The Articles of Faith of the Bible Fellowship Church
Preamble Article I THE HOLY SCRIPTURES Article XV JUSTIFICATION Article II THE TRINITY Article XVI SANCTIFICATION Article III GOD THE FATHER Article XVII PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS Article IV GOD THE SON Article XVIII THE CHURCH Article V GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT Article XIX THE EVANGELISTIC MISSION OF THE CHURCH Article VI CREATION Article XX ORDINANCES Article VII SATAN Article XXI THE LORD'S DAY Article VIII MAN Article XXII DIVINE HEALING Article IX SIN Article XXIII CIVIL GOVERNMENT Article X HUMAN ABILITY & RESPONSIBILITY Article XXIV RESURRECTION Article XI ELECTION Article XXV THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST Article XII SALVATION Article XXVI THE JUDGMENTS Article XIII REPENTANCE Article XXVII MILLENNIUM Article XIV REGENERATION Article XXVIII THE ETERNAL STATE
PREAMBLE
The Bible Fellowship Church has adopted this statement of faith and order to declare with clarity and precision its faith and testimony to the glory of God.
The Bible Fellowship Church acknowledges as its sole head, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of man. It submits to the written Word of God and to the Holy Spirit as its only sources of guidance and power in maintaining its redemptive life and work in the world.
The Bible Fellowship Church has adopted this Faith and Order not in substitution for but in subordination to the Word of God. These standards has been received as being based on the Scriptures; even the elements not drawn directly form the Word have been acknowledged as based on the general rules and tenor of the Word. These standards seek to provide an effective means for the application of the teaching of the Scriptures to the faith, worship, government, and discipline of the church. Although these standards have been acknowledged to be of lesser importance than the inspired words of the Scriptures, they cannot be neglected without resulting in serious impairment of the life of the church.
The Bible Fellowship Church acknowledges as brethren all those who share its confession of faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It confesses gladly the benefits of the historical and geographical breadth of its fellowship. It acknowledges specifically the benefits derived from similar statements of faith and order devised at many times in the history of the church. It seeks to respond to the responsibilities that these benefits bring by beseeching Almighty God to indwell it in such a way that it may by His grace bring glory to Himself and blessing to men.
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
The Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, are the inspired,1 infallible Word of God,2 a divine revelation, the original writings of which were verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit.3 They are the supreme and final authority of faith and conduct.4
Inspiration is a special act of the Holy Spirit3 by which He guided the writers of the Scriptures so that their words would convey the thoughts He wished conveyed, would bear a proper relationship to the thoughts of the other inspired books, and be kept free from error of fact, doctrine and judgement.5
The Holy Scriptures, the Word of God, written, are composed of all the books of the Old Testament and New Testament, namely:
|
Old Testament |
New Testament |
| Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, , Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi | Matthew, Mark, Luke. John, Acts, Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus, Philemon , Hebrew's, James, I Peter, II Peter, I John, II John, III John, Jude, Revelation |
| Footnotes: |
| 1-II Timothy 3:15-17 |
| 2-Psalm 119:89; John 10:35; Isaiah 40:8 |
| 3-II Peter 1:21; I Peter 1:10,11; I Corinthians 2:12,13 |
| 4-John 17:17; Luke 24:27,44; Revelation 22:18,19 |
| 5-Matthew 5:17,18 |
THE TRINITY
There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son1 and the Holy Spirit:2 and these three are one God,3 the same in substance, eternally equal in power and glory.
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Matthew 3:16,17; John 20:28 |
| 2-Acts 5:3,4 |
| 3-Genesis 1:1,26; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14 |
GOD THE FATHER
There is but one living and true God,1 immanent, transcendent, infinite in being and perfection, pure spirit,2 invisible, immutable,3 eternal, almighty, all wise,4 most holy, most free, most loving, most gracious, most merciful, long suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin,5 the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, and withal most just and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will be no means clear the guilty.
