Beliefs | What We Believe

About FBC Fortuna.

FBC Fortuna loves God and loves His word. Therefore, the preaching and teaching of FBC Fortuna is firmly rooted in the Bible. It is not necessary to completely understand every belief outlined below. However, it is necessary that you are not strongly opposed to these teachings to become a member. We are patient with those who are taking time to fully comprehend and internalize these distinctives. Even though there may be some disagreement among members about certain doctrines, the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession is the extent of disagreement that we seek to maintain while holding onto unity and fellowship. Nevertheless, to give a clear understanding of the doctrines that influences the preaching, teaching, and theology of FBC Fortuna are 5 pivotal doctrinal positions that we affirm as well as two guiding documents.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

We believe that in the beginning, God created everything. But because of sin, the world was broken. Sin is any action that places self above God and is consequently worthy of punishment. Therefore sinners are in need of forgiveness and salvation. The good news is that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection provides this forgiveness.

Regenerate Church Membership

The most significant mark of being Baptist is holding to believer’s baptism; the belief that only those who personally confess Christ should be recognized as saved and therefore baptized. But we also hold to the historic teaching that church membership is for the regenerate (saved). That means we affirm that every Christian must be a member of a local church to be obedient to Christ. But membership is not just a name on a list. It includes a confession, participation in the ordinances (baptism and the Lord's Supper), and evidences of grace (sanctification).

The Five Sola's of the Reformation

Sola Scriptura

Scripture Alone

"The supreme judge for deciding all religious controversies and for evaluating all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, human teachings, and individual interpretations, and in whose judgment we are to rest, is nothing but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit. In this Scripture our faith finds its final word" (2LBC 1.10).

Sola Gratia

Saved by Grace Alone

"Since humanity brought itself under the curse of the law by its fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace. In this covenant he freely offers to sinners life and salvation through Jesus Christ. On their part he requires faith in him, that they may be saved, and promises to give his Holy Spirit to all who are ordained to eternal life, to make them willing and able to believe" (2LBC 7.2).

Sola Fide

Saved through Faith Alone

"The grace of faith, by which the elect are enabled to believe so that their souls are saved, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts. Faith is ordinarily produced by the ministry of the Word. By this same ministry and by the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper, prayer, and other means appointed by God, faith is increased and strengthened" (2LBC 14.1).

Solus Christus

Saved in Christ Alone

"God was pleased, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them, to be the mediator between God and humanity. God chose him to be prophet, priest, and king, and to be head and savior of the church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world. From all eternity, God gave to the Son a people to be his offspring. In time these people would be redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified by him" (2LBC 8.1).

Soli Deo Gloria

For the Glory of God Alone

"God has all life, glory, goodness, and blessedness in and of himself; he alone is all-sufficient in himself. He does not need any creature he has made nor does he derive any glory from them. Instead, he demonstrates his own glory in them, by them, to them, and upon them. He alone is the source of all being, and everything is from him, through him, and to him. He has absolute sovereign rule over all creatures, to act through them, for them, or upon them as he pleases. In his sight everything is open and visible. His knowledge is infinite and infallible. It does not depend upon any creature, so for him nothing is contingent or uncertain. He is absolutely holy in all his plans, in all his works, and in all his commands. Angels and human beings owe to him all the worship, service, or obedience that creatures owe to the Creator and whatever else he is pleased to require of them" (2LBC 2.2).

The Doctrines of Grace

Total Depravity

John 3:3; 6:3

"By this sin our first parents fell from their original righteousness and communion with God. We fell in them, and through this, death came upon all. All became dead in sin and completely defiled in all the capabilities and parts of soul and body. All actual transgressions arise from this first corruption. By it we are thoroughly biased against, and disabled and antagonistic toward all that is good, and we are completely inclined toward all that is evil" (2LBC 6.2).

Unconditional Election

John 6:65; 15:16

"This effectual call flows from God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in those called. Neither does the call arise from any power or action on their part; they are totally passive in it. They are dead in sins and trespasses until they are made alive and renewed by the Holy Spirit. By this they are enabled to answer this call and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. This response is enabled by a power that is no less than that which raised Christ from the dead" (2LBC 10.2).

Limited Atonement (Particular/Definite Redemption)

Leviticus 16; John 3:16; Matthew 1:21; John 10:11; Acts 13:48

"From all eternity God decreed to justify all the elect, and in the fullness of time Christ died for their sins and rose again for their justification. Nevertheless, they are not justified personally until the Holy Spirit actually applies Christ to them at the proper time" (2LBC 11.4). Like the offering for Israel in Leviticus 16:15 and 34), Jesus’ death is sufficient for all but is only applied and therefore effectual for the elect.

Irresistible Grace

John 6:37, 39, 44; Romans 8:30; Galatians 1:15; Philippians 2:12-13

"The gospel is the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and it is abundantly sufficient for that purpose. Yet to be born again, brought to life or regenerated, those who are dead in trespasses also must have an effectual, irresistible work of the Holy Spirit in every part of their souls to produce in them a new spiritual life. Without this no other means will bring about their conversion to God" (2LBC 20.4).

Perseverance of the Saints

John 6:66-71; 17:12; 10:28; Romans 8:38-39; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5; 5:10; 1 John 2:19

"Those God has accepted in the Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect can neither totally nor finally fall from a state of grace. They will certainly persevere in grace to the end and be eternally saved, because the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. Therefore, he still brings about and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit that lead to immortality. Even though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet these things will never be able to move the elect from the foundation and rock to which they are anchored by faith. The felt sight of the light and love of God may be clouded and obscured from them for a time through their unbelief and the temptations of Satan. Yet God is still the same; they will certainly be kept by the power of God for salvation, where they will enjoy their purchased possession. For they are engraved on the palms of his hands, and their names have been written in the book of life from all eternity" (2LBC 17.1).

The Great Commission

Evangelistic

Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:6; Romans 10:13-17; 2 Timothy 4:1-5

In light of these first 4 doctrines, we can now go with greater boldness and confidence in our proclaiming of the gospel. This confidence does not come from man centered evangelism, but with an assurance that the gospel call will be heard and responded to. This makes God’s commands to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20) and to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:6) a freedom and not a weight. We are called to be faithful, not to produces “results.”

We believe both of these commands (proclaim and disciple) are still applicable for all believers today. Any theology that affirms God’s sovereignty and election can never be applied in contradiction to man’s responsibility to proclaim and to respond to the gospel message. Any theology that divorces election from evangelistic fervor is corrupt. Any teaching that opposes God’s sovereignty or man’s responsibility is anti-Christ. Therefore, we unashamedly and whole heartily participate in evangelism at home, in the community, and through evangelistic missionary work abroad.

1689 Second London Baptist Confession

Confessional

2LBC

The Church is built upon confession. First is the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Second is each believer’s confession of salvation. Without something to believe or confess the Church is nothing more than a social club or activity center. Reading the The 1689 Second London Baptist Confession provides a detailed explanation of our beliefs. Even though we have clear boundaries of doctrinal agreement, we still find ways to be charitable in areas of disagreement.

Read the Original 1689 Second London Baptist Confession here.

Read the Modern version here.

Bylaws

501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation

First Baptist Church of Fortuna, California

First Baptist Church of Fortuna, California is a California nonprofit religious corporation, recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code (Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1). Article I Section 2

As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation we are obligated to have bylaws. These bylaws clarify the legal and certain theological responsibilities that we as a church have towards each other and those outside the church. However, the Bible supersedes any item contained within these bylaws. A copy of our bylaws will be made available upon request.