Freedom Baptist Church
STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and it is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction: that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments in the original manuscripts, and preserved for us today, according to God’s will, in the Authorized King James Version. (II Timothy 3:15,16; I Peter 1:10-12; II Peter 1:21; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 12:6, 7)
The True God
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, and infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is I AM, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 15:11; I Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 63:16; Matthew 3:13-17; 28:18-20; John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:17; 2:9)
The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of His Creator; but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners; not by constraint but by choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal judgement, without defense or excuse. (Genesis 1:27; 2:7; 3:1-15; Romans 3:23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:3; Romans 1:18; Revelation 21:8)
The Way of Salvation
We believe that salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our sins, yet He without sin; fulfilled the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death and shed blood made full atonement for our sins; then having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in heaven; and, uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Saviour. We believe that Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, conceived of the Holy Ghost. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38)
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​We believe in justification by faith; that it is bestowed, not by consideration of any work of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. (Romans 3:24-28; 8:1; John 5:24; I Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 2:16)
We believe that the blessings of salvation are free to all who will believe. (John 3:16; Romans 5:16; 9:13; Ephesians 2:1-11; Revelation 22:17)
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We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. (John 3:3,5,7;Ephesians 2:1; Titus 3:5; I Peter 1:3; I John 5:10-13)
We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the Word of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is begun in regeneration, and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, in the continual use of the appointed means -- especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer. The sanctification of believers is consummated at the appearing of the Lord. (Hebrews 10:9, 10; I Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 3:1; John 17:17; II Corinthians 3:14;Titus 3:7, 14; I John 5:13)
The Local Church
We believe that a church is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His law, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges, invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Its scriptural officers are bishops or elders (pastors) and deacons. (Matthew 18:15-19; Acts 2:37-47; 16:14, 15, 30-34; Romans 6; Philippians 1:1; Romans 12:5-8)
We believe that, according to the Scripture, the whole number of regenerate persons from Pentecost to the first resurrection (I Corinthians 15:52), united together and to Christ by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:12, 13), is the body of Christ, His church, and His bride. (Ephesians 5:25-33; Hebrews 12:23)
Ordinances of Christ
We believe that Christian baptism is immersion in water of a believer in Christ, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; to show forth in solemn and beautiful emblem his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect, in his 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. (Matthew 18:19; Acts 2:41, 42; 16:14, 15, 30-34; Romans 6:1-23)
We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a provision of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine representing Christ’s body and blood, partaken of by believers, in commemoration of the death of their Lord and Saviour, showing their faith and participation in the merits of His sacrifice, their dependence on Him for spiritual life and nourishment, their assurance of eternal life through His resurrection from the dead, and their hope of the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His own. (Luke 22:19, 20; I Corinthians 11:23-29)
The Second Coming
We believe in the pre-tribulation, pre-millennial return of Christ for His own (the rapture); we believe that at the end of the tribulation period the Lord Jesus Christ will bodily visibly return to this earth with His own, that He will reign for one thousand years, and throughout eternity in the new Heavens and new Earth. We believe that only with the return of the King of Kings will righteousness and peace rule upon the earth. (Romans 5:9; I Thessalonians 1:9, 10; I Peter 3:18; Revelation 4:1; Matthew 24:44; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; I Corinthians 11:26; I Thessalonians 4:13; 5:11; II Timothy 4:8; Revelation 19:11-16; I Peter 4:7; II Peter 3:11,12; I John 2:28; Revelation 20:1-4)
The Righteous and The Wicked
We believe that there is a radical difference between the righteous and the wicked, that such only as are regenerate, being justified through faith in Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in unbelief are, in His sight, wicked and under the judgement of God. We believe that the wicked will spend eternity separated from God in Hell and that the righteous will spend eternity with God in Heaven. (Matthew 25:41, 46; John 3:16-36; John 14; II Thessalonians 1:8, 9; I Peter 1:3-5; Revelation 20:10-15; 21:8; Revelation 21, 22)