Doctrinal Statement
Hempstead Bible Fellowship Hempstead, Texas
OUR AUTHORITY
We affirm that the Bible, consisting of sixty-six books, constitutes God's only Special Revelation to man and as such is our final authority for life. What is set forth herein is what we believe concerning the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith as contained in the Bible.
OF THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Bible (the Scriptures) is divinely inspired, God-breathed, infallible, constituting the Word of God, and totally inerrant in the original autographs. The Bible can only be truly understood as men are enlightened by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10-16; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
OF GOD
We believe there is only one true and living God, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three Persons form the one triune God, the Trinity, and are one in essential nature, each possessing all the attributes of Deity, and worthy of the same homage and obedience. ( Gen. 1:1, 26; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 10:30; 2 Cor. 13:14)
OF THE FATHER
We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Trinity (Matt. 28:19) and is sovereign over all. (Ps. 103:19; John 10:29; Eph. 1:11b; 1 Tim. 6:15-16)
The Father is to be glorified, and we exist for Him,
for that purpose.
(John 15:8-10; 1 Cor. 8:6)
The Father has sent the Son, yet the Father is co-equal with the Son.
(John 14:10-11; 10:30)
Believers are to pray and make supplication (requests) to the Father.
(Matt. 6:8-14)
OF CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person of the triune God, possesses all the attributes of God, is fully God, and is co-equal and co-existent with the Father and the Holy Spirit. (John 1:1, 14; 8:58-59; 10:30-33; Phil. 2:6; Heb. 1:3-8)
He became fully man, though without sin, while remaining fully God, thus becoming the God-man. (Phil. 2:5-9; Col. 2:9; Heb. 2:17; 7:26).
He became incarnate (Heb. 2:14), born of a virgin (Matt. 1:23), for the
purpose of redeeming lost men by His vicarious death on the cross.
(John 3:16; Rom. 3:24-25; 5:8-9).
Three days after His death on the cross, Jesus rose bodily from the dead.
(Luke 24:5-6; 1 Cor. 15:4).
Forty days following His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father (Acts 1:2-3).
Jesus reigns as interceder (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25) and mediator (Heb. 9:15) for the believer and as head of His Church (Eph. 5:23).
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine eternal person, fully God, the third person of the triune God,
possessing all the attributes of God, co-equal and co-existent with the Father and the Son.
(Matt. 28:19;
Acts 5:3-4; Rom. 8:9, 11; 1 Cor. 12:11, 13; Eph. 4:30)
We believe the present ministry of the Holy Spirit includes restraining sin in the world, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit is the supernatural and sovereign Agent in regeneration who enables every believer to see his need for salvation and draws him into a saving belief in Jesus Christ.
He indwells believers permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows upon
each believer special abilities (gifts) for service, and fills those yielding to Him through God's Word.
(John 3:8; 14:16; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19; 12:4-13; Eph. 4:30; 5:18)
OF MAN
We believe man was created in the image and likeness of God, but in Adam all mankind fell into sin.
Therefore all men are sinners and have incurred the penalty of physical and spiritual death.
They have become totally and
completely unable, on their own and apart from the grace of God, to seek after God, choose God, or do anything that
is acceptable to God.
(Gen. 1:27; 9:6; Rom. 3:23; 5:12; Eph. 2:1)
OF SALVATION
We believe that salvation is a gift of God, brought to men by His grace, and received by faith alone in Christ, who died for our sins and rose again. Salvation is received apart from any sacrament, good works, or human merit. (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; 13:38-39; 16:31; Rom. 3:21-24; 4:4-5; 5:1; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9)
We believe that regeneration (new birth in salvation) is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. It is instantaneous and accomplished through the Word of God, when the repentant sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith to the divine provision of the Gospel. (John 3:3-7; 5:24; 6:37, 44; Titus 3:5; 2 Pet. 1:4)
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:1, 31-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; Heb. 7:25; 13:5, 1 Peter 1:3-5; Jude 24)
OF BAPTISM
We believe that baptism, the public immersion of a believer in water, was instituted for the church by the
Lord Jesus Christ. This serves to identify the believer with the Savior in His death, burial, and resurrection.
We hold that “Believer’s Baptism” is a command, but is not necessary for regeneration.
(Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-38)
OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that the Lord's Supper is a memorial of Christ's death, by which He established the New Covenant,
the elements being symbols of His body and blood. Every Christian has a right to partake of the elements of the
Lord's Supper, but participation should be preceded by solemn self-examination.
(Luke 22:17-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-24)
OF THE CHURCH
We believe the Church is composed of all believers, is the Body and Bride of Christ, and exists in two aspects,
universal and local.
(Matt. 16:18; Acts 13:1; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:22-23)
The universal Church is an elect company of believers, baptized with the Holy Spirit, who together comprise one Body with a mission to witness to its head, Jesus Christ, by preaching the gospel to the nations (Matt. 28:19-20).
The local Church is a group of believers voluntarily
joined together to worship God with praise and thanksgiving (Col. 3:12-17), to preach
the Gospel to the lost (Acts 1:8;
Rom. 10:13-15), to disciple believers by teaching the Scriptures
(2 Tim. 2:2) and exercising Spiritual Gifts (Rom. 12:5-8),
to fellowship together
(Heb. 10:25), to be salt and light in a dark world (Matt. 5:13-16),
and to administer the sacraments
of Baptism (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38-42) and the Lord's Supper
(Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-31)
to their company.
OF THE RETURN OF CHRIST
We believe in the blessed hope of the personal, imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ for his bride, the Church.
(Matt. 24:30;
John 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:13-18)
OF ANGELS
We believe angels are created spirit beings who appear to be the first issue of God's creation. (Neh. 9:6; Job 38:6-7)
We believe that there exist holy, elect angels and fallen angels. Holy angels serve God and worship Him. (Psalm 148:2; Mark 8:38) They are presently engaged in spiritual warfare with the demonic host and serve as ministering agents for believers. (Psalm 103:20-21; Dan. 10:12-13; Heb. 1:6-7, 14; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7-8)
We believe fallen angels rebelled against God and were cast out of heaven. Salvation is not extended to them as they are destined for an eternal judgment. (Luke 10:18; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6)
At the head of the demonic hosts is Satan. As a created being, he possesses none of the attributes of deity. He is the author of sin and incurred the judgment of God's wrath. (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezk. 28:13-15; Matt. 25:41)
Hempstead, Texas
Revised 1/25/2006
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