What are some key beliefs or “Theological Absolutes” here at FBCOF?
That is a great question! First, let us explain what a Theological Absolute is.
A theological absolute is a teaching that we cannot change our belief on. Doing so would be a denial of truth and a departure from who and what God has called us to be.
A theological absolute is a teaching someone must agree with if they are going to feel comfortable calling FBCOF their home church.
A theological absolute is a required truth one must believe if they are to walk with the Lord according to the Bible.
Let’s look at a few of these “Theological Absolutes.”
The Bible
1. The Bible is our final authority on all matters of faith and practice.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
We use the KJV here at FBCOF
God
God is the one true living God, infinite, all-knowing, perfect in all His attributes.
He is eternally existing in three Persons-the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The God of the Bible is the one and only true God. We serve and worship Him alone and no other.
Exodus 20:3-5
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:
People
Adam was made in the image of God but fell into sin as recorded in Genesis chapter three. As a result we are all sinners wandering from God.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Jesus
Jesus is God and Savior, fully God and fully man. We believe in His deity, virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, redeeming death, resurrection and coming return in accordance with Scripture.
The story of Jesus is true and factual as presented in the gospels. The following key points of his story are also true.
He was born of a virgin found to be with child of the Holy Ghost; Matthew 1:18-25
He is the one and only begotten Son of God; John 3:16
He lived a perfectly sinless life; Hebrews 4:15
He died on the cross, was buried then rose bodily after three days; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Jesus is God himself in the flesh. He is one part of a three-part God. God exists in three parts but is only one God. We call this the Trinity.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Heaven and Hell
Heaven and hell are real places people actually go when they die.
Heaven: Revelation 21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Luke 23:43
Revelation 21:1-4 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Heaven is the eternal home of the SAVED.
Hell: Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:13-15; Matthew 25:41
Revelation 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Hell (the Lake of Fire) is the eternal consequence of sin.
Salvation
Salvation comes by grace through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The gift of Eternal Life is given to all who repent and believe in Jesus Christ for it. It is wholly by grace on the basis of the redeeming work of Jesus and not in human merit or effort.
Salvation is by grace, through faith, in Christ alone, without works and not available any other way.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
You cannot earn your salvation.
Titus 3:5-7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Eternal Security
Because God gives eternal life through Jesus Christ, believers are secure in their salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by a Christian’s self-effort. It is the grace and eternal power of God that gives this security. We are assured of our salvation based on the finishes work of Jesus and the promises of God who can never lie.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Prayer, Confession and the Saints
. Access to God, his love and forgiveness is through Jesus alone. We do not pray to saints, Mary or any other being.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
The Ordinances
We recognize two ordinances given in Scripture. They are The Lord’s Supper and Baptism. Both are symbolic of something that has already happened. They are done in obedience to Christ as a representation of his completed work. We reject the idea of Transubstantiation.
The Lord’s Supper: 1 Corinthians 11:24-25
Baptism: Matthew 28:19
Creation
God created all things in a literal six-day span of time. He did not use evolution to accomplish this. It did not take millions and millions of years.
Genesis 1
Life
Life is a gift from God and all life is precious. We stand for the lives of the born and the unborn.
Psalm 139
Marriage
Marriage is between one man and one woman according to (and as defined by) the Scriptures.
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Genesis 5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
Marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church.
Ephesians 5:31-32 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
QUESTIONS?
While this is not an exhaustive list of theological absolutes, it gives you a pretty good idea of where we stand on things. If you have questions about one or more of these absolutes, we would be happy to open the Bible and show you what God has to say.