Our Beliefs

OFBC Statement of Faith (based on the New Hampshire Confession of Faith)

We believe the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

II Timothy 3:16-17; II Timothy 3:15; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 2:12; Philippians 3:16; I John 4:1

We believe there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is JEHOVAH, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness; and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; revealed under the personal and relative distinctions of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

John 4:24; Psalm 83:18; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 6:3; I Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:6-8; Mark 12:30; Revelation 4:11; Matthew 10:37; Jeremiah 2:12-13; Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; I Corinthians 12:4-6; I John 5:7; John 10:30; John 5:17; John 14:23; John 17:5,10; Acts 5:3-4; I Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18; II Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4-5

We believe God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.

Psalm 145:17; Isaiah 28:29; Hebrews 1:3; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 103:19; Matthew 10:29; James 1:13, 17; I John 1:5; Acts 2:23; Matthew 17:12; Acts 4:27, 28; John 19:11; Proverbs 16:33

We believe about 6,000 years ago it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world out of nothing, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six literal 24-hour days, and all very good.

John 1:2, 3; Hebrews 1:2; Job 26:13; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:31

We believe God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  Man was created in a state of holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, wholly given to the gratification of the world, of Satan, and his own sinful passions; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.

Genesis 1:27; Genesis 1:31; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Acts 17:26-29; Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:6-24; Romans 5:12,15-19; Psalm 51:5; Romans 8:7; Isaiah 53:6; Genesis 6:12; Romans 3:9-18; Ephesians2:1-3; Romans 1:18,32; Romans 2:1-16; Galatians3:10; Matthew 20:15; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:20; Romans 3:19; Galatians 3:22

We believe the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and made atonement for our sins by His death; being risen from the dead He is now enthroned in heaven; and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Savior.

Ephesians 2:3; Matthew 18:11; I John 4:10; I Corinthians 3:5-7; Acts 15:11; John 3:16; John 1:1-14; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 12:24; Philippians 2:9,14; II Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 42:21; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 4:4-5; Romans 3:21; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 20:28; Romans 4:25; Romans 3:21-26; I John 2:3; I Corinthians 15:1-3; Hebrews 9:13-15; Hebrews 1:8; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 3:1-4; Hebrews 7:25; Colossians  2:18; Hebrews 7:26; Psalm 89:19; Psalm 34

We believe the great Gospel blessing which Christ of His fullness bestows on such as believe in Him, is Justification; that Justification consists in the pardon of sin and the promise of eternal life, on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through His own redemption and righteousness, by virtue of which faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.

John 1:16; Ephesians 3:8; Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11-12; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 5:9; Zechariah 13;1; Matthew 9:6; Acts 10:43; Romans 5:17; Titus 3:5-7; I Peter 3:7; I John 2:25; Romans 5:21; Romans 4:4-5; Romans 6:23; Philippians 3:7-9; Romans 5:19; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 4:23-25; I John 2:12; Romans 5:3; Romans 5:11; I Corinthians 1:30-31; Matthew 6:33; I Timothy 4:8

We believe the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by an affectionate, penitent, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth except his own inherent depravity and voluntary refusal to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ; which refusal will subject him to an aggravated condemnation.

Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Romans 16:25-26; Mark 1:15; Romans 1:15-17; John 5:40; Matthew 23:37; Romans 9:32; Proverbs 1:24; Acts 13:46; John 3:19; Matthew 11:20; Luke 10:27; II Thessalonians 1:8

We believe in order to be saved, we must be regenerated or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; and is effected in a manner above our comprehension or calculation, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; and that its proper evidence is found in the holy fruit which we bring forth to the glory of God.

John 3:3; John 3:6-7; I Corinthians 3:14; Revelation 14:3; Revelation 21:27; II Corinthians 5;17; Ezekiel 36:26; Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 5:5; I John 4:7; John 3:8; John 1:13; James 1:16-18; I Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 2:13; I Peter 1:22-25; I John 5:1; Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians  3:9-11; Ephesians 5:9; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:16-23; Ephesians 3:14-21; Matthew 3:8-10; Matthew 7:20; I John 5:4, 18

We believe repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, created in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ alone, we turn to God with sincere sorrow, confession, and prayer for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior.

Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8; I John 5:1; John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 16:30-31; Luke 18:13; Luke 15:18-21; James 4:7-10; II Corinthians 7:11; Romans 10:12-13; Psalm 51; Romans 10:9-11; Acts 3:22-23; Hebrews 4:14; Psalm 2:6; Hebrews 1:8; Hebrews 7:25; II Timothy 1:12

We believe by the decree of God, some are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life, through Jesus Christ, to the praise of His glorious grace.  This act of election is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness toward sinners, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable. Those sinners who are predestinated to life, God, according to His eternal and immutable purpose and the good pleasure of His will, has chosen in Christ to everlasting glory, out of His free grace and love; without any other thing in the person as a condition or cause moving him toward the grace of salvation. God’s gracious act of election is perfectly consistent with the free agency of man and includes the means of preaching the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit; consequently they who are elected are effectually called to faith in Christ, justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by His power through faith to salvation. No others are redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only. This doctrine utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, and trust in God while also serving as the foundation of Christian assurance; and to make our calling and election sure with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence.

