FAITH OF BLESSED HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH

† INDEPENDENT † FUNDAMENTAL † KJV BIBLE PREACHING † GOD HONORING MUSIC †

What We Believe

Scriptures/Translations

We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration, and the infallibility of the Scripture (I Peter 1:19-21; II Timothy 3:15-17). We believe that the Word of God has been divinely preserved without contradiction or error (Psalm 12:6-7, 138:2; Matthew 25:18; John 12:48), and is our authority for Christian faith and conduct. The King James Bible (Authorized Version) is the official translation of the Bible to be used.

The Trinity

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–each coeternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:10, 26; 15:16-17, 26; Ephesians 4:6; I Timothy 1:17).

God the Father: We reject the ecumenical teaching that God is the Father of all, and that all are brothers. We believe that He is the Spiritual Father of those who have been born again. (John 3:3; 1:12; Ephesians 4:6; Philippians 1:2).

God the Son: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14:2; II Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-8). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36; Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1-2).

God the Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that he is the supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12-14; II Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13-14). We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:17-18; 5:18; I John 2:20,27). We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing were temporary (I Corinthians 1:22, 13:8; 14:21-22).

The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; 5:12; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; 4:17-19).

Creation

Creation was not a matter of evolution nor evolutionary change of species nor development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms, but rather by the direct act of God (Genesis 1:1; 2:1-4; John 1:3; Hebrews 3:4).

Sin

We believe that by voluntary transgression man fell from his sinless and happy estate. The consequences of which all mankind are now sinners by nature and not by constraint, but by choice, and therefore under the condemnation of God without defense or excuse (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19; 5:12-19).

Satan

We believe that Satan is a created angel, who enjoyed heavenly honors, but fell through pride and ambition to be like the Almighty, drawing after him a host of angels. He is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the god of this world system. We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and, that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Job 1:6-7; I Peter 5:8; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 2:10).

Sanctification

We believe sanctification is three-fold: (1) Positively, God sets apart the believer in Christ at the time of salvation (Romans 5:8,9; I Corinthians 6:11; 12:13; Hebrews 10:10). (2) Practically, sanctification is experienced by degrees as the believer yields himself to God and grows in wisdom, knowledge, experience, and grace. (Ephesians 4:24; I Thessalonians 4:3-4; II Peter 3:18). (3) Potentially, the believer is separate from the presence of sin in his glorification in Heaven (I Thessalonians 3:13, 5:23; Philippians 3:20,21; I John 3:2). Practical sanctification manifests itself in both personal and ecclesiastical separation. Personal separation involves separation unto God in holiness and separation from the world and ungodliness (II Corinthians 7:1; I John 2:15-17; Romans 12:1-2). Ecclesiastical separation involves the separation of the believer from apostasy, liberalism, modernism, neo-evangelicalism, Pseudo-fundamentalism and any movements or organizations that practice or sanction Biblical compromise (Romans 16:17; II Corinthians 6:14; 11:4; Galatians 1:8,9; Ephesians 5:11; I Timothy 6:3-6; II Timothy 2:16-18; Titus 3:10; II John 9:11).

Eternal Security

We believe the redeemed, once saved, are kept by the power of God and thus secured in Christ forever (John 6:37-40); 10:27-30; I Peter 1:5). The saved should rejoice with a personal confidence of a present salvation that rests in the manifestation of the indwelling Christ and the veracity of the Word of God (I John 5:11-13).

Local Church

We believe that the local church is made up solely of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel (II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-27). We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17; 28:32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11). We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. We believe the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from any interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations, and that its only Head is the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41-42; 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Romans 16:1-4; I Corinthians 3:9; 5:4-7; I Peter 5:1-4; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18).

Ordinances

We believe the Scriptural mode of baptism is immersion. It is the outward sign of an inward belief, identifying the convert with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-6). The Lord’s Supper commemorates our Lord’s death until He comes and is open to all baptized believers living in obedience to Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 11:23-32). The ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the only ordinances given to the local church and are to be administered by the local church.

Return of Christ

We believe the Rapture (or “Blessed Hope”) – the personal, imminent pre-tribulation, and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones (I Thessalonians 4:13-17), the Revelation is His subsequent return to earth with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom (Zechariah 14; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6; I Thessalonians 1:10).

Missions

We believe that God has given the local church a great commission to proclaim the gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to our Jerusalems, Judaeas, Samarias, and to the foreign nations of the world and not wait for them to come to us (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8).