Doctrine
We accept the Scriptures as the authority in matters of faith and practice and adopt the following confessions of faith as Faithway Baptist Church interpretation of the Bible doctrine.
Bibliology (doctrines of the Bible)
We believe that the Holy Bible was written inerrant in its original languages 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 age, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
II Timothy 3:16, 17; Proverbs 30:5, 6; Romans 2:12; Philippians 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21; John 16:12-15
Theology Proper
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, and infinite, intelligent, perfect Spirit and personal Being, the Creator, Preserver, and Supreme Ruler of the universe, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and all other attributes perfections, and worthy of all honor, confidence and love; that in 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.
I John 1:5; 4:8; Hebrews 1:3; 3:4; 11:5; Romans 1:20; Exodus 3:14; I Peter 1:15,16; Matthew 3:15-17; 28:19; I Corinthians 12:4-6; II Corinthians 12:9; Ephesians 2:8, 9; 4:4-6; John 5:6; 10:30; Job 11:7; Isaiah 55:8-11
Pneumatology (concerning the Holy Spirit)
We believe the Holy Spirit, the Third person of the Godhead convicts men of sin (John 16:8); indwells, and seals the believer (I Cor. 3:16; Eph. 1:13-14); and sets believers apart unto a holy life; that He keeps and empowers believers day by day; that He is the Teacher of the Word of God and guide for our daily life. Anyone who does not have the Holy Spirit indwelling in him/her is not a Child of God (Rom. 8:9). Believing that tongues have ceased (I Cor. Chapters 12-14), we believe that miracles, signs, and wonders were primarily for the use of authenticating Jesus Christ’s, the apostles’, and the church’s legitimacy. In this later dispensation of the church, God still orchestrates miracles, but man is not the vehicle that performs miracles (Heb. 2:1-4, II Cor. 12:12). We believe God is sovereign in the bestowment of all spiritual gifts, intending that they be used in His church “until He comes.”
Genesis 1:2; I Corinthians 4:20, 21; 12:4-11; II Corinthians 5:18; Ephesians 4:3-13; John 14:16, 17; 15:26; 16:13; Acts 2:4; 5:3, 4
Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of creation and that it is to be accepted literally and not figuratively: that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness and did not evolve from any lower form of life; and that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.”
Genesis 1 & 2; 1:26; John 1:3; I Corinthians 15:22, 45
Anthropology (the origin, nature, and destiny of human beings) &
Hamartiology (the doctrine of sin)
We believe that man was created in a state of holiness, under the law of his Maker, but through the temptation of Satan he voluntarily transgressed and fell from his holy 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.
Genesis 1:27; 3:1-24; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Jeremiah 17:9; Acts 17:26-29; Romans 3:9-18; 5:12, 19; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 53:6; Ezekiel 18:19, 20. Galatians 3:22.
Soteriology (person of Jesus Christ)
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace: through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God; who pre-existed, and who by appointment of the Father, and who by the Holy Spirit was conceived, and born of the Virgin Mary, freely took upon Him man’s nature, yet without sin: honored the divine law by His perfect obedience, and after a miraculous ministry, by His death made a full atonement for our sins, that having risen from the dead bodily, He is now enthroned in heaven to reign in eternal sovereignty and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderness sympathies with divine perfections, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and all-sufficient Savior and Lord.
Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 3:16; 8:58; 10:30; Philippians 2:6-8; Acts 2:32; 16;27-31; Romans 3:21; 6:23; 10:9; I Peter 1:18-23
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 on principles of righteousness; that is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood; by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.
Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:21-24; 4:1; 5:9; 18-21; Acts 13:38; Titus 3:5-7
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 soul; that it is effected, in a manner above our comprehension, by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine trust, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel: and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. We believe “Man’s free will allows one to believe in Jesus Christ and receive His salvation for eternal life or to reject Christ and be eternally separated from God.
John 3:6-7; I Peter 1:22,23; II Corinthians 5:17; I John 4:15f; Ephesians 4:17-20; Galatians 5:16-23; Matthew 7:16; Hebrews 9:27 John 3:16-18; Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 1:15-17; 10:13
God’s 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 will of man, it comprehends as well as embraces all the means of connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy and un-changeable; that it 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 assurances; and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence.
Ephesians 1:3-14; John 13:18; 10:16; 15:16; Acts 13:48; Jeremiah 31:31-34; II Timothy 1:8-10; Colossians 3:12; I Peter 2:9
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 throughout their earthly life, 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.
John 6:37-40; 8:28; Philippians 1:6; Jude 24,25; I John 5:13
Perseverance of the Saints
We believe that all real believers 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.
