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The following material represents the ratified revisions of our constitution as completed to this date. This material should not be interpreted as the complete representation of our beliefs and/or Constitution and By-laws. As we work through this process, further revisions will be added to this page.
Constitution and By-laws of Preamble Reposing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for
salvation, believing in the historical teaching and practices of the
Baptists and those great distinctive principles for which they have ever
stood, namely:
1.
The Bible as our only rule of faith and practice
– While we acknowledge that creeds may be helpful in systematizing one’s
beliefs, we recognize no other source or authority than God’s Word for
determining our doctrine and methodology.
This does not exclude the use of prudent business practices, but
all decisions and operations must be in correlation with the principles
and mandates of the Bible.
2.
The autonomy of the local church – This local
church is a self-directing, independent organization not subject to any
other church authority or governance.
3.
The priesthood of the believer – Every child of
God has direct, immediate, and unending access to God through the
once-for-all atoning work of Jesus Christ.
Because He is our High Priest and Mediator, there is no need for
any other human or spirit-being to act as a mediator between God and His
children.
4.
Two Offices – The spiritual leadership of the
local church body consists of the Pastor and Deacons.
Other offices may exist for the execution of organizational
functions but they serve at the behest of and are subject to the
leadership of the Pastors and Deacons.
This position should not be interpreted as to conclude that this
form of leadership is the only type taught in Scripture, but it is the
traditional practice of Baptist Polity.
5.
Individual Soul liberty – Every child of God is
indwelled by the Holy Spirit and therefore has the capability and
responsibility of interpreting the Scriptures for themselves.
While there are those in the body who have been gifted to teach
others, ultimately the Holy Spirit is our teacher.
6.
A saved, baptized church membership – We are a
spiritual body comprised of individuals who have professed their faith
and trust in the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the only means of
the forgiveness of their sins by God.
Additionally, all members are individuals who have been obedient
to the expectations of Christ and the Scriptures by being baptized by
immersion as a public testimony of their personal salvation experience
and their commitment to follow Christ.
7.
The two ordinances of the local church – We
believe that the Lord's Supper and Baptism are symbolic practices
mandated by Scripture, neither of which provides a means of grace for
the individual to earn any merit with God. 8.
The separation of Church and State – We believe
that God has instituted the Church and Human Government as two separate
institutions to accomplish His will.
We believe that the Church is to be subject to the laws and
leaders of Human governments, except where those laws would mandate
practices or beliefs in direct opposition to God’s laws.
In this event, we will obey God rather than man.
At the same time, we believe that the governance of mankind is
not the responsibility of the Church.
While believers are expected to influence their culture and
participate in whatever form of governmental structure God has placed
them under, in no way should the Church be over the Governmental system.
We also believe that the Church has an important and mandated
place in speaking out against injustice and abuse of power by those who
govern. The name of the church shall be Fellowship Baptist
Church of Tama-Toledo. Article II - Purpose The purpose of this church organization shall be to
glorify God by encouraging and enabling believers who affiliate with
this local church organism to grow in their obedience to His commands
and their personal Christlikeness.
Specifically, this church will seek to accomplish this purpose
through instruction in the Word of God, especially as it relates to the
person and work of Jesus Christ and its teachings regarding growth in
personal righteousness for the believer.
Additionally, we will seek to accomplish this purpose through the
administration of the ordinances of the New Testament, testifying to and
remembering the work of salvation accomplished on our behalf. Finally,
we will seek to accomplish this purpose through outreach to the lost by
the emphasis of and training for personal communication of the Gospel
message and the Hope that the believer has in Christ.
This will be evident in our ability to communicate and defend our
faith, the licensing and ordaining of qualified men from our membership
for full-time vocational ministry, and our support of global
evangelization. Article III - Doctrinal Statement We believe in the Bible as the verbally (every word)
and plenary (completely) inspired Word of God as contained in the
original manuscripts; that all portions of Scripture are equally
inspired and contain no contradiction; that the Canon, the sixty-six
books of the Bible, is complete (nothing may be added to it or taken
from it); and that the Bible is the supreme and final authority in all
matters of faith and practice for the believers in Jesus Christ.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 1:1; 2 Peter 1:20-21) Section 2 – Doctrine of God
(Theology) We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in
three Persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; eternal in being, identical
in nature, equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and
perfections. (Exodus 20:2,3; Matthew 28:19,20; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2
Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 4:11)
a)
God the Father: We believe
there is one and only one living and true God, perfect in holiness,
infinite in wisdom, measureless in power; that He concerns Himself
mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and
that He saves from hell all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
(Psalm 65:2; Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 6:1-3; Lamentations 3:22-23;
John 3:16; John 14:6; John 17:11; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 5:8;
1 John 3:20)
c)
God the Holy Spirit: We
believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, equal with the Father
and Son and of the same nature; that He convicts the world of sin,
righteousness, and judgment; that He bears witness to the Truth; that He
is the agent of the New Birth; that He baptizes all true believers into
the body of Christ at the moment of salvation, indwelling and
sanctifying all of them, sealing and thus securing them unto the day of
redemption; that He endues, guides, teaches, and helps believers; and
that it is the privilege and expectation of all the saved to be yielded
to the work of the Spirit, the evidence of this being the fruit of the
Spirit and godly living, not speaking in tongues.
