Our Constitution can be found here.

God’s love for everyone is too great for Him to leave man-kind in a mess. The mess is caused by people choosing to rebel against God’s perfect standards and living independently from the One who created us to be His friends and His children. All the suffering of humanity through all the ages has been the result of people turning away from God and going their own way. The Bible calls this sin. The Bible also says that “the wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6:23
But God has not left us hopeless. Out of love and compassion, He sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to provide a way of redemption. Jesus lived a perfect life, healed the sick and did miracles which prove that He is the Son of God. He said “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
He then died willingly but unjustly on a Roman cross. This way, instead of punishing us for our sins, God punished His perfect Son. Three days later He rose from the dead and forty days after that He physically left the earth and went back to the realm which He called Heaven. Jesus will eventually return to this earth, not as an insignificant Jewish carpenter, but as the Judge of the whole earth. John 3:17-18
We believe that through faith in Jesus Christ who was punished in our place for our sins, we can come to know God as our Father and have the assurance of sins forgiven. The moment we turn to God through faith in Jesus Christ, He wipes out all record of past sins and gives us new life. This is what is meant by “being born again.” We know we are baptised with the Holy Spirit the moment we are saved. Rom. 8:9
The issue is not “how much do we have of the Holy Spirit?” – the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity and that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise the moment we believe. The issue that concerns God is “how much does the Holy Spirit have of us?” The goal of our Bible teaching at Friendship Baptist Church is to equip believers to be dedicated, Spirit-filled servants of Jesus Christ.

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.
  • 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.
  • 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 writings have ever been or will ever be inspired.
II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:19-21 Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25; Psa. 119:39; Psa. 119:105; Psa. 119:130; Psa. 119:160; Luke 24:25-27; Luke 24:44-45; John 17:17; Prov. 30:5-6; Rom. 3:4; I Pet. 1:23; Rev. 22:19; John 12:48; Isa. 8:20; Eph. 6:17; Rom. 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psa. 19:7-11; John 5:30; John 5:45-47

We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life that define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three of these dispensations – the law, the church and the kingdom – are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture.
Gen. 1:28; 1 Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10, Eph. 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-27; Rev. 20:2-6.

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.
Ex. 20:23; Gen. 17:1; I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; John 4:24; Psa. 83:18; Psa. 90:2; Psa. 147:5; Jer. 10:10; Ex. 15:11; Rev. 4:11; I Tim. 1:17; Rom. 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matt. 28:19; John 15:26; I Cor. 12:4-6; I John 5:7; John 10:30; John 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; I Cor. 2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6; Eph. 2:18; II Cor. 13:14