John 6:37-40, 8:28; Philippians 1:6; Jude 24, 25; I John 5:13
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; and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law, is one great end of the Gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible church.
Romans 3:20, 31; 7:7, 14, 22; 8:2-4; 10:4; Matthew 5:17; Hebrews 8:10
Ecclesiology (structure of the 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 them by His Word; seeking to extend the Gospel to the ends of the earth; that its only Scriptural officers are Pastors and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the epistles to Timothy and Titus.
Matthew 18:18-20; 28:19-20; Acts 11:21-26; II John 7-11; I Corinthians 12:12-31; John 14:15; 15:14; Ephesians 4:4-12; I Timothy 3:1-13; Philippians 1:1-2
We believe that this local visible church of Christ is a voluntary and independent autonomous group of baptized believers; that it is pure democracy, which organically can do nothing, and that it has the power and right within itself to confess its own faith in accordance with the New Testament; and that each congregation recognizes its own democratic self-containing government as its highest authority for carrying out the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:38, 41-42; I Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:3; Romans 12:3-9; Jude 3.
Ordinances
Scripture teaches that there are two church ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Believer’s Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water. Baptism is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, remember the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His return.
Romans 6:3-11; Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-29; 28:19,20; Ephesians 4:5; I Corinthians 11:23-28; 12:13; Acts 2:38, 41-42; 8:36-39; Colossians 2:12; Luke 22:14-20
Lord’s Day
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day and is a Christian institution; it is to be kept sacred to spiritual purposes, for it commemorates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead; by the devout observance of all the means of grace, both private and public.
Acts 20:7; Colossians 2:16,17; Mark 2:27; I Corinthians 16:1,2; Hebrews 10:24,25
Civil Government and Religious Liberty
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order 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; and that church and state should be separate, the state owing the church protection and full freedom; no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be preferred above another by the state; the state should not impose taxes for the support of any form of religion; a free church in a free state is the Christian ideal.
Romans 13:1-7; Exodus 18:21-23; Matthew 22:21; 23:10; Titus 3:1; I Timothy 2:1-3; Acts 4:18-20; James 4:12
State 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 sight; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death.
Romans 1:17; 5:9; Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Acts 10:34,35; I John 3:7,8,36; 1 Peter 4:18; Isaiah. 55:6,7; Matthew. 7:13,14
Resurrection
We believe the Scriptures clearly teach that Jesus rose from the dead bodily. His grave was emptied of its contents; that He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection in many convincing manifestations; that He now exists in His glorified body at God’s right hand; and that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and a resurrection of the wicked, separated in time; that the bodies of the righteous will conform to the glorified body of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 18:1-8; I Corinthians 15:1-58; John 11:25; Acts 1:3; 10:39-41; 24:15; Mark 16:19; I Peter 3:22; Philippians 3:21
Eschatology (study of the end times)
We believe in the imminent pre-tribulation rapture of the redeemed and the pre-millennial return of the Lord; that the Lord Jesus Christ will rapture His redeemed after which He will personally and visibly return with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom upon the earth to reign as King with power and great glory and that at the end of the millennium a solemn separation will take place, that the wicked will be judged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven and hell, on principles of righteousness.
John 14:3; I Thessalonians 4:16-18; II Thessalonians 2:1-10; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7; 20:5-15; Matthew 24:30,31; II Peter 2:9; Philippians 3:20; I John 3:2,3
Ecclesiastical Separation (from Heresy and Apostasy)
We believe in total and complete separation as taught in the Word of God from all forms of heresy and ecclesiastical apostasy. We believe the Scripture teaches that we are to: 1) Try them; 2) Mark them; 3) Rebuke them; 4) Have no fellowship; 5) Withdraw thyself; 6) Receive them not; 7) Have no company with them; 8) Reject them; 9) Separate yourself.
John 4:1; Romans 16:17; Titus 1:13; 3:10, 11; I Corinthians 5:11; II Corinthians 6:14-18; II Thessalonians 3:6,14; II John 7-1
Marriage
We believe that marriage is an act of worship uniting one naturally born-man and one naturally-born woman in a single, exclusive union as delineated in scripture (Gen 1:27, Gen 2:18 – 25, Rom 7:2, I Cor 7-10, Eph 5:22-23). Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, and further as God created people male and female from birth (Ps 139:13), Faithway Baptist Church will only recognize marriages between a man and a woman. Further, the Pastors and staff of Faithway Baptist Church shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of Faithway Baptist Church shall only host weddings between one man and one woman. Either the bride or the groom must be an active member in good standing with Faithway Baptist Church.