Flambeau Bible Church Statement of Faith
The Holy Scriptures
Psalm 119:89
Matthew 5:17-18
1 Corinthians 2:13
1 Thessalonians 2:13
2 Timothy 3:15-17
2 Peter 1:20-21
We believe all 66 books of the Bible constitute God’s special revelation to humanity. The Bible is God-breathed, inspired in the very words themselves, inerrant in the original documents, and is the ultimate authority over the life of the believer and of the church.
The Triune God
Deuteronomy 6:4
Isaiah 45:5-7
Matthew 28:19
John 14:16-17
1 Corinthians 8:4
Father
Genesis 1
Psalm 103:19, 145:8-9
Isaiah 63:16
Romans 11:36
Ephesians 3:9
Son
Matthew 1:18
Luke 1:35, 24:26
John 1:1-18, 10:18, 10:30, 14:9
Acts 1:9
Philippians 2:7
Colossians 1:15-17, 2:9, 3:1
Hebrews 1:2-3, 7:25
1 John 4:9
Holy Spirit
John 16:7
Romans 8:10-11, 15:16
1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, 12:4-11, 13
Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:7
God has revealed himself as one being in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person is distinct, yet one in essence and therefore all are equally deserving of worship and obedience.
The Father
God the Father is eternal and created and ordered the universe and everything contained within for his purpose, whether visible or invisible. He is the omnipotent ruler of the universe, sovereign over all His creation and in redemption.
The Son
Jesus Christ is coequal with the Father. All things were created through him and for him; he continues to sustain everything and everyone today. God sent the Son to die for the sins of the guilty, and the Son became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born of Virgin Mary. Jesus possesses two natures, one fully human and another fully divine. He willingly suffered and died in our place and was raised on the third day and ascended to heaven where he sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us today.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son, being of the same essence. The Holy Spirit baptizes believers into the body of Christ and empowers them for service. In the work of redemption, the Holy Spirit has sealed us as an inheritance until Christ returns and is sanctifying us today.
Anthropology
Humanity
Genesis 1:27-28, 3:6, 16-19
Psalm 14:1-3
Romans 3:10-12, 5:12
Gender Distinctions
Genesis 1:27, 31, 2:22
Galatians 3:28
Ephesians 5:21-25
1 Timothy 2:8-15, 3:1-12
Titus 1:5-9, 2:1-8
1 Peter 3:1-9
Sexuality
Genesis 1:27-28, 2:23-24
Leviticus 18
Romans 1:18-32
1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:9-11, 7:1-40
Colossians 3:18-19
1 Thessalonians 4:3-6
Hebrews 13:4
Humanity
Man and woman hold a special place in the whole of creation. Being made in the image of God, they are responsible to steward God’s creation on his behalf. Adam failed in his responsibility and through him sin entered the world. The effects of sin have corrupted everything on earth with the result that mankind is now incapable of pursuing God on its own.
Gender Distinctions
Men and women were created equal before God in dignity and worth, yet distinct in their role. These unalterable distinctions existed prior to the fall and continue today, a design God called “very good.” In light of this design, headship in the home and in the church is reserved for men and only men may hold the office of elder/pastor, though both men and women can serve as deacons in the church.
Sexuality
Sexual activity was designed by God for both enjoyment and procreation within a one-man, one-woman marriage. God’s plan for the marriage union and for the immutable, biological differences between male and female were part of his gracious plan to bless humanity.
Salvation, Eternal Security, and Sanctification
Salvation
John 1:12-13, 3:16, 6:47
Romans 5:1-2, 8-9, 6:22, 12:2
1 Corinthians 12:13
2 Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 1:13-14, 2:8-9
1 Thessalonians 1:9
1 Peter 1:19, 2:9
Revelation 20:14, 21:2-3
Eternal Security
John 5:24, 6:37-40, 10:27-30
Romans 8:1, 31-39
1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Ephesians 4:30
1 Peter 1:3-5
Jude 24
Sanctification
John 17:17-19
Acts 20:32
Romans 6:11
Philippians 2:12-13
1 Thessalonians 5:23
2 Thessalonians 2:13
Jesus died on a cross while we were sinners, reconciling us to God by the blood of Christ. It is by grace we have been saved by faith, not on the basis of merit or works, and our response to God’s grace should be repentance. Because we have been redeemed to God, he is our new master; he has made our inheritance secure and continues to renew our desires and our minds by the work of the Spirit. He has saved us from Hell, initiating us into one body, a royal priesthood to proclaim his kingdom now. We are also saved to a future new heaven and a new earth where we will spend eternity with God. All who put their faith in Christ alone are made new and become children of God. They remain secure in Christ forever, continuously working out their salvation with the help of the Holy Spirit, growing in holiness and obedience to Jesus Christ.
