We teach that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:14-16), the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8), of which Christ is the Head (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18).
We teach that the formation of the church, the body of Christ, began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21, 38-47) and that Christ is in the process of building His church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).
We teach that the church is a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all born-again believers in this present age (Ephesians 2:11-3:6). The church is distinct from Israel (1 Corinthians 10:32), a mystery not revealed until this age (Ephesians 3:1-6; 5:32).
We teach that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1) and that the members of the one spiritual body (i.e. the universal church—the total number of believers throughout church history) are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (1 Corinthians 11:18-20; Hebrews 10:25).
We teach that the one, supreme authority for the church is Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18) and that church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures.
We teach that there are two biblically designated offices in the church: Elders and Deacons (Philippians 1:1), both of whom must meet biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5).
- We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Chief Shepherd and Head of the Church, directs the affairs of the local church through His under-shepherds called Elders. The Elder (also called bishop) is the same as a pastor, shepherd and overseer (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:1; 1 Peter 5:2). While some Elders are financially supported by the church (i.e. vocational Elders— 1 Corinthians 9:9-14; 1 Timothy 5:17-18), others are self-supporting (i.e. non-vocational Elders).
- We teach that the Elders rule as servants of Christ (Matthew 20:26; 1 Timothy 5:17-22; 1 Peter 5:3) and have His authority in directing the church. The congregation is to submit to their leadership (Hebrews 13:7, 17). The Elders should determine all matters of church membership, policy, discipline, benevolence, and government as outlined in the Fellowship Bible Church Bylaws.
- We teach that the Deacons (i.e. servants) are men who assist the Elders in the general needs of the church body as directed by the Elders (Acts 6:1-7).
We teach the importance of discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2), and mutual accountability of all believers to each other (Matthew 18:5-14).
We teach that each local church is independent or autonomous, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. However, “likeminded churches” (i.e. those churches that agree with the essential, fundamental truths of the Christian faith listed above) may fellowship with each other and work together for the advancement of God’s kingdom (John 13: 34-35; 17:21; Acts 15:6-34; Ephesians 4:3; Philippians 2:1; Colossians 3:14). The Elders of Fellowship Bible Church will determine the extent and method of this church’s cooperation.
We teach that the purpose of the church is to bring glory to God (Ephesians 3:21) by:
- Exalting Christ (Matthew 22:37-38; Romans 15:6; Revelation 5:12).
- Encouraging People (Matthew 22:39; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 1:3).
- Establishing Believers (Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 4:13-16; Colossians 1:23,28).
- Equipping Servants (Ephesians 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Peter 4:10).
- Evangelizing Unbelievers (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:11,18-21).
We teach the need of the church to cooperate with God as He accomplishes His purpose in the world. To that end, the Lord Jesus gives the church spiritual gifts. First, He gives men chosen for the purpose of equipping the saints for work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:7-12). Second, He gives spiritual gifts to each member of the body of Christ to minister by doing “the work of service” (Romans 12:5-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-31; Ephesians 4:12; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Christ establishes and oversees this unity and diversity in order that the local church might fulfill its purpose.
We teach that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:38-42):
- We teach that Christian baptism is only for those who have placed their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Baptism is not a saving ordinance, but is an act of obedience. It is a demonstration whereby the believer gives testimony before all of his or her faith in, and identification with, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that baptism by immersion is the only Scriptural mode (Acts 8:36-39) and symbolizes the believer’s dying, being buried and raised to newness of life (Romans 6:1-11). It is also a sign of identification with the visible body of Christ (Acts 2:41-42).
- We teach that the Lord’s Supper (i.e. Communion) was given to the Church by the Lord Jesus Christ as a memorial (Matthew 26:26-39; Luke 22:19-20). It is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes, and should be always preceded by solemn self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:26-32). This is a non-sacrificial, non-saving ordinance. We do not believe that the elements used are transformed into the literal body of Christ (transubstantiation), nor that the real presence of Christ is in the elements (consubstantiation), but rather that the elements symbolize Christ’s body and His blood shed for us (1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ created spirit beings called angels within the six-day creation and has Sovereign authority over them. Because angels are created beings they are not to be worshipped, but to serve God and to worship Him (Genesis 1:1-31; Exodus 20:11; Job 38:6-7; Luke 2:9-14; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:6-7, 14; Revelation 5:11-14; 19:10; 22:9). Angels are rational, moral, and immortal beings (1 Peter 1:12; 2 Peter 2:4; Luke 24:34-36) and currently have greater powers than man (Psalm 8:4-5; Hebrews 2:6-7; 2 Peter 2:11).
We teach that there are various hierarchies of angels: archangels (Jude 9), special attendants (Genesis 3:24; Isaiah 6:2,6), and designations in series (Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 3:22). One day redeemed people will judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3).
We teach that angels may be classified under two categories: holy or elect angels (Mark 8:38; 1 Timothy 5:21) and fallen angels or demons (Matthew 25:41).
We teach that holy or elect angels properly exercise all that they were created by God to do, including ministering on behalf of elect people (Hebrews 1:14). They also have a role in the Second Coming of Christ (Mark 13:27; 2 Thessalonians 1:7).
We teach that all angels were created holy, yet some rebelled against God and these fallen beings, of which Satan is the leader, are called demons. Satan and many of his demons are active in the world (Ephesians 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8), while some of the demons are presently bound (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).
