Statement of Faith
A declaration of the core beliefs held by the Free Evangelical Church, grounded in the Word of God.
The Holy Bible, comprising both the Old Testament and the New Testament, is the Word of God. The Holy Bible is the perfect and complete revelation of God's plan for the salvation of man, and the unerring measure and rule of the Christian Faith and the Christian Life. The books of the Holy Bible were written by men of God (Prophets, Evangelists and Apostles) under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in Righteousness."
2 Timothy 3:16
"Behold, I am against the Prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith."
Jeremiah 23:31
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
2 Peter 1:21
There is one God revealed in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
"And Jesus, when he was baptised, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:16–17
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
Matthew 28:19
"And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
Luke 1:35
"Which of you convinceth me of sin."
John 8:46
"I am the truth."
John 14:6
"If ye shall see the son of man ascend up where he was before?"
John 6:62
"I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father."
John 16:28
Jesus Christ, the eternal Word and the Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ led a sinless life and His teaching was without fault or error.
"Our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor."
2 Corinthians 8:9
In the fullness of the time, the eternal Word, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, became a man. In becoming a man He did not add to His Divine nature the nature of man, rather, He emptied Himself of Divine attributes (Philippians 2:6-7) and became a perfect and sinless man. He was absent from heaven for thirty-three years and lived a real and perfect human life, totally dependant in all respects on the God the Father. During the period of the incarnation, Jesus Christ existed as the "Son of God" with respect to His identity, and as the "son of man" with respect to His nature.
"Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."
Luke 2:52
God the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity and God the Holy Spirit is manifested as a Divine power, a Divine gift and a Divine instrument.
"The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."
John 14:10
Man is by nature sinful because of the fall of the first created human beings, Adam and Eve (inherited sin), and because man himself cultivates and practises sin by his thoughts, words and works.
"For if through the offence of one many be dead..."
Romans 5:15
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:23
"There is none righteous, no, not one."
Romans 3:10
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us."
Titus 3:5
"For by Grace are you saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God."
Ephesians 2:8
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."
Acts 16:31
"Who (Christ) gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity."
Titus 2:14
"For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by the blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."
Revelation 5:9
It is absolutely impossible for a sinner to save himself by either his own morally good and righteous works or by observing religious rituals and other man made laws and traditions. The sinner is saved only by grace through his repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
"The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
1 John 1:7
Salvation by grace for the sinner rests entirely on the redemptive act of Jesus Christ on the cross, where He paid the penalty of sin by the shedding of His blood.
"One died for all."
2 Corinthians 5:14
God accepted the redemptive offering of Christ on account of or, in place of sinners. God demonstrated His complete acceptance of Christ's sacrifice and the satisfaction of his righteousness and justice by raising Christ from the dead and setting Him on the right hand side of His throne to be the Comforter and the High Priest of His people.
"We have such a High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens."
Hebrews 8:1
On the basis of belief in the propitiatory act of Jesus Christ, the sinner confesses his sin and prays directly to God without any requirement for a mediator or intervener. The only mediator between God and man is Jesus Christ.
"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses."
Acts 2:32
4
The Relationship between Faith and Moral Freedom
Saving faith is not given to the sinner by God. On the contrary, it is the spontaneous, uninhibited and unforced expression of man's moral freedom. Salvation of the sinner results from the cooperation between God and the sinner in the sense that God offers salvation without favouritism and man freely accepts through faith.
"And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the self-same hour."
Matthew 8:13
"Jesus saith unto Martha, Said I not thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? ...for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."
John 11:40 / John 8:24
"God accepteth no man's person."
Galatians 2:6
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16
"Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."
1 Timothy 2:6
Man is not saved because God predestined him to be saved, nor is he condemned because God predestined him to condemnation. Man's decision for salvation is not predestined. Man is eternally saved or condemned, on the basis of his free and individual choice to either believe or not believe in the redemptive and propitiatory work of Jesus Christ.
"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."
John 5:40
A Christian's salvation is permanent, immovable and eternal, provided the Christian remains in Christ as the vine branch remains united with vine. Apart from sin, no other power is capable of seizing the redeemed soul from the hands of the Lord. The teaching of the New Testament clearly spells out that the Christian must pay particular attention to sanctification, obedience and Christian growth; and must be exceptionally careful with respect to spiritual slothfulness and disobedience. Spiritual sloth and disobedience allows sin to perniciously and progressively take control over the life of a Christian, to the point where the conscience is seared and hardened towards the will of God. In this state, a Christian will be cut off from Christ, as a vine branch is cut off from the vine, resulting in condemnation. Just as God does not force man to accept salvation, He does not force man to remain in the state of salvation.
"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."
Hebrews 4:1
The true church of Christ is not a manmade organisation or institution, but a living spiritual body consisting of all born-again believers everywhere, with Jesus Christ as its head. The church is the worldwide community of redeemed Christians to whom the Word of God provides spiritual food and who are united through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
"Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour of the body."
Ephesians 5:23
"There is one body, and one Spirit... One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism."
Ephesians 4:5–6
"Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."
Ephesians 5:25–26
The local church is the local manifestation of the whole spiritual body of Christ. The local Church is served by the many gifts of its members. These gifts, natural or acquired, are present in the church, and under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit these gifts are used to bring about spiritual fruit, blessings and revival.
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us."
Romans 12:6
Although baptism is an external symbolic ceremony, it is serious and has spiritual significance for Christians because it was instituted by Jesus Christ Himself. Those being baptised testify before God and man that: their old life has been buried as they enter and are under the water; and by emerging from the water, they are resurrected to a new life in Christ Jesus.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
Matthew 28:19
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into his death?"
Romans 6:3–4
Infant baptism is not a valid spiritual doctrine according to the Scriptures, because the infant is baptised without giving consent and lacks personal faith. The "doctrinal" position that infant baptism brings about the spiritual re-birth of an infant is contradicted by the teaching of the New Testament.
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptised..."
Acts 2:41
7
The Dedication of the Infant
The new born child of a Christian husband or wife is holy, not in the sense of holiness that comes from faith in Jesus Christ, but because the child comes from parents whose bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit. Endowed with this special privilege and grace, the infant is brought before the church to be dedicated to the Lord. This dedication replaces infant baptism which according to the Scriptures is invalid and of no effect due to the absence of the infant's personal faith.
"For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband."
1 Corinthians 7:14
"Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you."
1 Corinthians 6:19
"Your children...now are holy."
1 Corinthians 7:14b
The Lord's Supper (communion) was decreed by the Lord and He Himself instituted it for His church. For the believer taking part in the Lord's supper it has the following significance: The believer remembers with gratitude the death of his Saviour; he feels that he is united as one body with his Christian brothers; he examines and condemns himself for his spiritual failings so as to avoid condemnation from the Lord, and through faith accepts various blessings into his soul.
"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
Luke 22:19–20
"For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."
1 Corinthians 10:17
"But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup."
1 Corinthians 11:28
"For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's Body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."
1 Corinthians 11:29–30
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The Second Coming of the Lord
The Lord Jesus Christ will come again, not in the humble form of a man, but glorified to receive His redeemed and His true church.
"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
Acts 1:11
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air."
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
Hebrews 9:28
The Lord Jesus will sit as a judge on the "white throne" to judge once and for all those who rejected His offer of salvation, and sentence them to hell.
"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it...and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."
Revelation 20:11–15
