One of the early church fathers once wisely said, “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.” At Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville, we believe that proper doctrine is crucial to building a vibrant and unified body. We must agree on the essentials.

We also realize that we must allow for diversity in the non-essentials. We want to stay focused as much as possible on that which unites us rather than focusing on that which has the potential to divide us. As a church plant, we have modeled our doctrinal statement after Community Bible Church of Russellville.

The Bible
We believe that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired of God, error-free in the original writings and the supreme authority of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ. We further believe in the historical-grammatical interpretation of Scripture. By this, we mean that we seek to use grammar, literature, history, and culture to unlock and understand the meaning the original human writer intended for the original readers. We hold that meaning to be the correct understanding of any particular passage.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Hebrews 4:12

God
We believe in one true and living God, who is the creator of all things. One in essence, He is infinitely perfect and eternally exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Though each person of the Godhead possesses the same nature, each functions differently in respect to God’s dealings with man.
Deuteronomy 6:4, Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-3

God the Father
The first person of the Trinity orders and directs all things according to His own purpose, pleasure and grace. He created the universe apart from any pre-existing materials and without any means other than His Word. He has decreed all things that come to pass for His own Glory. He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of men, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Matthew 6:9, John 5:19-24, Ephesians 1:3-6, Hebrews 1:1-3, Hebrews 11:3, John 1:1-4

God the Son
Jesus Christ is both the eternal Son of God and the virgin-born Son of Man. Fully God and fully man, He surrendered nothing of His deity during His earthly life. He led a sinless life and He satisfied the Father’s justice concerning sin through His death. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His physical ascension, and His visible imminent return to this earth to establish His earthly Kingdom.
John 1:14-18, Corinthians 15, Hebrews 2:17-18, Romans 3:24-26, Revelation 20:11-15, Colossians 2:9

God the Holy Spirit
The third person of the Trinity executes the will of God in our world. It is the Holy Spirit who applies the salvation Jesus Christ secured through his death on the cross. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers the church to live a lifestyle pleasing to God. He endows each local church with special gifts that equip believers to accomplish distinct ministries, planned beforehand by God the Father.
1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 2:10, John 3:1-8, John 15:16; 16:4-15, Ephesians 1:13-14, Galatians 5:16-26

Human Nature
We believe that people were directly created in the image of God to enjoy His fellowship and to fulfill His will on this earth. Humanity fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the will of God. Consequently through this one act of disobedience, all people are spiritually dead. All are subject to the certainty of both physical and spiritual death apart from Jesus Christ. The fall of humanity was a once-for-all historical fact. Its spiritually deadening effect spread to each person, who is then born with a sinful nature and sins habitually in thought, word and deed.
Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 2:7; 3:3-4, Romans 1:18-24, Romans 3:10-23, Romans 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3

Satan
We acknowledge the existence of the devil, Satan. Although he was created by God, he rebelled against God and is now the archenemy of God and all of His creation, especially man. Cast down to earth, he seeks to lead the whole world astray. Satan and his demons can masquerade as angels of light and deceive many. However, the day will come when he and those he has deceived will be cast into the lake of fire and eternally punished.
2 Corinthians 11:14,15, Revelation 12:7-9, Ezekiel 28:11-19, Zechariah 3:1-2, I Peter 5:8, Luke 10:18, Revelation 12:17, Revelation 20:10

Salvation
We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins as the only sufficient sacrifice. All who believe in Him are declared justified by the Father on the grounds of Jesus’ death and resurrection. All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by grace through faith have been regenerated and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. They are thereby the children of God forever and members in the one true church. This salvation results in righteous living and good works as the believer submits his behavior to the Word of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit.
John 1:12; 3:16, John 5:24; 14:6, Titus 3:4-7, Acts 4:12, Romans 3:21-26, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9, Hebrews 10:10-12, 1 John 5:11-13, Galatians 3:26

The Church
We believe that all those who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit belong to the one true church, the body of Christ. Believers are directed by Scripture to associate in local churches, which are the only visible representation of Christ’s invisible church. The local church is autonomous in its relationship and selects its own members to the Biblical offices of Elder and Deacon. The Lord’s supper and baptism are the two ordinances of the church, instituted by Christ as symbolic acts of faith and obedience. The church glorifies God by leading people to Christ, discipling them to maturity, and sending them out to make disciples of all the nations.
Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2:41-47; 4:1-16, 1 Corinthians 12:14, Matthew 16:13-28, Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 2:19-24

The Future
We believe that the next great event of human history is the imminent, personal return of Jesus Christ. This is the BLESSED HOPE for which all those who love Jesus Christ yearn. The exact time of Christ’s return remains a mystery, known only to the Father Himself. We believe that Christ’s return could happen at any time and is as certain as His first coming.
Matthew 24:36, I Thessalonians 4:15-16, John 14:1-3, Acts 2:9-11, Titus 2:13, II Timothy 4:8

The Ordinances — Baptism
Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville upholds baptism as a sacred injunction of the Scriptures. It is an essential first step demonstrating a new order has come. By baptism we reveal that a coup has taken place in the secret recesses of our souls. The government of self has been overthrown; a new authority now reigns and rules: Christ, the living Lord! Every believer serious in his or her faith should be serious about baptism. Baptism pictures Christ’s death and resurrection and serves public notice to the world of one’s death to sin and new life in Christ. Our practice of baptism is immersion. It was clearly the practice of the early church and followed the Jewish tradition of baptizing new proselytes. Baptism is a perfect expression of our salvation and a vibrant symbol of how it was accomplished.
I Corinthians 15:1-4, Matthew 10:32, Romans 6:3-7, 10-11

The Ordinances — The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is the second ordinance we practice at Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville. The meaning of the Lord’s Supper is primarily summed up in the command of Christ: “This do in remembrance of Me.” It is first and foremost a memorial of Christ and His redemptive death. Second, it is an expression of our fellowship with one another. We do not believe that the “elements” actually become the body and blood of Christ (physically or spiritually) or that they themselves impart any benefit to the partaker. However, the act of taking communion may strengthen our walk with Christ and fortify our faith.

We see an incredible opportunity available in our culture today for the church and the good news about Jesus to make an incredible impact. Now, perhaps more than ever, people are crying out for spiritual help.

We do not think it is enough to wait for these people to come to us. Instead we see ourselves building bridges across cultural barriers, racial barriers, economic barriers, and social barriers that stand between them and the good news of Jesus. By building bridges of Christ’s love to those who are lost and broken, we believe that Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville can have an “irresistible influence.” Rather than being deemed irrelevant, the church will be a compelling instrument of God.

We see hundreds of Batesville-area people experiencing the abundant life Jesus provides for the first time.

We see the people and the leaders of Batesville talking about Fellowship Bible Church, what a difference it has made, and wondering why we do what we do.

We see dozens of young people going out from our church to become the elite leaders of the next generation – passionately loving God and fearlessly proclaiming His presence.

We see our church being culturally relevant and yet biblically anchored; adapting to changes in technology, style, and expectation but steadfast in conviction and truth.

We see young men and women, perhaps right out of seminary and desperately needing experience, coming to our church to get trained and then being sent out to plant churches and start ministries around the nation.

We see our church targeting and then leading in the effort to help multiple groups of people who have never heard of the Bible to hear the good news of Jesus for the first time.

We see God using Fellowship Bible Church of Batesville to make an “irresistible” impact in Batesville, in our nation, and throughout the world!