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Isaiah 45:5,6 |
| 2-John 4:24 |
| 3-Malachi 3:6a |
| 4-Romans 11:33,34 |
| 5-Exodus 34:6,7 |
GOD THE SON
Jesus Christ the Son of God, is the Word,1 the eternal and true God who is of one substance and equal with the Father.2 He took upon Himself man's nature with all the essential properties thereof, yet apart from sin: being conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary,3 so that two perfect and distinct natures were joined in one person, which person is truly God and truly man, the only mediator between God and man.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the revelation of God to man.4 In the days of His humiliation5 He lived a sinless life, performed miracles, taught the will of God,5 was crucified and died. He was buried and arose bodily from the dead the third day. The Lord Jesus offered Himself a sacrifice for sins,6 satisfied the justice of the Father, propitiated the wrath of God, reconciled God and man,7 and obtained an eternal inheritance.
The Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven from whence He came and was exalted taking His place at the right hand of the Father where He makes intercession on behalf of all who come to God through Him.8
| Footnotes: |
| 1-John 1:1-3,14 |
| 2-Colossians 1:15-20 |
| 3-Matthew 1:22,23 |
| 4-Hebrews 1:1-4 |
| 5-Philippians 2:5-11 |
| 6-Hebrews 9:14 |
| 7-Romans 5:10 |
| 8-Hebrews 4:14,15 |
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
The eternal1 Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son,2 is of the same substance and equal in power and glory with the Father, and the Son. By Him the prophets were moved to speak the Word of God, and all writers of the Holy Scriptures were inspired to record infallibly the mind and will of God.3 He is the only efficient agent in the application of redemption. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness and of judgment,4 moves them to repentance and regenerates5 them by His grace, enabling them to embrace Jesus Christ by faith.
The Holy Spirit indwells all true believers, baptizing them into one body of which Christ is the head.6 He, the divine Comforter, Intercessor and Advocate, empowers the believer for service.7
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Hebrews 9:14b |
| 2-John 14:16,26 |
| 3-II Peter 1:21 |
| 4-John 16:7-11 |
| 5-John 3:5 |
| 6-I Corinthians 12:13 |
| 7-Acts 1:8 |
CREATION
The triune God according to His sovereign will created out of nothing and out of things that he had made, by immediate and mediate action, the worlds and all that is therein1 He is the Governor and Upholder of the creation by His wisdom and the word of His mighty power2
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Genesis1:1,2; Genesis 1:3-2:3; Hebrews 11:3 |
| 2-Colossians 1:16,17 |
SATAN
Satan is a created angelic being who fell from his first estate.1 He is the god of this age ruling by the permissive will of God.2 He exercises authority over the unsaved, tempts the believer to sin, and continually accuses the brethren before the throne of God.3
He has been defeated by the finished work of Christ on Calvary. During the millennium he will be confined to the abyss4 to be released at the end of the period to lead the armies of evil against God. He will be finally judged and doomed to the lake of fire.5
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Isaiah 14:12-17; Jude 1:6 |
| 2-II Corinthians 4:4 |
| 3-I Thessalonians 3:5; Revelation 12:10b |
| 4-Revelation 20:2,3 |
| 5-Revelation 20:10 |
MAN
God, by a special instantaneous act, created man in His image1 - - holy, righteous, and possessing true knowledge2 - - by forming him out of the dust of the earth and breathing into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul.
Our first parents did not remain in the glorious and happy state of their original creation; but, through the subtlety and deception of the devil,3 disobeyed and transgressed the command of God the creator, incurring upon themselves and their posterity the sentence of spiritual and physical death. The guilt and consequences of Adam's sin are imputed to the whole human race so that all men are guilty,4 inherently corrupt, totally depraved,5 and subjects of the wrath of God.6
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Genesis 1:27 |
| 2-Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10; Psalm 8:4-6 |
| 3-Genesis 3:1-6 |
| 4-Romans 5:12-18 |
| 5-Romans 3:11-18 |
| 6-Ephesians 2:3; Romans 1:18 |
SIN