The Church
Matthew 28:18-20
Acts 2:42, 44-45, 6:4, 20:7
1 Corinthians 11:23-34, 12:7, 14:26
Ephesians 5:19
Colossians 3:16
James 1:27
1 Timothy 2:1-8
2 Timothy 4:2
Jude 20
The Church, Ordinances and Spiritual Gifts
The Church
A church is a gathered body of believers who are devoted to the Holy scriptures and preaching, engaged in prayer, sing praises to the Lord, giving generously, and taking part in the Lord’s Supper. In addition, the church should be spreading the good news of Jesus to all people of all nations by discipling and baptizing believers into the body. As a member of a church, the believer should be serving to continue to build up the church.
The Ordinances (Sacraments): There are only 2 ordinances given to the church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Baptism
Matthew 28:18-20
Acts 2:37-41, 15:7-11, 22:16
Romans 6:3-4
1 Corinthians 1:17, 12:13
Colossians 2:12
1 Peter 3:21-22
Baptism
We practice a believer’s baptism by immersion, which symbolizes the forgiveness of sins. We believe baptism is the public testimony and identification of a believer with the life, death, burial, and resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ. Corporately, baptism is the initiation into the body of believers, and individually baptism is a pledge to live a life obedient to God.
The Lord’s Supper
Matthew 5:24
1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-32
Acts 2:42, 20:7
The Lord’s Supper
Our church practices the Lord’s Supper weekly and all who have been baptized into the body of Christ are eligible to come to the table after they have examined themselves. Though the elements only represent the body and blood of Christ, the Lord is supernaturally involved, which is why it must be taken with care and in the proper way.
Spiritual Gifts
God gifts those that believe in his name by the Spirit unique talents for the building up of the church. Apostolic signs such as speaking in tongues and prophetic utterances are not normative for the Church in this present age.
Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 14:12, 19
Ephesians 4:11-12
Final Things
Rapture and Tribulation
Daniel 12:1, 7
1 Corinthians 15:51-53
1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8
The Rapture and the Tribulation
Jesus will return for his church at the beginning of a seven-year tribulation period (the rapture). At that time the saints alive will receive a glorified body and those saints that have died will be resurrected with their glorified body to be with Christ to praise and worship him while awaiting the second coming.
The Second Coming
Matthew 24:36-39
Luke 12:40
Acts 1:7, 11
1 Corinthians 15:14, 23
2 Thessalonians 1:7
Titus 2:13
Revelation 3:3, 20:2, 4-6
The Second Coming and the Millennial Reign
We believe our hope is rooted in the return of Christ and the resurrection of the saints. His return is imminent, and no one knows the time or the place except the Father. After the tribulation, Jesus and the saints (believers) will return to the earth to bind Satan and rule with Christ for a thousand years.
Final Judgement
Matthew 25:41
John 5:22, 28-29
Revelation 20:7-15
Final Judgement
After the thousand-year rule, Satan will be released to deceive some, only to have him and his army thrown into the lake of fire. The dead (unbelievers) will then be raised to judgement before being thrown into Hades. In these defeats, sin and death will be eliminated and God will live with his people forever.
Eternity
Isaiah 25:8
1 Corinthians 15:54-55
Revelation 21:1-8
Eternity
In the eternal state, God will bring about a new heaven and a new earth, fully restored and without the corruption of sin. The New Jerusalem will come from heaven to be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will forever enjoy unbroken fellowship with God and each other forever and ever. Amen.