Fayette Bible Church
Doctrinal Statement
The Church holds that the following doctrines from Scripture are foundational and present a clear declaration of our theological position.
The Bible: The Bible in its original documents is the inspired Word of God, the written record of His supernatural revelation of Himself to man; absolute in its authority, complete in its revelation, final in its content, and without error in any of its statements. II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:21; Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; Psalm 89:34; Hebrews 6:18.
God: There is one God, eternally subsistent, Creator of the heavens and earth. He is triune in His nature being manifested in three Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; Genesis 1:1,2; Isaiah 48:16; I Timothy 3:16.
Jesus Christ: The Lord Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary and became perfect Man while remaining wholly God. He gave His life on the cross as the only satisfactory payment for all sin; He was buried and three days later rose bodily and literally from the dead, thus proving His deity, and that sin has really been paid for once and for all; He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father from where He will come again. Matthew 1:18-23; Colossians 1:16-19; 2:9,10; I Corinthians 15:3,4; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 2:11; Romans 1:3,4; I Peter 2:24; 3:18; Hebrews 9:28; 10:10-14.
The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is God, being the Third Person of the Godhead. He indwells all true believers in Christ of this Church Age. He is the Comforter and the inner power of the believer. He also convicts the unbelieving world of its sin of unbelief, of its need for God's righteousness and of the certainty of coming judgment. He is also the Divine Author of Scripture. Acts 5:1-4; John 16:7-11; I Corinthians 6:19,10; II Peter 1:21.
Man: Each member of the human race is fallen, sinful and lost. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for man's salvation. Immediately upon receiving Christ as Savior the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and sealed by Him until the Day of Redemption. Luke 24:49; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 1:13,14; John 3:7; 7:37-39; I Corinthians 6:19,20; Titus 3:5.
The True Church: The True Church is comprised of all true believers of this Age. At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit baptizes or places all true believers into the body of Christ, the Church. Water baptism, on the other hand, is not a condition for salvation, but is an outward testimony of the believer's intention to "walk in newness of life." Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 10:47; I Corinthians 12:13; 6:19,20; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:5.
Salvation: Man is saved by the undeserved mercy of God through faith in Christ; it is a free gift, and nothing of man's effort or character can bring him salvation. His efforts, regardless how good or well-intended--either before or after he is saved--have nothing to do with saving him. Salvation is by the finished work of Christ and nothing can be added to it. Acts 13:38,39; Galatians 2:16; Colossians 2:13; Romans 3:22; 4:5; 11:6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5
The Believer's Standing and State: Every true child of God possesses eternal life, being justified by faith, sanctified by God, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and is safe and secure for all eternity; he cannot lose his salvation. However, a Christian can, through sin, lose his fellowship, joy, power, testimony and reward ; and thus incur the Father's added chastening. Relationship is eternal being established by the new birth; fellowship, however, is dependent upon knowledge of and application of God's Word to one's life. Such consistent application produces consistent spiritual growth. John 6:37,39,47; Hebrews 12:5-11; I Corinthians 3:11-17; 5:1-5; 11:30-32; I John 5:9-13.
The Christian Life: A true child of God has two births: one of the flesh, the other of the Holy Spirit; thus, the believer has a flesh nature and a Spiritual nature. The flesh nature is neither good nor righteous. The Spiritual Nature does not commit any sin. The result is a warfare between the Spirit and the flesh which continues throughout one's life. The flesh nature of the believer does not change or improve in any way as a result of the New Birth ,but can and should be controlled and kept subdued by the indwelling Holy Spirit. John 3:3-7; Galatians 5:16,17; Romans 7:15-25; 8:4-8 ; I Peter 1:23; I John 1:8,10; 3:9; 5:18.
The Resurrections: There will be a resurrection of the believers and of the unbelievers; of the saved to eternal life in heaven,and of the lost to eternal conscious punishment in hell. These two resurrections are separated by at least one thousand years. Daniel 12:2; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:5-15.
The Rapture and Second Coming of Christ: The Lord Jesus Christ will come "in the air" prior to the Tribulation and take all believers of this Church Age to Himself. He will then return to the earth after the Tribulation, with His Church, to set up His Millennial Kingdom. Luke 21:36; I Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-5:11; I Thessalonians 2:1-8; Titus 2:11-13; Revelation 3:10.
Satan: Satan is a fallen angel, a personality, and the author of sin. He does not possess any of the attributes of God. He and his angels shall be eternally punished. Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-18; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10.
Healing: God can and often does heal, but physical healing is not in the Atonement, nor can healing be claimed on the basis of Atonement. God heals miraculously today when it is His perfect will to do so. At times it is God's will for sickness not to be removed. Psalm 119:67,71,75; II Corinthians 12:8-10; James 5:14- 16.
Tongues: The gift of tongues (languages) was a manifestation of the Spirit's power solely for the demonstration of God's wisdom, purpose and power in the establishment of the early church, and was always in a language that was in use. Isaiah 28:11; Acts 2:6-11; I Corinthians 14:22.
Grace and Law: The true child of God is not under the Law but under grace--saved by grace and disciplined by grace. Romans 6:14,15; 11:6; II Corinthians 3:3-17; Titus 2:11-13.
Repentance: Repent (metanoia) means "a change of mind or attitude." Repentance in salvation means a change of mind in the unbeliever that leads him to acceptance of God's way of salvation through faith in Christ alone. Matthew 21:28-32 ; Acts 20:21; Romans 2:4; II Corinthians 7:8-10.
Sharing the Gospel: It is every Christian's privilege and duty to
make God's plan of salvation clear wherever and in whatever vocation he or she may be. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; II Corinthians 5:18-20; I Thessalonians 2:4.
The Plan of Salvation: The general plan of salvation as believed and practiced by Fayette Bible Church is as follows:
Remarks: Of course these are not steps in leading a person to Christ. This is a general plan that has proven very successful in actual practice, the emphasis being shifted from one point to another depending upon the need of the particular individual.