of the unlimited atonement of Christ which maintains that every human being who is presented with the gospel has the opportunity to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:3–6). The offer of the gospel to all (Revelation 22:17) is a bona fide offer.
4. In Leviticus 16 we are told that the sacrifices on the Day of Atonement were for “all the congregation of Israel” (v. 17), with regard to “all their iniquities” (v. 22). Yet we are also told that “if there is any person who will not humble himself on that day, he shall be cut off” (Leviticus 23:29). This teaches a universal provision, with a particular appropriation or application. Provision for all sinners is also seen in the typology of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness (John 3:14–17; Numbers 21:4–9).
5. We believe that a universal provision of salvation does not mean that every man will be saved (Revelation 20:12–15). Jesus said, "if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). God was, in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19), but sinners must be reconciled to God through faith in Christ’s death on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:20). Christ’s death on the cross was an adequate penalty for sin, but we are not to view this as an individual and separable penalty for each sin of each individual. Because His death was of infinite value, Jesus bore a penalty which was more than equal to the penalty that could be paid by all humans throughout all eternity.
6. We believe that the free exercise of a man’s grace-enabled faith in Christ is not to be construed as a work that merits salvation (Romans 4:5). Faith in Christ is the guilty sinner’s acknowledgment that he has no righteousness of his own (Romans 4:1–5; Galatians 3:6–7). We further maintain that regeneration does not precede faith (John 20:31).
The Doctrine of Justification
The Nature of Justification
1. We believe that the great gospel blessing Christ secures to those who believe in Him is justification (Romans 3:21–28). To justify means to declare righteous.
2. Justification is a legal act whereby man’s status before God is changed for the good—a reversal of God’s attitude toward the sinner, because of the sinner’s new relation to Christ (Romans 5:1).
The Means of Justification
1. We believe that this justification is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in Christ's redemptive work, in which His righteousness is imputed to the believer (Acts 13:39; Romans 4:1–5; Galatians 2:16).
2. We believe that the objective basis of justification is the person and work of Jesus Christ (John 19:30). Faith in Christ is the means by which one appropriates justification and makes it their own (Galatians 2:16; 3:24).
The Doctrine of Sanctification in Relation to the Christian
We believe that every believer has been sanctified, set apart with a perfect standing before God, at salvation (Hebrews 10:10). As we yield to the Holy Spirit we will experience spiritual growth in holiness, but we will not experience perfection in conduct in this present life (Ephesians 5:8–9; 1 John 1:8–9).
The Doctrine of the New Birth
The Necessity of the New Birth
1. We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again (John 3:3).
2. We believe that the new birth is necessary because of man’s sinful state (Ephesians 2:1–5).
The Blessing of the New Birth
1. We believe that the wages of sin is death and eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23a). But by the miracle of regeneration, the sinner is reconciled to God and granted eternal life (Ephesians 2:5–7; Colossians 1:13).
2. We believe that regeneration is God's act of begetting eternal life in the one who believes in Christ (John 1:12–13; John 20:30–31).
The Agent of Regeneration
1. We believe that the Divine agent in regeneration is the Holy Spirit (John 3:5; Titus 3:5).
2. The Spirit works in concert with the Word of God (James 1:18) through the preaching of the gospel (1 Corinthians 4:15).
The Fruit of Regeneration
1. We believe that a proper evidence of the new birth appears in the fruits of repentance and faith.
2. These fruits are demonstrated in a life of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 4:21–24).
The Doctrine of the Christian Life
Liberty in Christ and the Christian’s Responsibility
1. We believe that the Christian life should be characterized by joy, peace, and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Each believer is free to be guided by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God and is not bound by the Old Testament legal code. This liberty in Christ is never to be used as an excuse for sin (Romans 6:1–2).
3. The high calling of God in Christ teaches us that we should deny ungodliness and worldly desires and should live sensible, righteous, and godly lives (Titus 2:11–12).
4. The Christian should live in such a way as to positively testify of the new life he has received in Jesus Christ and never bring reproach to His glorious name.
Personal Godliness
1. We believe that all true Christians should be separate from religious apostasy, compromise, and sinful, worldly practices.
