What We Believe

Who We Are

FHBC is an old-fashioned, fundamental, independent Baptist church. We fellowship and cooperate with those who are like minded, independent Baptists; however, we belong to no convention or fellowship. Our services are traditional throughout. We have no intentions of becoming more "contemporary," nor do we ever intend to remove Baptist from our name.

What We Believe

The following is be a brief summary of what we believe. Please contact us for a more detailed doctrinal statement.

CONCERNING SALVATION

We believe in salvation by grace, through faith in the substitutionary death of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, on the cross. We believe in His burial, and after three days and three nights, His resurrection from the dead. We believe in His ascension into Heaven to ever live and make intercession for His saints. We believe in His sinless life on earth, and that He was both God and man. We believe that at the appointed time, He will return to receive us unto Himself and so shall we ever be with the Lord. We believe that when we accept Christ, our record is declared righteous in Heaven, Jesus' righteousness is transferred to our account, and we are declared "not guilty," and justified in the sight of God.

CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the Trinity - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

We believe that our Redeemer is the Son of God, and that He was conceived of the Holy Ghost. We believe that He was delivered through Mary, a virgin, apart from any involvement of man.

We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells us at the new birth and desires to empower us for the service of God, as we submit ourselves to His authority.

CONCERNING CREATION

We believe that the Godhead created this earth in six literal days. We believe that He created man, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and that man became an eternal, living soul very much connected to God and is created in His likeness.

CONCERNING THE EARTHLY

MINISTRY OF CHRIST

We believe that when Jesus came to this earth, He knew what His purpose was (to seek and to save that which was lost). His death was not in the power of man. He willingly gave Himself as a sacrificial Lamb being led to the slaughter for our sin debt.

CONCERNING THE DEVIL

We believe in a real Devil, referred to in Scripture by several titles - Lucifer, Satan, that Serpent, a roaring lion, an angel of light, etc. We believe that he tempted Eve and she gave to her husband, and that he did eat. Also, as a result, they both became fallen creatures, and we, being their offspring, inherited their fallen condition. Though man fell out of God's plan, he never fell out of His love.

CONCERNING HELL

We believe in a literal Hell, with literal fire. We believe that in the end Satan, the false prophet, and the beast will be cast into it forever. We also believe, that God is not willing that any should perish; however, all who die outside of Christ will go to this place of torment called Hell or the Lake of Fire. Therefore, because of God's great love for mankind, we are commanded as individuals and commissioned as a local church to give the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to every person within our ability to do so.

CONCERNING MISSIONS

We believe in both home and foreign missions. We believe that we must continue to reproduce other churches after our kind of church, and continue to send and support those who are called to start churches at home and abroad.

CONCERNING THE LOCAL CHURCH

We believe that the Baptist church is local, not universal. We believe its’ membership is made up of those who are saved and scripturally baptized by immersion and by the authority of a local, New Testament, Baptist church.

If you have further questions as to our beliefs, feel free to contact us.

ISSUES OF CONCERN

THE KING JAMES BIBLE

We believe that the King James Bible is the preserved Word of God for the English-speaking people. We believe in the complete, verbal inspiration of the sixty-six Books of the Bible. The Old and New Testaments are inerrant in the original writings, and they are the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. At FairHavens Baptist Church we use only the King James Version.

CONCERNING REPENTANCE

Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3) Salvation is the gift of God brought to sinful man by the grace of God, and received by repenting of offending God by our sin.

CONCERNING CALVINISM

We reject Calvinism as heresy. John Calvin said, "We call predestination God's eternal decree, by which He compacted with Himself what He willed to become of each man. For all are not created in equal condition; rather, eternal life is foreordained for some, eternal damnation for others.” If that is not heresy, what does one have to do to be guilty of heresy?

The Bible plainly teaches that Christ died for all men. We reject Calvinism’s "unconditional election" to Heaven and a predetermined sentence to Hell as being heresy, and so does God. We believe that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are born again of the Holy Spirit, are the children of God, and are eternally secure.

