Doctrinal Statement

SCRIPTURES/TRANSLATIONS: We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration and the infallibility of Scripture (II Pet. 1:19-21; II Tim. 3:15-17). We believe that the Word of God has been divinely preserved without contradiction or error (Ps. 12:6-7, 138:2; Matt. 5:18; John 12:48) and is our authority for Christian faith and conduct. The King James Bible (Authorized Version) is the official translation of the Bible to be used publicly by AFBM missionaries in English-speaking ministries.

THE TRINITY: We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each coeternal in being; co-identical in nature; and coequal in power, glory, attributes, and perfections (Deut. 6:4-5; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:10,26; John 15:16-17,26; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Tim. 1:17).

GOD THE FATHER: We reject the ecumenical teaching that God is the Father of all and that all are brothers. We believe that He is the Spiritual Father of those who have been born again. (John 3:3, 1:12; Eph. 4:6; Phil. 1:2).

GOD THE SON: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (Isa. 7:14, 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; I Pet. 1:3-5, 2:24). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 7:25, 9:24; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1-2).

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14).  We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 1:17-18, 5:18; I John 2:20,27). We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip  believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry (Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:4-11,28; Eph. 4:7-12). We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing were temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, even though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing (I Cor. 1:22, 13:8, 14:21-22).

SIN: We believe that by voluntary transgression man fell from his sinless and happy estate. The consequences of which all mankind are now sinners by nature and by choice, and, therefore, are under the condemnation of God without defense or excuse (Gen. 3:1-6; Rom. 3:10-19, 5:12,19).

SALVATION: We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God. He freely took upon Himself our sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and, by His substitutionary death, made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins (John 3:16; Rom. 3:24,25; Eph. 2:8,9; I Pet. 3:18,19). Election is by the foreknowledge of God, and the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel that is received by faith. Man's unbelief merits the just condemnation of a holy God (John 3:18,36; Rom. 8:29,30). All who believe in Him are justified and His righteousness is imputed to them, including the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life, not bestowed because of any personal works, but solely because of faith in the Redeemer's blood (Acts 13:39; Rom. 1:17, 3:24, 5:1, 8-11).

ETERNAL SECURITY: We believe that the redeemed, once saved, are kept by the power of God and thus secured in Christ forever (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; I Pet. 1:5). The saved should rejoice with a personal confidence of a present salvation that rests in the manifestation of the indwelling Christ and the veracity of the Word of God (I John 5:11-13).

RETURN OF CHRIST: We believe in that blessed hope, the personal, imminent return of Christ Who will rapture His church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel. (Ps. 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; 1 Thess. 1:10, 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16, 20:1-6).

LOCAL CHURCH: We believe that the local church is a body made up solely of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel (I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27). We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27, 20:17,28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11). We believe in the autonomy of the local church to be free of any external authority or control. We believe the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from any interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations, and that its only Head is the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41-42, 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Rom 16:1-4; I Cor. 3:9, 5:4-7; I Pet 5:1-4; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:18). The mission of the local church is to fulfill the Great Commission (Mt. 28:19,20) to make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them as Christ commanded (Acts 2:41-42, 18:18; I Cor. 11:23-26).

MISSIONS: We believe that God has given the local church a great commission to proclaim the gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means to go to our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the foreign nations of the world and not wait for them to come to us. As a missionary sponsoring agency, we unite with like-faith, local churches that send and sponsor missionaries for the purpose of evangelizing the military forces of the world. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Cor. 5:20).

NOTE: This statement is part of the Constitution of Armed Forces Baptist Missions. A complete Doctrinal Statement is available upon request by emailing admin2@afbmissions.com.