We believe speaking in tongues was a special sign to the
unbelieving or doubting Jew to confirm the Message and Messenger as
being of God. We also believe the gift of tongues and other sign or
revelatory gifts from the Holy Spirit (healing, prophecy, word of
knowledge) were temporary and are not necessary for the Church today.
Additionally we believe His work will result in exaltation and
adoration of God the Son.
(Matthew 28:19; John 16:7-15; Acts 5:3,4; Romans 8:9, 16; We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through faith in the
blood sacrifice, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; that all who
receive Him are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and become children of God; that
no rite, ceremony, or work can avail for the sinner's salvation or make the
believer's salvation more secure; that Christ is the only and all-sufficient
Savior. We believe that all who are
truly born again cannot lose their salvation but are kept by the power of God
the Father for Jesus Christ (the eternal security of the believer).
(John 1:12; 5:24, 10:28-29; Titus 3:5-7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 8:35-39;
10:9-12; Acts 16:31; 4:12; 2 Timothy 1:12; Some key terms defined: a) Election: We believe that God has chosen, in Christ, before the foundations of the world those whom He graciously regenerates, saves and sanctifies. This choice is not related to any initiative on man’s part or God’s anticipation of what an individual might do by their own will. It is solely an act of God’s unmerited, sovereign grace and mercy to draw undeserving men to Himself and all of the elect will ultimately come to salvation. In no way does God’s choice absolve any individual of his personal responsibility to respond to God’s command to repent and trust Christ as his Savior and Lord. In exercising His choices, God remains just, holy, loving, and merciful. (Johnc) Justification: We believe that at the moment of salvation, God imputes the righteousness of Christ to us, imputes our sins to Christ and declares us innocent of all past, present, and future accusations against us; that the penalty incurred by sin is fully satisfied through the death of Christ; that it is given, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith by grace. (Romans 5:1, 9; 8:17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:13, 14; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Peter 2:24 d) Sanctification: We believe that every believer, at the moment of salvation, is sanctified (set apart) unto God by justification and is thereby declared by God to be holy and identified as a saint. This positional sanctification is instantaneous and has to do with his standing before God. This act of God does not result in a state of perfection or the eradication of sin for the believer in this life. In addition to the believer’s standing before God is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, conforming the believer to the image of Christ. This progressive sanctification is a work of grace through the empowering of the Holy Spirit, resulting in an increasing desire for practical holiness in the life of the believer. (John 17:17,19; Acts 20:32; Romans 6:1-22; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 6:11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 3:12; Colossians 3:9-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; Hebrews 2:11; 3:1; 10:10, 14; 13:12; 1 Peter 1:2, 14-16; 5:23; 1 John 3:5-9).
e)
Glorification: We believe that the final state
of the redeemed is glorification.
This is an eternal bliss, forever with the Lord and in constant
benefit of His person and His graces.
(John 14:1-4;
Section 5 -
Doctrine of Angels (Angelology) We believe that angels and demons are spirit beings.
Angels are heavenly hosts, but are also created beings and
therefore should not be worshipped by man.
Some of the angels, referred to as fallen angels, chose to rebel
against God with Satan and were cast out of heaven with him. These are
now the hosts of Satan, confirmed in their sin, and will share in his
ultimate doom. There are
also holy angels, the angels of heaven, ministering spirits to the
saints, who are sinless and pure and are forever seeking to praise God
in their ministries for Him and His people.
Their ministries, ranks, and orders differ, and their strength,
appearance, travel, etc, are not bound by natural human ways.
They are immortal and do not marry.
We believe in the personality of Satan, who is the author of sin
and the open and declared enemy of God and man; that he was defeated
through the death and resurrection of Christ, and that his final destiny
is eternal punishment in the lake of fire. (Daniel 10:12-21; Matthew 22:30; Mark 5:2; 8:38; Colossians 1:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:16;
Hebrews 1:14; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6, 9) |
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