Theology

As Christians we are connected to the faith once for all entrusted to the saints, preserved in Scripture, and handed down faithfully by the churches throughout time. As with all followers of Jesus we hold to the core convictions as represented in the Apostles and Nicene Creeds. We are also confessional Christians in that we hold firmly that the apostolic teaching is found in the Scriptures, the sixty six books of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. This therefore is the highest authority in our lives and we submit joyfully to its teaching for we believe it to be the very words of God.

The following is a brief summary of some of the core beliefs we hold dear at Fellowship Bible Church.

The Scriptures
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12)
We believe that the Scriptures in all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired of God, free from error in the original manuscripts, and the supreme authority of faith and practice for followers of Christ.

God
(Deuteronomy 6:4)
We believe there is one living and true God, who is one in essence, while eternally existing in three distinct persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Humanity
(Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 1:18-32, 3:10-23)
We believe that human beings were directly created in the image of God to enjoy His fellowship and fulfill His purposes on earth. However, in Adam, all of us fell into sin; consequently all people are spiritually dead and subject to the certainty of both physical and spiritual death apart from faith in Jesus Christ.

Salvation
(John 1:12, 3:16, 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9)
We believe that salvation is by God's grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ alone. All who trust in him are given his righteous by the Father on the grounds of his life, death and resurrection, being regenerated by and baptized in the Holy Spirit.

The Church
(Acts 2:41-47; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Corinthians 12-14)
We believe that all who are "born again" by the Holy Spirit belong to the one true church and are instructed by the Scriptures to associate themselves in local, visible churches.

Leadership
(1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Acts 6:1-6)
We believe that Jesus Christ leads the local church through a plurality of men who serve as pastor/elders. These men have been called, gifted, and appointed by Him for such service. By seeking the mind of Christ, depending upon the Holy Spirit and diligently examining the Word of God, the elders provide spiritual oversight and direction for the church. The qualifications of elders are character based as defined in 1 Timothy and Titus, and the decisions of the elders require unanimous agreement.

Ordinances
(Matt. 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
We believe that baptism is an essential "first step" for all who, having believed in Christ for salvation, desire to walk as His follower. Baptism is a clear command of the Scriptures which outwardly expresses the inward reality of new life in Christ. Our method of baptism is immersion as described in the New Testament and practiced in the early church signifying entrance into the new covenant community of faith.

We believe that the Lord's Supper is a remembering, proclamation of Christ and His redemptive death. It is also an expression of our fellowship with one another and an act of worship by which we fellowship with the risen Jesus. In communion we are reminded of Christ's first coming and encouraged to look forward to His coming again.

The Future
(Matthew 24-25; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
We believe the next great event of history will be the personal return of Jesus Christ. This is the blessed hope for which all those who love Christ yearn. While the exact time of Christ's return is unknown, it is imminent and certain.