Section A: Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International Beliefs

I. We believe in the perpetual and continuing ecclesiastical value of all spiritual gifts for

the edification of the body of Christ until the end of this Church Age, which will be

consummated by the return of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Corinthians

12-14; Romans 12 ).

II. We believe in the Divine personhood of the Holy Spirit and His present-day ministry to

Believers, including the sovereign distribution of spiritual gifts, which empowers

Believers for service in the Contemporary Church (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

III. We believe in Jesus Christ as the Sovereign Giver of spiritual gifts to the church. We

further believe spiritual gifts are given for the perfecting of the Saints, for work of the

ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ and are given without regard to

ethnicity, social class, or gender (Ephesians 4:7-12; Galatians 3:26-28).

IV. We believe in the full autonomy of the local church as an independent entity under the

Lordship of Christ, through pastoral authority, with regards to: A) government, polity,

and operations (Titus 1:5; Acts 15:1 – 35), B) discipline (1 Corinthians 5:5; Matthew 18:15-

17; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15) and C) with the added value of the Episcopacy as a

covering (Titus 1: 5; Acts 15:1-35).

V. We believe in the value of biblical terminology for leadership in the contemporary

church: Bishop, Overseer, Pastor, Minister, Elder, and Deacon. We believe all of these

are designations for servant-leaders (Jeremiah 3:15; Acts 20:28; 2 Corinthians 6:4; 1

Timothy 3:1-7).

VI. We believe in the formal and intentional praise and worship of Almighty God as a

proper, spirit-led, corporate acknowledgement and response to His person and work

(Psalm 46-50; John 4:23, 24).

VII. We believe in Jesus Christ as the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, who brings men and

women at salvation into relationship with Himself and His Body, the Church. We further

believe that it is the baptism of the Holy Ghost that places one into the Body of Christ. All

Believers have been baptized by Christ with the Holy Ghost (Matthew 3:11; John 1:33; 1

Corinthians 12:13).

VIII. We believe in the indwelling of the Holy Ghost for all Believers and that the Holy

Ghost verifies and validates the Believer as part of the Body of Christ (Romans 8:9).

IX. We believe in the spirit-filled life as desirable, valuable, and an issue of obedience for

all Believers who are commanded to be filled with the Holy Ghost. We acknowledge that

within the Body of Christ, the term, “filled with the Holy Ghost” is often used

interchangeably with the term, “baptism of the Holy Ghost.” When referring to the

controlling presence and power of the Holy Ghost, as a result of the submissive will and

desire of the Believer, we allow such alternation of terms. We believe it is the will and

command of God that every Believer be “filled,” “walk in,” be “led by,” and “live in” the

power of the Holy Ghost (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16, 18, 25).

X. We believe that it is God’s desire that all Believers live under the “Divine Direction” of

the Holy Ghost. We believe that the filling of the Holy Ghost is an ongoing ministry of the

Spirit in the life of the Believer, that enables the Believer to live a life of power, victory,

and glory to God (Acts 1:8, 2:4, 4:8, 4:31).

XI. We believe the Holy Ghost fills or empowers Believers for service in the Kingdom of

God. Being filled with the Holy Ghost is the result of continuing submission to Divine

power and control (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18).

XII. We believe all Believers are baptized with the Holy Ghost and all Believers should be

filled with the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 5:18).