Sin is any lack of conformity to the will of God,1 or transgression of the law of God.2 Sin separates man from God incurring His wrath and judgment; and it is manifest in the selfishness, rebellion, and the total depravity of man's conduct and behavior before God and man. Sin is the cause of the curse and defilement of the created universe.3
| Footnotes: |
| 1-I John 5:17a; James 4:17 |
| 2-I John 3:4; James 2:10 |
| 3-Romans 8:22; Genesis 3:17,18 |
HUMAN ABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
In his original creation man was endowed with ability to will and to do good or evil and was accountable for his willing and doing.1
But by the fall of Adam man lost his ability apart from God's grace2 to will and to do those things necessary to a right relationship to God; 3 however, he is still accountable to God for obedience to all His commands.4 Man has not lost his ability to make decisions,5 but left to himself act's only in accordance with his fallen sinful nature.6
Only by God's infinite grace can man will or do anything necessary to his salvation.7 God by that grace saves men8 whom He causes to will and to do good; however, He does this without nullifying man's ability to act responsibly.9
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Genesis 2:16,17 |
| 2-Ephesians 2:1-3 |
| 3-Romans 3:11; Romans 8:8 |
| 4-Romans 2:6-10; Acts 17:30 |
| 5-Deuteronomy 30:11,19 |
| 6-Romans 3:10,12; Jeremiah 13:23; Ephesians 2:1-3 |
| 7-Romans 9:16 |
| 8-James 1:18 |
| 9-Philippians 2:12,13 |
ELECTION
Election is a free act of the sovereign God in which from eternity,1 and for reasons known only to Himself2 and apart from any goodness in man3He graciously chose from among the fallen mankind a people unto salvation,3 that they might be conformed to Christ's image.4 Those so chosen He redeemed5 by His Son and seals by His Spirit.6
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Ephesians 1:4,11 |
| 2-Matthew 11:27 |
| 3-II Timothy 1:9 |
| 4-Ephesians 4:13 |
| 5-II Thessalonians 2:13 |
| 6-Ephesians 1:13 |
SALVATION
In the gospel salvation is offered to all men1 and is received by grace through faith and the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit,2 apart from works or human merit.3 Salvation centers in a person, Jesus Christ, and receiving Him4 includes the remission of sins on the grounds of His shed blood,5 the imputation of His perfect righteousness,6 the reception of the Holy Spirit7 and the impartation of eternal life.8
| Footnotes: |
| 1-John 3:16 |
| 2-John 16:8 |
| 3-Ephesians 2:8,9 |
| 4-John 1:12 |
| 5-Ephesians 1:7 |
| 6-I Corinthians 1:30 |
| 7-Romans 8:9b |
| 8-I John 5:11,12 |
REPENTANCE
Repentance unto life is a voluntary act of man,1 accomplished by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Repentance consists of a knowledge of sin,2 a sense of guilt and corruption which results in the confession and forsaking of sin and a turning to God.3
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Luke 24:47; Acts 17:30 |
| 2-John 16:8 |
| 3-I Thessalonians 1:9 |
REGENERATION
Regeneration, or the New Birth,1 is an instantaneous creative act of God through the agency of the Holy Spirit,2 whereby divine life is imparted to those dead in sin, making them members of the family of God.3
| Footnotes: |
| 1-John 3:3,6,7; I Peter 1:23 |
| 2-Titus 3:5 |
| 3-John 1:11-13; II Corinthians 5:17; James 1:18 |
JUSTIFICATION
Justification is the act of God's grace whereby the sinner is declared righteous solely through faith1 in the redemptive work of Christ; 2 by this action the righteousness of Christ is imputed,3 sin is pardoned, and the sinner is restored to divine favor.4
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Acts 13:39 |
| 2-Romans 8:33,34 |
| 3-II Corinthians 5:21 |
| 4-Isaiah 55:7 |
SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is a progressive work of the Holy Spirit in the believer1 which purifies the life2 and conforms the whole man to the image of Christ as the Word of God is believed and obeyed.3 It begins at regeneration,4 continues throughout the individual's life5 on earth, and reaches its completion at the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ.6
| Footnotes: |
| 1-II Corinthians 3:18 |
| 2-I Thessalonians 4:3 |
| 3-John 17:17 |
| 4-I Corinthians 6:11 |
| 5-Ephesians 4:24,26,27 |
| 6-I Thessalonians 5:23 |
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Salvation is the work of God from its commencement to its consummation.1 Those regenerated by the Word of God through the work of the Holy Spirit become partakers of the divine nature.2 They are preserved by the power of God3 so that they shall never totally or finally fall away,4 but shall persevere unto the end.5
