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STATEMENT
OF FAITH
Freedom
Baptist Church believes that a Statement of Faith should be a summary
of Christian doctrine whose authority consists only in its agreement with
the Word of God.
As
the founding families of Freedom Baptist Church outlines and votes on,
what is to be our Statement of Faith, we will post it on the internet.
Until it is complete, please review the below statement as a general thumbnail
of what we believe.
OF
THE SCRIPTURES
We
believe that the Holy Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testament Scriptures,
was written by men divinely inspired and 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, creed and opinions should be tried.
We further hold to the belief that God has preserved His holy Word in
the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.
OF
THE TRUE GOD
We
believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite,
intelligent Spirit whose name is JEHOVAH, the Maker and Supreme Ruler
of Heaven and Earth; that He is inexpressible, glorious in His 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.
OF
THE FALL OF MAN
We
believe that man was created in holiness under the law of his Maker but
by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state, in consequence
of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but 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 ruin
without defense or excuse.
OF
THE WAY OF SALVATION
We
believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial
offices of the Son of God who, by the atonement of the Father, freely
took upon Himself our nature; that being conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary, yet without sin, He honored the divine law
by His personal obedience and by His death made a full atonement for our
sins; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven
and, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and
an all-sufficient Saviour.
OF
JUSTIFICATION
We
believe that the great gospel blessing, which Christ secures to such as
believe in Him, is justification; that justification includes the pardon
of sin and the promise of eternal life in principles of righteousness;
that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness
which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemers blood,
by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to
us of God; that justification brings us into a state of most blessed peace
and favor with God and secures every other blessing needful for time and
eternity.
OF
THE FREENESS OF SALVATION
We
believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel;
that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent,
and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest
sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection
of the Gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
OF
GRACE IN REGENERATION
We
believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated or born
again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the
mind; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power
of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our
voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in
the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.
OF
REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We
believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable
graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God, whereby
being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness and of the
way of salvation by Christ we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession,
and supplication for mercy; and at the same time we heartily receive the
Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and rely on Him alone
as the only and all-sufficient Saviour.
ETERNAL
SECURITY
We
believe as a result of Gods work on our behalf at salvation, we
are adopted into His family, sealed by His Spirit and that nothing can
separate us from that position.
OF
GODS PURPOSE OF GRACE
We
believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which
He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that being perfectly
consistent with the free agency of man, Gods purpose comprehends
all the means in connection with the end; that grace is a most glorious
display of Gods sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise,
holy and unchangeable; that grace utterly excludes boasting and promotes
humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of
His free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree;
that it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the
Gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance; and that to
ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost
diligence.
OF
SANCTIFICATION
We
believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the
will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive
work; 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, the
Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means-especially
the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.
OF
THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
We
believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that
their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes
them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over
their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith
unto salvation.
OF
THE HARMONY OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL
We
believe that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His
moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; that the inability
which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises
entirely from their love of sin; and that the one great end of the Gospel
is to deliver them from this inability and to restore them, through a
Mediator, to unfeigned obedience to the holy law and of the means of grace
connected with the establishment of the visual church.
OF
A GOSPEL CHURCH
We
believe that a visible church of Christ 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 laws, and exercising
the gifts, rights and privileges invested in His Word; that its only scriptural
officers are bishops or pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims,
and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.
OF
BAPTISM AND THE LORDS SUPPER
We
believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer,
in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost to show forth in a
solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen
Saviour with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new
life. We believe that the Lords Supper, in which the members of
the church by the sacred use of the bread and wine are to commemorate
together the dying love of Christ, is to be preceded always by solemn
self-examination.
OF
THE LORDS DAY
We
believe that the first day of the week is the Lords Day and is to
be kept sacred to religious purposes by abstaining from all secular labor,
except works of mercy and necessity; by the devout observance of all means
of grace, both private and public; and by preparation for that rest which
remaineth for all the people of God.
OF
CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We
believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests
and good of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for,
conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to
the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience
and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
OF
THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
We
believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous
and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous
in His esteem, while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief
are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and that this distinction
holds among men both in and after death.
OF
THE WORLD TO COME
We
believe that the end of this age is approaching.
We
believe in That blessed hope - the personal, imminent return
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust, the
everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of
the lost.
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