What We Believe

1. STATEMENT OF FAITH 

a. We believe the Bible in its original manuscripts to be the inspired, trustworthy and true, without error Word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17).

 
b. We believe there is only one God who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

 
c. We believe Jesus Christ is God, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His death that paid for our sin through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His personal return in power and glory (John 1:1; Matthew 1:18, 25; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 9:15-22; I Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 9:27-28).

 
d. We believe that acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal Savior is the only way to salvation through God’s forgiveness of sin for lost/sinful men and women (John 3:16; John 5:24; Titus 3:3-7).

 
e. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who lives within and guides Christians, so they are enabled to live godly lives (John 14:15-26; John 16:5-16; Ephesians 1:13-14).

 
f. We believe in eternal life, and that through belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, we spend eternity with the Lord in Heaven.  We believe that in rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we receive eternal suffering in hell (Matthew 25:31-46; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

 
g. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ; that all believers are members of His body, the Church (Philippians 2:1-4). 

h. We believe God’s design for sexual intimacy is to be expressed only within the context of marriage.  God instituted marriage between one man and one woman as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society.  For this reason, we believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6; Marck 10:6-9; Romans 1:26-27; I Corinthians 6:9). 

i. We believe that God created all mankind in His image.  Therefore, we believe that human life is sacred from conception to its natural end; that we must honor the physical and spiritual needs of all people; following Christ’s example, we believe that every person should be treated with love, dignity and respect (Psalm 139:13; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 12:20-21; Galatians 6:10). 

2. DOCTRINAL DISPUTES 

If a dispute arises regarding the doctrine and teachings of the Bible, the Elders are the church’s final interpreter of said doctrine and teachings, but any such interpretation shall not differ in any respect from the Constitution. 

3. STATEMENT OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY 

a. We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female.  These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26-27).  We believe that rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. 

b. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matthew 15:18-20; I Corinthians 6:9-10). 

c. We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Florida Bible Church and to provide a biblical role model to the staff and congregation of the church, it is imperative that all persons in leadership of the church in any capacity or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Gender and Sexuality (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; I Thessalonians 5:22). 

d. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; I Corinthians 6:9-11). 

e. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31).  Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Florida Bible Church.