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Romans 8:29,30 |
| 2-II Peter 1:4 |
| 3-Philippians 1:6; I Peter 1:5 |
| 4-John 10:27-29; I Corinthians 1:8; I John 2:19 |
| 5-II Thessalonians 3:3,4 |
THE CHURCH
The Church is the body of which Christ is the head.1 All those redeemed by His blood2 and born of His Spirit are members of that body and are in mystical union and communion with Christ3 and fellow believers.4 The Church is universal and local, visible and invisible. The visible Church consists of all those professing faith in Christ. The invisible Church is composed of all those born of the Spirit.5
The purpose of the Church is to worship God, edify the saints6 and to evangelize the world.7
The Head of the Church administers the affairs of His body through overseers chosen by Himself and selected by the people.8
A properly constituted local Church must include the ministry of God's Word, the observance of the ordinances, the oversight by officers,9 and the exercise of discipline.10 The overseers of the Church are to be prayed for, obeyed, and honored.11
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Colossians 1:18a |
| 2-I Peter 1:18,19 |
| 3-Romans 6:5,6 |
| 4-I Corinthians 1:10 |
| 5-I Corinthians 12:13 |
| 6-I Corinthians 12:7,11 |
| 7-Matthew 28:19,20 |
| 8-Ephesians 4:11,12 |
| 9-I Peter 5:2,3,5 |
| 10-Matthew 18:17 |
| 11-Hebrews 13:7,17,24a |
THE EVANGELISTIC MISSION OF THE CHURCH
The Church has been commissioned by Jesus Christ to preach the gospel to all nations.1 Each particular church and every believer bear responsibility to this commission.2
In the Gospel, God has clearly revealed the only way of salvation which is sufficient for and applicable to the whole lost race of mankind.3 Based on His infinite and perfect love and His expressed desire that all men be saved,4 He bids the Church that with urgency, compassion, and persuasion, it proclaim the gospel to all people and invite them to believe.5
It is the duty and privilege of everyone who hears the gospel to repent and receive its merciful provisions.6 Those who do are saved,7 and those who continue in impenitence and unbelief incur aggravated guilt and perish by their own fault.8
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Matthew 28:19, 20 ; Acts 1:8 |
| 2-I Peter 3:15 |
| 3-I John 2:2 |
| 4-John 3:16; I Timothy 2:; 3,4 |
| 5-II Corinthians 5:18-20 |
| 6-Acts 17:30; Romans 10:13 |
| 7-John 5:24 |
| 8-Luke 13:3; Romans 2:5 |
ORDINANCES
BAPTISM - Water Baptism,1 the immersion of the believer, is a visible testimony to the work of regeneration2 and a mark of identification and union with Christ.3 It has no saving or cleansing power, but it is the answer of a good conscience before God, hence, should only be administered to those who have, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, realized the forgiveness of sins and have the assurance of acceptance with God.
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Acts 8:26 |
| 2- Acts 2:41 |
| 3-Matthew 28:19,20; Romans 6:3,4; Colossians 2:11,12 |
THE LORD'S SUPPER - The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of the New Testament,1 wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to the appointment of Jesus Christ, His death is proclaimed.2 They that worthily partake in remembrance of Him, feed upon Him to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace,3 have their union and communion with Him confirmed, testify, and renew their thankfulness and commitment to God4 and their mutual love and fellowship each with the other as members of the same mystical body.5
The Scriptures direct that each one examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup "until He come".6
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Luke 22:19,20 |
| 2-I Corinthians 11:26 |
| 3-John 6:55,56 |
| 4-I Corinthians 10:21 |
| 5-I Corinthians 10:17 |
| 6-I Corinthians 11:26 |
THE LORD'S DAY
The first day of the week has been recognized as the Lord's Day by the Church from apostolic times.1 We believe, therefore, that it ought to be observed by all believers, voluntarily, and in love, as a continuation of the Sabbath principle,2 a day of remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord from the dead and a day of worship of God, rest from physical toil, service for the Master, and fellowship of the saints. Christians ought to engage only in duties of necessity and mercy on the Lord's Day.