CONCERNING THE LOCAL CHURCH

We believe that a New Testament local church is an assembly of baptized believers, assembled for worship, edification, and obedience to the Great Commission. Baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper are the only two ordinances of the church. The pastor and deacon are the only valid officers. There are no scriptural grounds for any ministry to exist outside of the authority God has invested in the local church.

THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH MYTH

We reject the theory of a “universal church” as being an unscriptural theory that has been used to help usher in the day of apostasy in which we live. The local church is the only means that God has given for the preaching of the Gospel. First Timothy 3:15 was penned,“...that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

CONCERNING BIBLICAL SEPARATION

We believe all believers should honour the Lord by a life of separation from the philosophies and practices of the world. We are also commanded to separate from false teachers and disobedient Christians.

CONCERNING THE CHARISMATICS

We are neither charismatic in our style of service, or doctrine. We do not believe that speaking in tongues has anything to do with the local church age. We do not believe that God is giving us further revelation than what has already been given to us in the Bible. The pope cannot speak ex cathedra and the charismatics do not receive a "word of knowledge" as being a new revelation. We believe in eternal security; that once someone accepts Christ as their Savior, they are eternally "kept" by the Holy Spirit and the intercessory work of Christ before the throne of God.

CONCERNING THE RETURN OF CHRIST

We believe in the imminent rapture of the believers of this current age, followed by a literal seven-year period of tribulation upon this earth. This tribulation time will be climaxed by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth to introduce a literal millennial reign.

CONCERNING OUR ETERNAL STATE

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell.

CONCERNING DISPENSATIONALISM

We are concerned that the Scriptures are accurately presented therefore, we are not ashamed of the terms "dispensation" or "dispensational." The term is a perfectly good New Testament word selected by the Spirit of God to describe the stewardships, administrations or dispensations that the Godhead established in the decree for mankind.

We are traditional biblical dispensationalists believing that a consistent literal interpretation of Scripture produces a consistent dispensationalism. We are careful to interpret Scripture literally whenever it it obviously literal. We believe that dispensationalism is the logical product of literal interpretation. We accept the normal usage of language as God's intention for human readers. We reject the extreme views of "hyper-dispensationalism."

CONCERNING THE APOSTASY

Revelation 3:14 tells us that the rebukes concerning the condition of the churches in our Laodicean age are directed to the pastor of the church. God warned that the standards of the Word of God would be set aside in an effort to be “increased” in attendance. The Bible also says, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” (Isaiah 59:19)

CONCERNING NUMERICAL GROWTH

By the grace of God we are determined not to compromise any part of the Word of God to appease the wishes of anyone on earth, be he unsaved or professed Bible believer. We will preach the whole council of God straight and plain so that none will misunderstand. We will not sacrifice the favour of the Lord so that we may win the favour of any person or to satisfy our desire to see the attendance grow.

The Bible says, “Better is little with the fear of the LORD…” (Proverbs 15:16) In Psalm 119:141 the Psalmist said, “I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.” Jesus' definition of success is found in Luke 19:17 where He said, “Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little…”

WITH GOD’S HELP...We will not compromise the Word of God to grow numerically. We will not compromise the Word of God to keep anyone from leaving FHBC. We will not ignore the Scriptures concerning church discipline to keep the numerical attendance from dwindling. We will not accept disgruntled church members from other fundamental churches unless they get things right with the pastor and the people at the other church.

GOD’S STANDARD CONCERNING LOCAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Some books of the Bible were written directly to the pastor. (Example First and Second Timothy and the seven churches in Revelation.) First Corinthians was written, “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord...” It is to all Christians, not just pastors and leaders, that the Bible says in First Corinthians 4:2 says it is required that all should, “...be found faithful.”

