The basis for what we believe is the inerrant and infallible Word of God. When Scripture is taught clearly and consistently by relating the whole counsel of God in both the Old and New Testaments then certain clear doctrines arise. FocalPoint Bible Church subscribes to the expression of our faith as represented in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. As a Bible believing church we recognize that no written expression of belief is as accurate as Scripture itself and therefore we submit all statements of belief (including the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and this brief expression of it) to the clear expression of the Scriptures themselves.[1]

Scripture

We believe that the Bible is a collection of books written by men as they were gripped by the Holy Spirit to write exactly what He wanted written (2 Peter 1:20-21). As they were written God-breathed them out (2 Tim. 3:16) and thus they are alive and active (Heb. 4:12). They are the objective measure for truth (John 17:17). They are the means provided the church to proclaim the gospel so that people might be born again or saved unto eternal life (1 Peter 1:23-25) and then sanctified or purified from the world (Eph. 5:26).

God

We believe that God has revealed himself in creation (natural revelation – Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:18-23) and the Bible (special revelation – see Scripture). God has revealed Himself as a personal, spiritual being, existing eternally in the divine nature as three persons (Father, Son, and Spirit). God is the creator, sustainer, provider, and interpreter of all creation (material and spiritual realities). 

Father

The person of God revealed as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of human history according to the purposes of His gracious will. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. He is the Father over all as to the source of all creation and Father in relation and truth to those who become children of God through belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Son

The person of God revealed as the Son is eternally God and yet became human as the man Jesus who is known as the Christ. Christ came into the world to accomplish the atonement for sin. Christ is fully God and perfect man and as such he is the savior and perfect example for humanity. His accomplished work for salvation is accessed and evidenced by belief in the gospel. 

Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity. He carried along holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He currently enables men to understand God’s truth in the Scriptures. He exalts Christ. He convicts people of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls people to the Savior, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption.

Humanity

People are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27; James 3:9). This image is marred but not eliminated due to the Fall of Adam. Humanity was created male and female and thus physical gender was determined by God as part of a good creation. Humanity is the pinnacle of God’s creation and designed to be God’s viceroy[2] over His creation (Gen. 1:28).

The Fall

Adam was created as a representative for his offspring. When Adam fell into sin his guilt was inherited by his descendants. Humanity is guilty before God because of Adam’s sin and also sin before God on their own (Rom. 5:12–14). Each person will be condemned not by the guilt of Adam but according to his/her loves, thoughts, and deeds (Rev. 20: 20:11–15). Humanities greatest two sins are not to love God with all his/her heart, soul, body, and strength and not to love his/her neighbor as themselves (Deut. 6:5, 10:19; Matt. 22:37–40; Mark 12:29–31; Luke 10:27). For these alone each person awaits condemnation in the final judgement.

Salvation

Jesus who is the Christ, the Son of God, came to seek and to save those who were lost (Luke 19:10), those whom the Father had given him (John 6:37-40), those who will believe on him for eternal life (John 3:14-16). Jesus lived a perfect life and thus is able to offer himself as an atoning sacrifice. Jesus is the Son of God and thus his life and death has infinite value. Humanity can be redeemed by no other name under heaven (Acts 4:12). Belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ is the access and evidence of salvation. This salvation reconciles the believer into a right relationship which begins at belief.

Church

This is a group of professing believers who gather to worship Jesus the Son of God and so honor the Father. It is God’s current work in creation and the means by which He teaches and purifies His people and spreads the gospel in the world. No church is perfect but must be governed by the Bible under the leadership of men recognized as Elders who equip the people for the various ministries of the church until the church is unified in the faith and under the headship of Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph. 4:11-16).

The Gospel

The gospel must be proclaimed unchanged from the Scriptures and believed as such by an individual. It speaks to Jesus as the Christ who died for sin of those who will believe in accordance with the Scriptures. He was buried and yet was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He appeared to various people (at least 500) and his apostles after he rose from the dead. He applies his atoning work for sin and his righteousness before God the Father to all who will believe on him for them (1 Cor. 15:1-11).