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Mark 16:9; John 20:1,19; Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:2 |
| 2-Genesis 2:2,3; Mark 2:27,28 |
DIVINE HEALING
It is the believer's privilege to seek the will of the Lord in matters of physical healing. This healing whether by natural, medical, or supernatural means must come from the Omnipotent God who created the human body. The believer may implore the Lord for physical restoration according to the Scriptures,1 and if the healing is for the highest glory of God, His power will be displayed.2
| Footnotes: |
| 1-James 5; 14-16 |
| 2-John 11:4 |
CIVIL GOVERNMENT
God ordained and instituted civil government1 for the welfare of society, to promote and to protect the good, and restrain and punish the evil.2 It is the duty of Christians to pray3 for those that are in authority, to render due loyalty,4 respect and obedience5 to them, and to pay taxes and customs demanded of them. Where demands of civil law militate against the supreme and higher law of God, Christians should obey God rather than man.6
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Daniel 4:17 |
| 2-Romans 13:1-3 |
| 3-I Timothy 2:1,2 |
| 4-I Peter 2:13,14 |
| 5-Titus 3:1 |
| 6-Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29 |
RESURRECTION
The bodily resurrection of Christ is the basis for the resurrection of man.1 At the return of the Lord, the bodies of the righteous dead will be raised and the living believers will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.2 Believers will at the resurrection receive spiritual and immortal bodies like unto Christ's own glorious body.3
The event of the resurrection is divided into two stages, separated by a period of a thousand years and differing both in respect to their subjects and their issues.4 The first resurrection includes only the righteous dead.5 The second resurrection is universal and occurs at the close of the millennium when all the unregenerate dead are raised to be brought before the great White Throne for judgment.6
| Footnotes: |
| 1-John 11:25 |
| 2-I Thessalonians 4:14-17 |
| 3-Philippians 3:20,21; Job 19:25-27 |
| 4-Daniel 12:2; John 5:28,29 |
| 5-Revelation 20:5,6 |
| 6-Revelation 20:13 |
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the personal visible, bodily return of our Lord to this earth1 to conform believers to His image and to establish the millennial kingdom. In connection with Christ's return, there will be the resurrection of the righteous dead,2 the rapture of the saints,3 the salvation of Israel,4 the great tribulation,5 and the inauguration of the millennial reign.6 Following the millennium, there will be the resurrection and judgment of the unrighteous. The righteous will be eternally glorified with Him, the unrighteous will be eternally punished.
It is the believer's source of encouragement and comfort, inspiring him to active service for Christ, and is a motive for purification and holy living.7
| Footnotes: |
| 1-John 14:2,3; Acts 1:11 |
| 2-I John 3:2; I Corinthians 15:51,52 |
| 3-I Thessalonians 4:13-18 |
| 4-Romans 1:25b,26a |
| 5-Matthew 2:21 |
| 6-Revelation 20:6 |
| 7-I John 3:3 |
THE JUDGMENTS
The Scriptures enumerate several judgments which differ as to time, place, subjects, and results. All judgment has been entrusted to the Son by the Father.1
Through the death of Christ on the cross, the believers sins have been judged and he has passed from death unto life.2 In no case do the redeemed come again into judgment concerning their eternal destiny. Each saint, however, will be required to give an account before the Judgment Seat of Christ regarding his works and conduct.3
The unregenerate will be judged, condemned, and banished to eternal damnation in the lake of fire.4
| Footnotes: |
| 1-John 5:22 |
| 2-John 5:24 |
| 3-II Corinthians 5:10 |
| 4-Revelation 20:11-15 |
MILLENNIUM
The Millennium is that aspect of the Kingdom of God that will be ushered in when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth to rule in righteousness. The unfulfilled Messianic prophecies will then be completed.1 During this period, Satan will be bound restricting his deceitful activities.2 The created universe will undergo a transformation3 with universal prosperity and peace prevailing on earth.4 The saints will reign with Christ5 and the earth will be full of the knowledge and glory of the Lord.6
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Jeremiah 23:5-8; Isaiah 9:6,7 |
| 2-Revelation 20:1-3 |
| 3-Isaiah 11:6-9; Romans 8:19-23 |
| 4-Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 35:1,2,7 |
| 5-Revelation 5:10 |
| 6-Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 45:22,23 |
THE ETERNAL STATE
There are two final eternal destinies for man, heaven for the righteous and penitent, and hell for the unrighteous and impenitent.1 At the great white throne judgment, all the enemies of God will be consigned to the place of eternal conscious punishment from which there is no escape.2 The new heavens and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness shall be created3 as the final state in which the righteous shall dwell forever in the presence of God.4
| Footnotes: |
| 1-Matthew 25:46 |
| 2-Revelation 20:11-15 |
| 3-II Peter 3:10-13 |
| 4-Revelation 21:3 |