There are many spectators at a ball game, they come and go as they please, however, the team members must be faithful to all the games and follow whoever is in charge of the organization. God expects no less for those who would have the privilege of being members in His local churches. Those who are not committed to God’s program at FHBC are welcome to be spectators. Those who join FHBC must agree to “support” the pulpit ministry of the church. (Example - doctrine/standards/separation/tithing and philosophy of ministry.)

CONCERNING MODESTY

In recent years modesty has become a non-issue in many churches. That is not the case at FHBC. The Bible says in First Timothy 2:9, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel...” It is the God-given responsibility of the pastor to teach what “modesty” is.

Romans 12:1,2 says ,“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present (show) your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable (logical for one who reasons it out) service. And be not conformed (to fashion one’s self to another’s pattern) to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Second Corinthians 5:20 tells us that, “...we are ambassadors for Christ.” As ambassadors for Christ the Bible clearly teaches that women are to adorn themselves in “modest apparel.” Therefore, when in public, ladies who are members at FairHavens Baptist Church are asked not to wear pants. Dresses and skirts should be long enough to completely cover the knees when standing or sitting. (Slits should be no higher than the knee) Clothing should not be tight to draw attention to the body. The neckline of dresses and blouses should not be revealing or suggestive.

It is a matter of the heart! Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” God commands Christians, both men and women, to present our bodies, “…acceptable unto God.” (Romans 12:1) All Christians who truly love the Lord will have a heart that desires to be “acceptable unto God,” in every aspect of our journey on earth. We make absolutely no apology for taking a Bible stand on the subject of modesty.

GUIDELINE FOR MEN

Men’s dress standards have not deteriorated in recent days as much as women’s attire; however, as “ambassadors for Christ” men should dress like Christian gentlemen when in public. Tight, formfitting clothes are not “acceptable unto the Lord” for men or women. Hair should be clean and well groomed. It should be tapered, off the ears and off the collar and should not in any way be identifying with styles that have been set by the godless standards of this world.

WORLDLINESS

We preach without apology against today’s modern culture of wordiness. (i.e. worldly music, worldly movies, dancing, drinking of alcoholic drinks, sex outside of marriage, adultery, sodomy, pornography and anything else that is contrary to the teachings of the Word of God).

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR OUR CHURCH

The Bible says, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” (Isaiah 59:19)

In recent years the enemy has come in like a flood in our fundamental, independent, Baptist churches. The focus in many churches has changed from honouring God to building the attendance. The Bible says, “ Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.” (Proverbs 15:16) We believe one of God’s purposes for FairHavens Baptist Church is to be an example of a healthy church with a God-honouring philosophy of ministry in our present day of apostasy.

A Church With A Heart For Our Youth

The Bible says, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (First Timothy 4:12) At FHBC our young people can be totally involved in the ministry. They are taught commitment and Christian Character.

We teach our young people to learn, and to be involved in God’s plan for their lives. “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:17)

We teach our young people to strive to maintain a high standard of Christian living. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” (Ephesians 4:1)

We teach our young people the importance of high Christians standards. The first thing God lists in the following Scripture that we should add to our lives following our salvation is standards that would please God. Second Peter 1:5-10 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;” (STRONGS- “Any particular moral excellence, as modesty…”).

We teach our young people the importance of following God’s chain of command. First Corinthians 16:15,16 - “I beseech you, brethren,…that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.”

•Hebrews 13:17 - “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

•Hebrews 13:7 - “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”

•Hebrews 13:24 - “Salute (Strongs- “to receive joyfully”) all them that have the rule over you…”

We teach our young people to be faithful in attendance and to the program of the local church. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

We teach our young people to be loyal to the pulpit ministry of the church.

MEMBERS AT FHBC MUST BE A PATTERN

FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE

It is very important to have all of our adult membership agree to help set a good example for our youth. The Bible says, “…the aged men…the aged women…In all things shewing thyself a pattern…” (Titus Chapter Two). Adults should strive to be a pattern for our youth in attitude, attendance, appearance, and in their activities.

FOR ARTICLES CONCERNING ISSUES OF THE DAY PLEASE CLICK ON THE BIBLE