We teach that Satan, who is also called the devil and many other names, is the author of sin (Genesis 3:15; John 8:44) and the enemy of God and man (Job 1:6-9; Matthew 4:1-11; Revelation 12:9-10), the prince of this world who, along with his demons, has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:20; Colossians 2:14-15; Hebrews 2:14). Ultimately, Satan and his demons shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire and brimstone (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).
DEATH AND RESURRECTION
We teach that physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness (Revelation 6:9-11), and that there is a separation of soul and body (Philippians 1:21-24).
We teach the bodily resurrection of all men (John 5:28-29), the believer to eternal life (John 6:39; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14), and the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting punishment in a literal lake of fire (Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:13-15).
- THE BELIEVER
We teach that the soul of the believer at death in the church age passes immediately into the joyful presence of Christ (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8) until the time of the Rapture when he along with other believers physically alive at the first phase of our Lord’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17) will receive glorified bodies suited for a new, ultimately eternal order (1 Corinthians 15:12-58; Philippians 3:20-21). These believers, along with all of the Old Testament and Tribulation saints, constitute the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6).
- THE UNBELIEVER
We teach that the soul of the unbeliever at death passes immediately into conscious punishment (Hell/Hades—Luke 16:19-31) until the second resurrection. This will be followed by the final judgment (i.e. Great White Throne judgment) where both body and soul will be cast into the eternal lake of fire and brimstone where there will be conscious everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:13-15).
THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
We teach that as it was prior to Christ’s first coming, in that it was not easy to discern a two-staged coming of Christ from the Old Testament Scriptures (Isaiah 9:6-7; 61:1-2; Luke 4:16-21), so it will be prior to His second coming. The two phases of His final coming, normally designated as Rapture and Revelation, are most often mentioned side-by-side without clear distinctions in the New Testament contexts (1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 8; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13).
We teach the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ to translate His church from this earth (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:11). The exact timing of this Rapture is both imminent and unknown to all but God (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32-37), and no signs or events of history need precede it. As clear as the fact of the Rapture is, its timing in relationship to Daniel’s Seventieth Week or the Tribulation remains open to a number of theological interpretations each exhibiting some strengths and some weaknesses. However, we teach a Pre-Tribulation Rapture before the seven-year tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 3:10).
We teach that between the rapture and Christ’s glorious revelation with His saints (i.e. the Second Coming of Christ to the earth), the Lord will evaluate the works of each believer at the Bema Seat of Christ. This judgment does not concern the believer’s salvation, but rather the eternal rewards (or loss of them) for the believer’s faithful service (Romans 14:10-13; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
THE TRIBULATION PERIOD
We teach that immediately following the removal (i.e. Rapture) of the church from the earth (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), Satan will be thrown out of heaven and cast to the earth (Revelation 12:7-12), and the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world (Jeremiah 30:7; 12:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 6-18). This period includes the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:15-31; 25:31-46).
THE SECOND COMING (i.e. CHRIST’S GLORIOUS REVELATION)
We teach that the Tribulation period will be climaxed by the Second Coming of Christ in glory to the earth to occupy the throne of David (Matthew 24:27-31; 25:31-46; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 1:10-22; 2:29-302 Thessalonians 2:7-12).
We teach that at the beginning of the Second Coming the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be overthrown and cast into the lake of fire (Daniel 7:17-27; Revelation 19:19-20), and Satan will be bound for a thousand years from the world (Revelation 20:1-7).
MILLENNIUM
We teach that the Lord Jesus will then establish His Messianic kingdom for a literal thousand years on the earth (Pre-millennial: Revelation 20:1-7). During this time all of the resurrected saints will reign with Him over Israel and all the nations of the earth (Ezekiel 37:21-28; Daniel 7:17-22; Revelation 19:11-16).
We teach that the kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel (Isaiah 65:17-25; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:1-17) to restore them to the land, which they forfeited through their disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The result of their disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside (Matthews 21:43; Romans 11:1-26) but will again be awakened through repentance to enter into the land of blessing (Jeremiah 31:31-34; 33:15; Ezekiel 36:22-32; Romans 11:25-29).
We teach that at this time our Lord’s reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life (Isaiah 11; 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:33-38), and will be brought to an end with the release of Satan (Revelation 20:7).
We teach that at the end of the thousand year reign of Christ, Satan will be loosed briefly and will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city (i.e. Jerusalem), at which time Satan’s army will be devoured by fire from heaven (Revelation 20:7-9).
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
We teach that immediately following the Millennium, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10) whereupon Christ, who is the judge of all men (John 5:22), will physically resurrect (i.e. the second resurrection) the great and small to appear at the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-13). They shall then be committed to an eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire and brimstone (Matthew 25:41-46; Revelation 20:14-15) and banished from the presence of God forever (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
ETERNITY
We teach that after the closing of the Millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers (2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:7-15), believers will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which the elements of this earth are to be dissolved (2 Peter 3:10) and replaced with a new earth wherein only righteousness dwells (Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 21-22).
We teach that following this, the heavenly city (i.e. New Jerusalem) will come down out of heaven (Revelation 21:2) and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy forever fellowship with God and one another. Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father that in all spheres the triune God may reign forever and ever (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).