Independent Baptist
Baptist Bible Fellowship International
(BBFI)
The BBFI Handbook
Statement of Faith
We are Bible Believing Baptists. A Bible Believing Baptist
is one who believes in a supernatural Bible preserved for
us in the King James Version, which tells of a supernatural
Christ, Who had a supernatural birth, Who spoke supernatural
words, Who performed supernatural miracles, Who lived a
supernatural life, Who died a supernatural death, Who rose
in supernatural power, Who ascended in supernatural splendor,
Who intercedes as a supernatural priest and Who will one
day return in supernatural glory to establish a supernatural
kingdom on the earth.
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally
inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error
for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the
end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of
the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union
and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds,
and opinions should be tried. We also believe that God has
uniquely preserved his Word in the King James Bible for
the English speaking people.
- 1. By "The Holy Bible" we mean that collection of sixty-six
books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally
written does not only contain and convey the Word of God,
but IS the very Word of God.
- 2. By "inspiration" we mean that the books of the Bible
were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by
the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings
were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from
error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will
be inspired. Psalm 19:7-11; 119:89,105,130,160; Proverbs
30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:31; 24:25-27,44-45; John
5:39,45-47; 12:48; 17:17; Acts 1:16; 28:25; Romans 3:4;
15:4; Ephesians 6:17; 2Timothy 3:16-17; 1Peter 1:23; 2Peter
1:19-21; Revelation 22:19
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and
true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and
supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious
in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence
and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three
persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in
every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious
offices in the great work of redemption. Genesis 17:1; Exodus
20:2-3; 15:11; Psalm 83:18; 90:2; 147:5; Jeremiah 10:10;
Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 4:24; 10:30; 15:26; 17:5;
Acts 5:3-4; Romans 11:23; 1Corinthians 12:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6;
2Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:6; Philippians 2:5-6;
1Timothy 1:17; 1John 5:7; Revelation 4:11
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal
with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature;
that He was active in the creation; that in His relation
to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until
God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of
judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to
the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that
He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues,
guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.
Genesis 1:13; Matthew 3:11; 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35;
3:16; 24:49; John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11,13;
Acts 5:30-32; 11:16; Romans 8:14,16,26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14;
2Thessalonians 2:7,13; Hebrews 9:14; 1Peter 1:2
We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly
honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty,
fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now
the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy
god of this world. We hold him to be man's great tempter,
the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints,
the author of all false religions, the chief power back
of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and
the author of all the powers of darkness - destined however
to final defeat at the hands of God's own Son, and to the
judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared
for him and his angels. Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17;
Matthew 4:1-3; 13:25; 25:41; 27:39; Mark 13:21-22; Luke
22:3-4; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2; 2Corinthians 11:13-15;
1Thessalonians 3:5; 2Thessalonians 2:8-11; 1Peter 5:8; 2Peter
2:4; 1John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3; 2John 7; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-10;
13:13-14; 19:11,16,20; 20:1-3,10
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that
it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or
figuratively; that man was created directly in God's own
image and after His own likeness; that man's creation was
not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species,
or development through interminable periods of time from
lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life
was made directly and God's established law was that they
should bring forth only "after their kind." Genesis 1:1,11,24,26-27;
2:21-23; Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Jeremiah 10:12; John
1:3; Acts 4:24; 17:23-26; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16-17;
Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6
We believe that man was created in innocence under the
law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from
his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all
mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice;
and therefore under just condemnation without defense or
excuse. Genesis 3:1-6,24; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18,20,28,32;
3:10-19; 5:12,19; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1,3
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost
in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other
man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman, and that
He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son. Genesis 3:15;
Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Matthews 1:18-25; Mark 1:1; Luke
1:35; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; 1Corinthians 15:47; 1John
5:20
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace;
through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who by
appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature,
yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal
obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement
for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting
us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary
substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just
dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins
in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the
dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful
person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection,
He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate
and an all sufficient Savior. Isaiah 53:4-7,11-12; Matthew
18:11; John 3:16; 10:18; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; Galatians
1:4; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 2:7-8; Hebrews 2:14; 7:25;
9:12-15; 12:2
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born
again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus;
that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the
new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made
a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life,
the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about
in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not
by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely
by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine
truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel;
that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance
and faith and newness of life. Luke 5:27; John 1:12-13;