2. A Christian should demonstrate a life of consistent obedience to the Word of God, fervent love for other believers (1 Peter 1:22), and a walk that is Christ like (2 Corinthians 6:14; Galatians 5:22–25; Romans 13:13–14).
The Doctrine of Eternal Security
1. We believe that the Bible teaches that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are safe and secure in Christ forever.
2. It is therefore impossible for a born-again child of God to lose his salvation (Romans 8:28–39; John 10:27–28; 1 Peter 1:3–5; 1 John 5:13; Jude 1).
The Doctrine of the Church Universal
1. We believe that the Church universal is composed of all who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the saving of their souls.
2. All such believers are united in one body with Jesus Christ as their only true and proper head (Colossians 1:18).
The Doctrine of the Local Church
Definition of the Local Church
1. We believe that the local church is a congregation of believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship in the gospel.
2. Within this congregation believers observe the ordinances of Christ under the authority of His Word and exercise the gifts, rights, and privileges given to them by His Word (Acts 2:42, 46).
Authority of the Local Church
1. We believe that each local church is autonomous.
2. By following scriptural standards, a church shall determine for itself all matters pertaining to membership, government, discipline, and benevolence (Matthew 18:15–20; Acts 2:41, 42; Acts 20:17–18; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Acts 15:13–18; 1 Timothy 3:1–15).
Ordinances of the Church
1. We believe that an ordinance is an outward rite instituted by Christ to be administered in the church as a visible sign of the saving truth of the Christian faith. Ordinances are to be understood as symbols of theological realities rather than as actual means of bringing grace to the individual. We believe that there are two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
2. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a beautiful and solemn way the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through baptism, the believer testifies to his faith in Jesus Christ in a visible and public manner (Matthew 28:18–20; Romans 6:3–5).
3. We believe that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration of Christ's sacrificial death on the cross (Luke 22:19). We believe that this ordinance must be practiced as a memorial by believers until He comes again and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:23–29).
4. We encourage parents who allow their children to participate in the Lord’s Supper because they believe they are saved, to speak to them about following the Lord in believer’s baptism at the next available opportunity.
The Local Church and Civil Government
1. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the benefit and order of human society (Romans 13:1–7).
2. The leaders of our government are to be prayed for and honored, and the laws of the land are to be obeyed, except in things opposed to the Word of God, which is the highest authority (Acts 4:19–20; Acts 5:27–29).
The Doctrine of Christ’s Second Coming
The Rapture of the Church
1. We believe that the pre-tribulation rapture of the believer, though not explicitly taught in Scripture, is supported by inference from the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).
2. FCBC pastors and teachers will adhere to the pre-tribulation rapture view as that which best accommodates the Scripture.
3. We will, however, admit to church membership those who may disagree on the timing of the rapture or may be uncertain about it, but will agree not to make it a point of contention or division within the church.
Pre-Millennial Return of Christ
We believe in the personal and pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ for His church.
The Millennium
1. After His visible return to the earth following the seven-year tribulation period (Daniel 9:27), Christ will establish a 1,000–year millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:1–7).
2. This kingdom is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants.
3. This kingdom will be marked by the personal reign of Jesus Christ, and it will be a time of peace, equity, justice, prosperity, and glory (Isaiah 11:2–5; Zechariah 14:4–11; Matthew 24:29–31; Acts 1:9–11).
The Doctrine of the Eternal State
The Death of the Christian
1. We believe that at death, the believer immediately goes to be with Christ.
2. He is then absent from the material body, but face to face with the Lord; and there, in conscious joy, he awaits the resurrection of the body (1 Corinthians 15:51–52; 2 Corinthians 5:6–8; Philippians 1:21–23; 1 Thessalonians 4:15–18; Revelation 20:4-6).
The Death of the Unbeliever
1. We believe that at death, an unbeliever immediately goes into conscious misery until the second resurrection when he will be reunited with his resurrected body to appear before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment.
2. The unbeliever will not be annihilated, but will suffer everlasting conscious punishment in hell (Matthew 25:41–46; Luke 16:19–26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9; Revelation 20:15).
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17