Fellowship Baptist Church

Of Grace In The New Creation

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that 
the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous 
and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and 
in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, 
the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner 
above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the 
will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in 
connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to 
the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of 
repentance and faith and newness of life.
Luke 5:27; John 1:12-13; 3:3,6-7; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:23; 2Corinthians 
5:17,19; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:1; 5:9; Colossians 2:13; 1John 5:1

Of The Freeness Of Salvation

We believe in God's electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are 
made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to 
accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and nothing 
prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own 
inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection 
involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 11:28; John 3:15-18,36; 5:40; 6:37; Acts 2:38; 
Romans 8:29-30; 10:13; 1Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; 
Colossians 3:12; 1Thessalonians 1:4; 1Timothy 1:15; Titus 1:1; 1Peter 
1:2; Revelation 22:17

Of Justification

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such 
as believe in Him is Justification; that Justification includes the pardon of 
sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is 
bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we 
have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His 
righteousness is imputed unto us.
Isaiah 53:11; Habakkuk 2:4; Zechariah 13:1; Acts 13:39; Romans 1:17; 
4:1; 5:1-9; 8:1; Galatians 3:11; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 10:38

Of Repentance And Faith

We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also 
inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of 
God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and 
helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with 
unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same 
time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him 
as our only and all-sufficient Savior.
Psalm 51:1-4,7; Isaiah 55:6-7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; 18:13; Acts 
2:37-38; 20:21; Romans 10:9-11,13

Of The Church

We believe that a Baptist Church is a congregation of baptized believers 
associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel, said 
church being understood to be the citadel and propagator of the Divine 
and Eternal Grace; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His 
laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His 
Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders whose 
qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures; we 
believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: 
First, to make individual disciples; Second, to build up the church; Third, 
to teach and instruct as He has commanded. We do not believe in the 
reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has the absolute 
right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of 
individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is 
Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to 
cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the 
furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge 
of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of 
membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the 
will of the local church is final.
Leviticus 27:31; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 6:5-6; 
14:23; 15:22-23; 20:17-28; 1Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-3; 11:2; 12:4,8-11; 
16:1-2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11; 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18; 1Timothy 
3:1-13

Of Baptism And The Lord's Supper

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, 
in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the 
authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful 
emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect 
in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to 
the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord's supper, in which the 
members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the 
vine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded 
always by solemn self-examination.
Matthew 3:6; 3:16; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39; Romans 
6:3-5; 1Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12

Of The Perseverance Of The Saints

We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; 
that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which 
distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence 
watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God 
through faith unto eternal salvation.
Psalm 121:3; Matthew 6:20; 13:19-21; John 8:31-32; 10:28-29; 16:8; 
Romans 8:28,35-39; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 1:14; 
1Peter 1:5; 1John 2:19

Of The Righteous And The Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the 
righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in 
the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are 
truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence 
and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse, and this 
distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting 
felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 11:31; 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Matthew 7:13-14; 
25:34; Luke 9:26; 16:25; John 8:21; 12:25; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 1:17; 
6:16-18,23; 7:6; 1Corinthians 15:22; Galatians 3:10; 1Peter 4:18; 1John 
2:7,29; 5:19

Of Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the 
interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be 
prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things 
opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the 
conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth.
Exodus 18:21-22; 2Samuel 23:3; Psalm 72:11; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 
10:28; 22:21; 23:10; Acts 4:19-20; 23:5; Romans 13:7; Philippians 
2:10-11; Titus 3:1; 1Peter 2:13-14,17

Of The Resurrection And Return Of Christ And Related Events

We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at 
their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ rose 
bodily "The third day according to the Scriptures"; that He ascended "to 
the right hand of the throne of God"; that He alone is our "merciful and 
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God"; "that this same Jesus 
which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as 
ye have seen Him go into heaven," bodily, personally, and visibly; that 
the "dead in Christ shall rise first"; that the living saints "shall all be 
changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump"; "that 
the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David"; and 
that "Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath 
put all enemies under His feet."
Psalm 72:8; Isaiah 11:4-5; Matthew 24:27,42; Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 
16:6,19; Luke 1:32; Luke 24:2,4-6,39,51; John 14:3; John 20:27; Acts 
1:9,11; 1Corinthians 15:4; Philippians 4:20; 1Thessalonians 4:16; 
1Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9; 8:1; 9:28; 12:2

Of Missions

The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable 
and this Commission was given to the churches.
Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying All 
power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things 
whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo I am with you alway, even 
unto the end of the world. Amen."
Mark 16:15, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach 
the gospel to every creature."
John 20:21, "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come 
upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in 
all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Romans 10:13-15, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord 
shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not 
believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not 
heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they 
preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet 
of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good 
things!"

Of The Grace Of Giving

Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the Faith.
2Corinthians 8:7, "Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and 
utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, 
see that ye abound in this grace also."
We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common 
treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week.
1Corinthians 16:2, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you 
lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no 
gatherings when I come."
Under Grace we give, and do not pay, the tithe - "Abraham GAVE the 
tenth of the spoils," - Hebrews 7:2,4 - and this was four hundred years 
before the law, and is confirmed in the new Testament; Jesus said 
concerning the tithe, "these ought ye to have done", Matthew 23:23.
We are commanded to bring the tithe into the common treasury of the 
church.
Leviticus 27:30, "The tithe ... is the Lord's."
Malachi 3:10, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may 
be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of 
hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a 
blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
In the New Testament it was the common treasury of the church.
Acts 4:34,35,37, "And brought the prices of the things that were sold 
and laid them down at the apostles' feet ... Having land, sold it, and 
brought the money, and laid it AT THE APOSTLES' FEET."