3:3,6-7; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:23; 2Corinthians 5:17,19; Galatians
5:22; Ephesians 2:1; 5:9; Colossians 2:13; 1John 5:1
We believe in God's electing grace; that the blessings
of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it
is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial,
penitent and obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation
of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity
and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves
him in an aggravated condemnation. Isaiah 55:1; Matthew
11:28; John 3:15-18,36; 5:40; 6:37; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:29-30;
10:13; 1Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; Colossians 3:12;
1Thessalonians 1:4; 1Timothy 1:15; Titus 1:1; 1Peter 1:2;
Revelation 22:17
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ
secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that
Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of
eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is
bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness
which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer's
blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us. Isaiah 53:11;
Habakkuk 2:4; Zechariah 13:1; Acts 13:39; Romans 1:17; 4:1;
5:1-9; 8:1; Galatians 3:11; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 10:38
We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations,
and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the
quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted
of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of
salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition,
confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time
heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing
Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior. Psalm 51:1-4,7;
Isaiah 55:6-7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; 18:13; Acts 2:37-38;
20:21; Romans 10:9-11,13
We believe that a Baptist Church is a congregation of baptized
believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship
of the gospel, said church being understood to be the citadel
and propagator of the Divine and Eternal Grace; observing
the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising
the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His
Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders
whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined
in the scriptures; we believe the true mission of the church
is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individual
disciples; Second, to build up the church; Third, to teach
and instruct as He has commanded. We do not believe in the
reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has
the absolute right of self government, free from the interference
of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that
the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy
Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate
with each other in contending for the faith and for the
furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole
and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation;
on all matters of membership, of policy, of government,
of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church
is final. Leviticus 27:31; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 28:19-20;
Acts 2:41-42; 6:5-6; 14:23; 15:22-23; 20:17-28; 1Corinthians
5:11-13; 6:1-3; 11:2; 12:4,8-11; 16:1-2; Ephesians 1:22-23;
4:11; 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18; 1Timothy 3:1-13
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water
of a believer, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church,
to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith
in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect
in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that
it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation
and to the Lord's supper, in which the members of the church,
by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine are
to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded
always by solemn self-examination. Matthew 3:6; 3:16; 28:19-20;
John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1Corinthians
11:23-28; Colossians 2:12
We believe that such only are real believers as endure
unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ
is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial
professors; that a special Providence watches over their
welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through
faith unto eternal salvation. Psalm 121:3; Matthew 6:20;
13:19-21; John 8:31-32; 10:28-29; 16:8; Romans 8:28,35-39;
Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 1:14; 1Peter
1:5; 1John 2:19
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference
between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as
through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous
in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence
and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse,
and this distinction holds among men both in and after death,
in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting
conscious suffering of the lost. Genesis 18:23; Proverbs
11:31; 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Matthew 7:13-14; 25:34; Luke
9:26; 16:25; John 8:21; 12:25; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 1:17;
6:16-18,23; 7:6; 1Corinthians 15:22; Galatians 3:10; 1Peter
4:18; 1John 2:7,29; 5:19
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment,
for the interests and good order of human society; that
magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored
and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of
our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience,
and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. Exodus
18:21-22; 2Samuel 23:3; Psalm 72:11; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew
10:28; 22:21; 23:10; Acts 4:19-20; 23:5; Romans 13:7; Philippians
2:10-11; Titus 3:1; 1Peter 2:13-14,17
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these
subjects at their face and full value. Of the Resurrection,
we believe that Christ rose bodily "The third day according
to the Scriptures"; that He ascended "to the right hand
of the throne of God"; that He alone is our "merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God"; "that
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,"
bodily, personally, and visibly; that the "dead in Christ
shall rise first"; that the living saints "shall all be
changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
last trump"; "that the Lord God shall give unto Him the
throne of His father David"; and that "Christ shall reign
a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all
enemies under His feet." Psalm 72:8; Isaiah 11:4-5; Matthew
24:27,42; Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:6,19; Luke 1:32; Luke
24:2,4-6,39,51; John 14:3; John 20:27; Acts 1:9,11; 1Corinthians
15:4; Philippians 4:20; 1Thessalonians 4:16; 1Timothy 2:5;
Hebrews 2:17; 5:9; 8:1; 9:28; 12:2
The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and
unmistakable and this Commission was given to the churches.
Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, John 20:21, Acts 1:8, Romans
10:13-15
Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the Faith.
2Corinthians 8:7 We are commanded to bring our gifts into
the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the
first day of the week. 1Corinthians 16:2, Under Grace we
give, and do not pay, the tithe - "Abraham GAVE the tenth
of the spoils," - Hebrews 7:2,4 - and this was four hundred
years before the law, and is confirmed in the new Testament;
Jesus said concerning the tithe, "these ought ye to have
done", Matthew 23:23. We are commanded to bring the tithe
into the common treasury of the church. Leviticus 27:30,
Malachi 3:10, In the New Testament it was the common treasury
of the church. Acts 4:34,35,37
Source: BBFI Handbook (pg.19-29),
1993
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