What We Believe
What Does FBC Believe?
The following represents the theological commitments of the members and regular attendees of Fellowship Church. We seek and encourage substantial agreement with these statements. [Scripture references are selected examples]
The Trinity
We believe there is one living and true God, transcendent and eternal in reference to space/time, existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal in nature and perfection and function harmoniously in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. [Deut. 5-6; Isa. 48:16; Matt 28:19; John 1, 8, 14-16]
God the Father
We believe in God the Father, wholly other in nature, personal in spirit, sovereign in authority, perfect in holiness, and righteous in his wisdom and judgments. We believe he created all things external to the godhead, that he authored the drama of history, that he providentially and lovingly concerns himself with the affairs of his creation and creatures, that he saves from sin and eternal condemnation all who come to him through Jesus Christ. [John 4:24; Isa. 40; Gen. 1; Ps. 119; Rom. 2:5; John 3:16]
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten son, who is one of the three persons of the godhead. He became incarnated into space and time by means of conception by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary. Therefore, he is both truly divine and human. We believe in his sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in his substitutionary atoning death, his bodily resurrection, his ascension, his perpetual intercession before God on behalf of his people, and his future personal and visible return to reign on earth. [Luke 1-2; Heb. 4:15; Isa. 53:5-6; Gal. 3:16; Luke 24: 36-43; 1 Cor. 15; Heb 4:14; I John 2:1; Titus 2:11-13]
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who is one of the three persons of the godhead, preexistent and divine in nature, therefore to be worshipped and glorified as are the Father and the Son. We believe he came forth from the Father to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate sinners and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ as savior. We believe the Holy Spirit is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide to all believers and to the church – the body of Christ. [Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; John 14:26; 16:8-11; Rom. 8:14; Eph 3:16]
The Scriptures
We believe the Bible to be the self-revelation of God, written by divinely appointed prophets and apostles under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The scriptures are without error in the original manuscripts. We believe the essential content of the revelation of God has been preserved by the providence of God in various translations and versions that accurately represent the originals. We believe the Bible is the final authority in all matters of personal and corporate faith, conduct, and practice. [2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21; Matt. 5:18; John 10:35]
Satan
We believe in the literal existence of Satan, in his evil nature and personality that is adversarial to God. We believe his mission is ultimately to destroy the plan and work of God in the world. We believe he opposes the redemption of sinners. We believe that he was once for all defeated in the death of Jesus on the cross and will ultimately be assigned to condemnation in hell. [John 8:44; Matt. 4:1-11; John 12:31-32; 16:11; Rev. 20:10]
The Fall
We believe that the original creation was innocent of sin, that early in history humans made choices that resulted in the fall from their sinless estate, and that as a consequence all people were declared by God to be sinners by nature. Consequently, we believe people are unable to redeem themselves or do anything meritorious before God to restore their previous condition. We believe the entire creation is under the just condemnation of a holy God and stands in need of God’s intervention and redemption. [Gen 1:31; 3:1-24; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 1-6; Mark 7:21-23; John 6:32-44; Eph. 2:1-5; Rom. 8:22; 2 Pet. 2:11-13]
Salvation and New Birth
We believe that salvation is only by grace through faith in the person of Jesus Christ and his atoning work on the cross. Those who repent of their sin and receive Jesus as personal savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are in the process of being wholly renewed. We believe we are to be responsive to God’s saving work to redesign our lives in accordance with the scriptures and the ongoing sanctifying ministry of the Holy Spirit. We believe that personal assurance of salvation is the result of a changed life of maturing in Christ. [John 14:6; Acts 4:12; John 3:16; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 John 1-5]
The Church (Universal)
We believe that the church is the whole community of those who through Christ’s death have been reconciled to God and have received new life; that it was instituted by God and exists to carry out his will by the power of the Holy Spirit, continuing Christ’s ministry in the world. We believe that the four primary functions of the church are evangelizing, building up the community of believers, worship, and addressing local, national, and global concerns. The heart of the church’s ministry that gives form and direction to all that the church does, is the good news of Jesus Christ.
The Church (Local)
We further believe that an individual congregation of believers is not merely a part or component of the universal church, but that each community represents the whole; and that each local church has a responsibility to perform the functions of the body in appropriate and balanced ways. We believe the church has received two specific rites which believers are to practice, namely baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe baptism is an act of faith and testimony that one has believed and been united with Christ in his death and resurrection. We further believe that the Lord’s Supper is a reminder of the death of Christ on our behalf; that it symbolizes our dependence on and vital connection with the Lord as well as the unity of believers within the church.
The Future and Last Things
We believe the future has been planned by God and will occur according to his will and providence. The future will witness the personal and visible return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection and translation of his church, God’s judgment upon the unbelieving world, the creation of the new heavens and new earth, the eternal reign of Jesus, and the ultimate assignment of all believers to heaven and unbelievers to a place of final and everlasting punishment. [Acts 1:11; Titus2:11-13; Rev. 6;1-18:24, 21:1-22:6; 1Cor. 15; Rev:20:11-15, 21:8]