We Believe

Core Beliefs

The following are the core beliefs of Faith Bible Church - TX based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

We believe and teach that the Holy Scriptures of both the Old and New Testament are the verbally inspired Word of God, absolutely without error in the original documents. We also believe and teach that the Scriptures are the supreme and final authority in doctrine and practice
(John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21).

THE GODHEAD

We believe and teach there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three equal persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Though each possesses the same divine nature and attributes, they are distinct in office and activity (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

GOD THE FATHER

We believe and teach that God the Father is Father over all creation, Father of the nation Israel, Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and Father of believers in Christ Jesus
(Galatians 3:26; Exodus 4:22; Matthew 3:17).

We believe and teach that God the Father orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace. As the absolute and highest ruler in the universe, He has supreme power over all things—creation, providence, and redemption. He has graciously chosen from all eternity those whom He would have as his own and He saves from sin all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (Psalm 145:8-9; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:33; Ephesians 1:3-6; John 1:12,18).

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST 

We believe and teach that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became a man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. We believe and teach that Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins in obedience to the Father's will. We believe and teach that our redemption and salvation are guaranteed to us by His literal physical resurrection from the dead (Luke 1:35; John 1:1,14,18; Romans 3:24-26, 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:50-55; Ephesians 1:20-21).

We believe and teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, exalted at the right hand of God, where as High Priest He fulfills the ministry of inter­cession and advocacy for His people. (Philippians 2:9-10; Colossians 1:17-19; Hebrews 1:3, 3:1, 7:23-25, 9:24, 12:2; 1 John 2:1-2).


THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe and teach that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, eternal, possessing all the divine attributes, and that in these, He is co–equal with God the Father and God the Son (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

We believe and teach that the Holy Spirit took up His abode in the world in a special sense on the Day of Pentecost, that He permanently indwells and enables every believer at salvation, unites all believers into one body in Christ, and strengthens and guides believers into acceptable worship and service (John 14:16-17, 26, 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 2:22; Romans 8:26-27; Ephesians 3:16-17; Ephesians 4:3).

We believe and teach that the Holy Spirit restrains evil in the world; convicts the world with respect to sin, righteousness, and judgment; seals believers unto the Day of Redemp­tion and bestows spiritual gifts (2 Thessalonians 2:7; John 16:7-11; Ephesians 4:30; Romans 8:9; Romans 12:4-8).

We believe and teach that speaking in tongues was never the common nor necessary sign of the baptism nor of the filling of the Spirit, and that emphasis should be on that which edifies and unifies the Church. We believe and teach that the practice of speaking in tongues should not be expressed in corporate worship, since it is not a gift given to edify the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:22-24).


ANGELS, FALLEN AND HOLY 

We believe and teach that angels are spiritual beings who were created as sinless personalities and that they occupy different orders and ranks. They presently exist in both fallen and holy states, the former including Satan and his demons (Hebrews 1:13-14; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 7:11-12).

We believe and teach that Satan, by his own choice the enemy of God and of the people of God, is the originator of sin, that he led our first parents into sin and now rules as the god of this world. We believe and teach that he was judged at the cross and that ultimately he will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Genesis 3:1-19; Isaiah 14:12-14; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

CREATION AND FALL

We believe and teach that all things in heaven and earth were created by God and exist by His power
(Genesis 1-2; Colossians 1:16-17).

We believe and teach that man was originally created innocent and in the image and likeness of God but that he sinned, bringing both physical and spiritual death upon himself and his descendants. We believe and teach that man has inherited a sinful nature, is alienated from God and is in need of salvation (Genesis 1:27, 2:17, 3:19; Ephesians 2:1-3).

SIN

We believe and teach that sin is a transgression against God’s character and commands, a commitment to self-centeredness, an over-riding concern for one’s own desires. Because of sin, the sinner has missed the mark of God’s righteousness, he is opposed to God, and helpless to save himself. The sinner is responsible for his ruined condition and before God deserves judgment. Ultimately, that judgment results in death which is eternal separation from God
(Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10-20; Revelation 21:8).

