Beliefs
Statement of Faith
Here at Five Forks we believe, trust, and teach the Bible. No opinion of man can stand next to the Word of God. Therefore, we preach from, read from, and discuss openly the pages of Scripture. Our Bible studies are just that: focused in the pages of God’s Word. Our public preaching and teaching ministries come from the pages of Scripture. If you have any questions we are always happy to sit down and look at scripture together!
For a more detailed look at Five Forks’ beliefs, see the Baptist Faith and Message (2000 Edition).
For a more detailed look at Five Forks’ beliefs, see the Baptist Faith and Message (2000 Edition).
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God, wholly without error as originally given by God, and is sufficient as our only infallible rule of faith and practice. We deny that other books are inspired by God in the same way as the Bible.
GOD
We believe in the one true and living God, creator and sustainer of all things. He is infinite, eternal, unchangeable, and is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is the head of the Godhead, and into His hands the kingdom will be delivered. The Son is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, Jesus Christ, who was born of the virgin Mary, hence the God-Man. He died on the cross to redeem man, rose again from the dead to justify the believer, ascended to the right hand of God where He intercedes for us, and in the Father’s own time will return in visible, personal form to overthrow sin and judge the world. The Holy Spirit is the one sent from God to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, of judgment, to regenerate and cleanse from sin. He is the resident guide, teacher and strengthener of the believer.
SATAN & SINFUL MAN
We believe that Adam was created innocent, that he was tempted by Satan and sinned. We believe “through one man sin entered the world, and death spread to all men, because all sinned”. Because of this, men are by nature the children of wrath. We believe that Satan is a personal devil who with his angels carries on the work of iniquity in this world. Sin is basically rebellion against God, and the end of sin is eternal separation from God.
SALVATION
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only Savior from sin. He atoned for our sins on the cross and rose again for our justification. Apart from Jesus there is no salvation. All men are under condemnation through personal sin, and escape from condemnation comes only through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This righteousness is imputed to the believer by grace through faith. The Holy Spirit regenerates the one who makes the life commitment to Jesus, and the life begun in regeneration is never lost.
RESURRECTION
We believe in the final resurrection of all men, just and unjust. We believe that those who commit their lives to Jesus Christ during this life will be raised to everlasting life, but those who are not committed to Jesus Christ in this life will be raised to everlasting condemnation.
THE CHURCH
We believe that a New Testament church is a voluntary association of baptized believers in Christ who have agreed together to follow the teachings of the New Testament in doctrine, worship, and practice. We believe that the only two ordinances are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We likewise believe that only those who are committed to Jesus Christ as Lord are scriptural subjects for baptism and that immersion is the proper mode of baptism. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial to the Lord’s death. The bread symbolizes His body which was given for us. The fruit of the vine symbolizes His blood which He shed for us. We believe that a church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and is served by two types of officers, pastors, (also called overseers and elders) and deacons. We believe that all members have been given spiritual gifts to be exercised in service through the local church for God’s glory.
We believe the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God, wholly without error as originally given by God, and is sufficient as our only infallible rule of faith and practice. We deny that other books are inspired by God in the same way as the Bible.
GOD
We believe in the one true and living God, creator and sustainer of all things. He is infinite, eternal, unchangeable, and is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is the head of the Godhead, and into His hands the kingdom will be delivered. The Son is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, Jesus Christ, who was born of the virgin Mary, hence the God-Man. He died on the cross to redeem man, rose again from the dead to justify the believer, ascended to the right hand of God where He intercedes for us, and in the Father’s own time will return in visible, personal form to overthrow sin and judge the world. The Holy Spirit is the one sent from God to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, of judgment, to regenerate and cleanse from sin. He is the resident guide, teacher and strengthener of the believer.
SATAN & SINFUL MAN
We believe that Adam was created innocent, that he was tempted by Satan and sinned. We believe “through one man sin entered the world, and death spread to all men, because all sinned”. Because of this, men are by nature the children of wrath. We believe that Satan is a personal devil who with his angels carries on the work of iniquity in this world. Sin is basically rebellion against God, and the end of sin is eternal separation from God.
SALVATION
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only Savior from sin. He atoned for our sins on the cross and rose again for our justification. Apart from Jesus there is no salvation. All men are under condemnation through personal sin, and escape from condemnation comes only through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This righteousness is imputed to the believer by grace through faith. The Holy Spirit regenerates the one who makes the life commitment to Jesus, and the life begun in regeneration is never lost.
RESURRECTION
We believe in the final resurrection of all men, just and unjust. We believe that those who commit their lives to Jesus Christ during this life will be raised to everlasting life, but those who are not committed to Jesus Christ in this life will be raised to everlasting condemnation.
THE CHURCH
We believe that a New Testament church is a voluntary association of baptized believers in Christ who have agreed together to follow the teachings of the New Testament in doctrine, worship, and practice. We believe that the only two ordinances are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We likewise believe that only those who are committed to Jesus Christ as Lord are scriptural subjects for baptism and that immersion is the proper mode of baptism. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial to the Lord’s death. The bread symbolizes His body which was given for us. The fruit of the vine symbolizes His blood which He shed for us. We believe that a church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and is served by two types of officers, pastors, (also called overseers and elders) and deacons. We believe that all members have been given spiritual gifts to be exercised in service through the local church for God’s glory.