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 in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; 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.
John 14:16-17; John 14:26; Matt. 28:19; Heb. 9:14; Luke 1:35; Gen. 1-3; II Thess. 2:7,13; John 16:8-11; John 15:26-27; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Eph. 1:13-14; Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; John 16:13; Rom. 8:14,16; Rom. 8:26-27; I Pet. 1:2
We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honours; 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 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.
Isa. 14:12; Ezek. 28:14-17; Rev. 12:9; Jude 6; II Pet. 2:4; Eph. 2:2; John 14:30; I Thess. 3:5; Matt. 4:1-3; I Pet. 5:8; I John 3:8; Matt. 13:25,37,39; Mark 13:21-33; Luke 22:3-4; Rev. 12:10; II Cor. 11:13-15; I John 4:3; II John 7; I John 2:22; Rev. 13:13-14; II Thess. 2:8-11; Rev. 19:11,16,20; Rev. 12:7-9; Rev. 20:1-3; Rev. 20:10; Matt. 25:41
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.”
Gen. 1:1; Ex. 20:11; Acts 4:24; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 11:3; John 1:3; Rev. 10:6; Rom. 1:20; Acts 17:23-27; Gen. 2:21-23; Gen. 1:24
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.
Gen. 3:1-6; Rom. 1:18,20,28,32; Rom. 3:10-19; Rom. 5:12,19; Eph. 2:1-3; Ezek. 18:19-20; Gal. 3:22
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit, in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born, or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God the Son.
Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psa. 2:7; Gal. 4:4; I John 5:20; I Cor. 15:47
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 most tender sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Saviour.
Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24-25; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; Isa. 53:4-7; I John 4:10; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21; John 10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 1:4; I Pet. 2:24; I Pet. 3:18; Isa. 53:11; Heb. 12:2; I Cor. 15:20; Isa. 53:12; Heb. 9:12-15; Heb. 7:25; I John 2:2
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.
John 3:3; II Cor. 5:17; Luke 5:27; I John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; II Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; II Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:13; John 1:12-13; Gal.5:22; Eph. 5:9
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.
I Thess. 1:4; Col. 3:12; I Pet. 1:2; Titus 1:1; Rom. 8:29-30; Matt. 11:28; Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Rom. 10:13; John 6:37; Isa. 53:6; Acts 2:38; Isa. 55:7; John 3:15-16; I Tim. 1:15; I Cor. 15:10; Eph. 2:4; John 3:18,36; John 5:40
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.
Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11; Zech. 13:1; Rom. 1:17; Rom. 4:1-8; Rom. 5:1,9; Rom. 8:1; Titus 3:5-7; Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 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 Saviour.
Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; Luke 18:13; Rom. 10:13; Psa. 51:1-4,7; Isa. 55:6-7; Luke 12:8; Rom. 10:9-11
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 vested 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 that 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 reach 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 sole 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.
Acts 2:41-42; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22-24; I Cor. 6:1-3; I Cor. 10:2; I Cor. 12:4,8-11; I Cor. 16:1-2; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 4:11; I Pet. 5:1-4; Jude 3; II Cor. 8:23-24; Mal. 3:10; Lev. 27:32
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 of our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, 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-examinations.
Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:6,16; John 3:23; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 28:19; Col. 2:12; Acts 2:41-42; Matt. 28:1,9-20; I Cor. 11:23-28
We believe that every born again person is saved forever; they are kept by the power of God, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and hid in Christ. In addition, a saint can never lose his salvation.
John 8:31-32; Col. 1:21-23; I John 2:19; Matt. 13:19-21; Matt. 6:20; Psa. 121:3; Heb. 1:14; I Pet. 1:5; Phil. 1:6; John 10:28-29; John 16:8; Rom. 8:28,35-39
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 life and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
Mal. 3:18; Gen. 12:2-3; Rom. 1:17; Rom. 6:16-18,23; Rom. 7:6; Prov. 11:31; I Pet. 1:18; I Cor. 15:22; Acts 10:34-35; I John 2:7,29; I John 5:19; Gal. 3:10; Prov. 14:32; Luke 16:25; Matt. 25:34,41; John 8:21; Luke 9:26; John 12:25; Matt. 7:13-14
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.
Rom 13:7; II Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Titus 3:1; I Pet. 2:17; Acts 4:19-20; Dan. 3:17-18; Matt. 10:28; Matt. 22:21; Matt. 23:10; Phil. 2:10-11; Psa. 72:11
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 alone is our merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God; that this same Jesus which was taken up into heaven shall so come in like manner as He went into heaven–bodily, personally and visible; 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; that Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet.
Matt. 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:2,4-6,51; Acts 1:9,11; Mark 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 5:9-10; Heb. 8:1,6; Heb. 9:28; Heb. 12:2; I Tim. 2:5; I John 2:1; John 14:3; I Thess. 4:16; Matt. 24:27,42; I Cor. 15:4,25; I Cor. 15:42-44,51-53; I Thess. 4:17; Phil. 4:20-21; Luke 1:32; I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 11:4-5; Psa. 72:8; Rev. 20:1-4,6
The command to give the Gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable, and this Commission was given to the churches.
Matt. 28:16-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Rom. 10:13-15
Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith.
I Cor. 16:2; Heb. 7:2-4; Matt. 23:23; Lev. 27:30; Mal. 3:10; Acts 4:34-35,37