FBMTT Statement of Faith
1. Of the Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men and 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. It is the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21, Proverbs 30:5-6, John 12:47-48)
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are no ways of salvation but rather divinely ordered stewardship by which God directs man according to His purpose. (John 1:17,
1 Corinthians 9:17, 2 Corinthians 3:9-18, Galatians 3:13-25, Ephesians 1:10, Colossians 1:23-25, Hebrews 7:19, Revelation 20:2-6)
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men and 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. It is the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21, Proverbs 30:5-6, John 12:47-48)
We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are no ways of salvation but rather divinely ordered stewardship by which God directs man according to His purpose. (John 1:17,
1 Corinthians 9:17, 2 Corinthians 3:9-18, Galatians 3:13-25, Ephesians 1:10, Colossians 1:23-25, Hebrews 7:19, Revelation 20:2-6)
2. Of the True God
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. He is 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 Spirit. All three are equal in every divine perfection and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Exodus 20:2-3, Genesis 17:1, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:6, John 4:24)
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. He is 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 Spirit. All three are equal in every divine perfection and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Exodus 20:2-3, Genesis 17:1, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:6, John 4:24)
3. Of the Lord Jesus Christ and Salvation
Virgin Birth – We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other person was ever born or can ever be born of a woman. He is the Son of God, God the Son, and the Son of Man. (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 16:13-16)
Atonement – We believe that the salvation of sinners is divinely initiated and wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the 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 propitiation atonement for our sins through His blood. His atonement consisted not in setting us an example of 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 and having risen from the dead is now enthroned in Heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection. He is, in every way, qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior. (Ephesians 2:8, Acts 15:11, John 3:16, Matthew 18:11, Philippians 2:7-8, Hebrews 2:14, Isaiah 53:4-7, 1 John 4:10, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Salvation – We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. (Ephesians 2:8-10, John 1:12, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19)
Eternal Security and State – We believe that the believer who has exercised saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is in possession of a salvation which is eternally secure and that the believer shall be bodily resurrected unto eternal life with Christ in Heaven. The unbeliever will be resurrected unto everlasting punishment in Hell. (John 10:28-29, Acts 24:15, Matthew 25:31-46)
Second Advent of Christ – We believe in the “blessed hope;” the personal, imminent pre-tribulation and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones, and His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His millennial Kingdom. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Zechariah 14:4-11, Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6, 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9, Revelation 3:10)
Virgin Birth – We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other person was ever born or can ever be born of a woman. He is the Son of God, God the Son, and the Son of Man. (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 16:13-16)
Atonement – We believe that the salvation of sinners is divinely initiated and wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the 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 propitiation atonement for our sins through His blood. His atonement consisted not in setting us an example of 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 and having risen from the dead is now enthroned in Heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection. He is, in every way, qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior. (Ephesians 2:8, Acts 15:11, John 3:16, Matthew 18:11, Philippians 2:7-8, Hebrews 2:14, Isaiah 53:4-7, 1 John 4:10, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Salvation – We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. (Ephesians 2:8-10, John 1:12, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19)
Eternal Security and State – We believe that the believer who has exercised saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is in possession of a salvation which is eternally secure and that the believer shall be bodily resurrected unto eternal life with Christ in Heaven. The unbeliever will be resurrected unto everlasting punishment in Hell. (John 10:28-29, Acts 24:15, Matthew 25:31-46)
Second Advent of Christ – We believe in the “blessed hope;” the personal, imminent pre-tribulation and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones, and His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His millennial Kingdom. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Zechariah 14:4-11, Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6, 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9, Revelation 3:10)
4. Of the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. He was active in creation and in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled. We believe that He convicts of sin, of judgement, and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. We believe that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. (John 14:16-17, Matthew 28:19, Hebrews 9:14, John 14:26, Luke 1:35, Genesis 1:1-3)
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today, and that speaking in tongues and the work of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 28:13-18; 14:12, 2 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:7-12)
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. He was active in creation and in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled. We believe that He convicts of sin, of judgement, and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony. We believe that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. (John 14:16-17, Matthew 28:19, Hebrews 9:14, John 14:26, Luke 1:35, Genesis 1:1-3)
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today, and that speaking in tongues and the work of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 28:13-18; 14:12, 2 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:7-12)
5. Of the devil or satan
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 behind the present apostasy, the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all powers of darkness; destined to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son and to the judgment of eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. (Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:14-17, Revelation 12:9, Jude 1:6, 2 Peter 2:4, Ephesians 2:2)
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 behind the present apostasy, the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all powers of darkness; destined to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son and to the judgment of eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. (Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:14-17, Revelation 12:9, Jude 1:6, 2 Peter 2:4, Ephesians 2:2)
6. Of the Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, that it is to be accepted literally and not allegorically or figuratively, that man was created directly in God’s 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, Exodus 20:11, Acts 4:24, Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 11:3, John1:3)
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, that it is to be accepted literally and not allegorically or figuratively, that man was created directly in God’s 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, Exodus 20:11, Acts 4:24, Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 11:3, John1:3)
7. Of the Fall of Man
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 therefor under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (Genesis 3:1-6; 24, Romans 5:12; 3:10-19, Ephesians 2:1, Romans 1:18)
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 therefor under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (Genesis 3:1-6; 24, Romans 5:12; 3:10-19, Ephesians 2:1, Romans 1:18)
8. Of the Church
We believe that the visible church of Christ is any congregation of baptized believers by an agreement of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. Its officers are pastors or elders and deacons; whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe that the church is commissioned to go to all nations and make disciples, to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to teach them to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded. We believe in two ordinances of the local church, both symbolic:
We believe that the visible church of Christ is any congregation of baptized believers by an agreement of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. Its officers are pastors or elders and deacons; whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe that the church is commissioned to go to all nations and make disciples, to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to teach them to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded. We believe in two ordinances of the local church, both symbolic:
- Believers baptism by immersion
- The Lord’s supper
9. Of Separation
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Lord and Savior and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, and practices and associations is commanded of God. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, Romans 12:1-2; 14:13, 1 John 2:15-17, 2 John 1:9-12, 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:11)
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Lord and Savior and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, and practices and associations is commanded of God. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, Romans 12:1-2; 14:13, 1 John 2:15-17, 2 John 1:9-12, 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:11)
10. Of Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment and for the interests and good order of human society; that its magistrates are to be prayed for and 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 Prince of the kings of the earth. (Romans 13:1-7, 2 Samuel 23:3, Exodus 18:21-22, Acts 23:5, Matthew 22:21, Acts 5:29, Acts 4:19-20, Daniel 3:17-18)
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment and for the interests and good order of human society; that its magistrates are to be prayed for and 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 Prince of the kings of the earth. (Romans 13:1-7, 2 Samuel 23:3, Exodus 18:21-22, Acts 23:5, Matthew 22:21, Acts 5:29, Acts 4:19-20, Daniel 3:17-18)
NOTES:
- The Scripture references are representative; not exhaustive.
- This Statement of Faith is meant to define the essential beliefs held by the Fundamental Baptist Mission of Trinidad & Tobago; it is not meant to represent all beliefs or set aside any Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.