SALVATION

We believe and teach that God, in His mercy, has provided a way of rescue for sinful mankind—forgiveness of sins, deliverance from His judgment, and a return to a right relationship with Him to enjoy the full benefits of His grace both in this life and forever in His presence (Ezekiel 36:24–27; John 1:12, 3:3–8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7).

This He accomplished through the atoning death of Jesus on the cross to pay the penalty of our transgression against Him, and through His resurrection which provides eternal life for those who freely receive this gift of grace, acknowledging that there is no other means of redemption and salvation (John 5:24; Romans 3:21–26; Ephesians 2:8–9).

ETERNAL SECURITY

We believe and teach that all believers are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. This security is guaranteed by the eternal life imparted by God the Father through His Son and by the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit, which is a finished, unchangeable work (John 5:24, 6:37–47, 10:27–30; Romans 8:38–39; Ephesians 1:13–14; 1 Peter 1:5).

SANCTIFICATION 

We believe and teach that sanctification is a setting apart unto God by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. This sanctification is positional, pro­gressive, and ultimate. Positionally it is already complete since the believer is in Christ and is set apart unto God as Christ is set apart unto God. Since, however, the believer retains his sinful nature, there is need for progressive sanctification, where­by the Christian grows in grace through the ministry and power of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, the child of God will be set apart completely from sin when taken to be with Christ, and shall become like Him (John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:25–27; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 10:10, 14, 12:10).

THE CHURCH

We believe and teach that the Church is a spiritual organism, the Body and Bride of Christ, made up of all believers. We believe and teach that the Church began on the Day of Pentecost and that a believer is placed into the Church by the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit
(1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27).

We believe and teach that a local church, such as Faith Bible Church, is an assembly of believers in Jesus Christ, who voluntarily join together to glorify God by worshiping together, studying the Word of God, correcting one another in love, ob­serving the ordinances, fellowshipping together, by being equipped for Christian service, and spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth, with a common spiritual goal to grow into Christ’s likeness (Acts 2:42-47; Romans 8:29-30;
1 Corinthians 1:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-13).

We believe and teach that all believers should seek to walk by the Spirit, separating themselves from worldly practices. We believe and teach that it is the obligation of every believer to witness, by life and by word, to the truths of the Holy Scriptures and to proclaim the gospel to all the world. We believe and teach it is the responsibility of all believers to remember the work of the Lord in prayer and to support it with their means as the Lord has prospered them. We believe and teach that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every believer which should be exercised to strengthen the body of Christ (Acts 1:8; Romans 12:1–2, 14:13; 1 Corinthians 12:14, 16:2; 2 Corinthians 6:14, 7:1, 9:7; Ephesians 4:11–16).

THE ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER 

We believe and teach that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper which are to be observed by believers until He returns
(Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

We believe and teach that by water baptism a believer is publicly identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection; that the mode of baptism is by immersion; that infants of believing parents may be dedicated to the Lord, but not baptized (Acts 8:38; Romans 6:3-7).

We believe and teach that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ’s death, the elements being symbols of His body and blood. We believe and teach that every Christian, regardless of church affiliation, has a right to partake of the elements of the Lord’s Supper, but that participation should always be preceded by solemn self-examination (Luke 22:19–20).

RAPTURE AND SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

We believe and teach the personal, imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ for His Church, both those who have died and those who are alive.  (I Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 20:1-6).

We believe and teach that the Rapture is followed by the Tribulation on earth which culminates in the return of Christ to earth to set up His millennial kingdom  
(Zechariah 14:4-11; Matthew 24:15-31; Rev. 20:1-6).

THE ETERNAL STATE

We believe and teach that, at death, the spirits of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation will pass immediately into His presence and there remain in conscious joy until the resurrection of the body.  At His coming for the Church, the spirit and body of these believers will be reunited in resurrection and shall be associated with Him forever in His glory.  His resurrection body is the pattern of that body which ultimately will be given to all believers
(Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23).

We believe and teach that the spirits of unbelievers remain in conscious misery after death, until the final judgment of the great white throne at the close of the Millennium when spirit and body, reunited, shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting separation from the presence of the Lord
(Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 20:11-15).

position papers

In addition to our Core Beliefs, the Elders have adopted several position papers over the years.
These can be found here and include:

Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage
Caring Enough to Correct
Human Sexuality
Women in Ministry

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