II Timothy 1:8-9; Ephesians 1:3-14; I Peter 1:1-2; Romans 11:5-6; John 15:16; I John 4:19; II Thessalonians 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; John 10:16; Matthew 20:16; Acts 15:14; Exodus 33:18-19; Matthew 20:15; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 9:23-24; Jeremiah 31:3; Romans11:28-29; James 1:17-18; II Timothy 1:9; Romans 11:32-36; I Corinthians 1:26-31; Romans 3:27; Romans 4:16; Colossians 3:12; I Corinthians 3:5-7; I Corinthians 15:10; I Peter 5:10; Acts 1:24; I Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 2:9; Luke 18:7; John 15:16; I Thessalonians 2:12; II Timothy 2:10; I Corinthians 9:22; Romans 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; I Thessalonians 1:4-10; Isaiah 42:16; Romans 11:29; II Peter 1:10-11; Philippians 3:12; Hebrews 6:11

We believe sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means, such as the Bible, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.

I Thessalonians 4:3; I Thessalonians 5:23; II Corinthians 7:1; II Corinthians 13:10; Philippians 3:12-16; I John 2:29; Romans 8:5; Ephesians 1:4; Proverbs 4:18; II Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 6:1; II Peter 1:5-8; John 3:6; Philippians 1:9-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 2:12-13; Ephesians 4:11-12; I Peter 2:2; II Peter 3:18; II Corinthians 13:5; Luke 11:35; Luke 9:23; Matthew 26:41; Ephesians 6:18; Ephesians 4:30

We believe only genuine believers endure to the end of their earthly lives; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from mere professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith to unto salvation.

John 8:31; I John 2:27-28; I John 3:9; I John 5:18; I John 2:19; John 13:18; Matthew 13:20-21; John 6:66-69; Job 17:9; Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:30-33; Jeremiah 32:40; Psalm 121:3; Psalm 91:11-12; Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:13; Jude 24:25; Hebrews 1:14; II Kings 6:16; Hebrews 13:5; I John 4:4

We believe the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts, arises entirely from their love of sin; to deliver them from this, and to restore them through a Mediator to sincere obedience to the holy law, is one great end of the Gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible Church.

Romans 3:31; Matthew 5:17; Luke 16:17; Romans 3:20; Romans 4:15; Romans 7:12; Romans 7:7,14-22; Galatians 3:21; Psalm 119; Romans 8:7-8; Joshua 24:19; Jeremiah 13:23; John 6:44; John 5:44; Romans 8:2-4; Romans 10:4; I Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 8:10; Jude 20-21

We believe one receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit at conversion. When the Holy Spirit regenerates the lost person He baptizes him into the Body of Christ. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not, as some suppose, an experiential “Second Blessing” post-conversion which happens to only “elite” Christians resulting in their ability to speak in tongues. It is not an experiential event but a positional event. It is a fact, not a feeling. The Bible never commands us to be baptized by the Holy Spirit.

The Bible does, however, command believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Greek construct in this text permits a rendering of “be filled with the Holy Spirit” or “be filled by the Holy Spirit.” In the former rendering, the Holy Spirit is the content of the filling whereas in the latter He is the agent of the filling. It is our position that the latter is the correct view. If He is the agent, then what is the content? We believe that the proper context points to the proper content. Ephesians repeatedly emphasizes that we are to be filled with the “fullness of Christ”. Jesus Himself said that the Holy Spirit would point us to Christ. The Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:16 instructs “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” We are being filled by the Holy Spirit when we read, learn and obey the Word of God. When we are filled and being filled by the Holy Spirit the results will be evidenced by: ministry to others, worship, thanksgiving, and humility.

I Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 5:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:17-19; 4:10-13; John 16:13-15; Ephesians 5:19-21

We believe every person who is regenerated by God’s Holy Spirit is given gifts by the Same. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts among each local body as He wills for the purpose of edifying the local body. There are, broadly speaking, two kinds of gifts: 1) the miraculous (Apostolic) gifts of tongues, interpretation of tongues, divine revelation and physical healing and 2) the ministering gifts of prophecy (forth-telling, not foretelling), service, teaching, leading, exhortation, giving, mercy and helps.

The Apostolic gifts are no longer in operation today as evidenced by both the Bible and the vast majority of the testimony of church history. The function of the Apostolic gifts has already been fulfilled and they are, therefore, unnecessary. The Bible is completely sufficient for the individual believer and corporate body of Christ to know God’s will and obey it. The ministering gifts are still in operation today.

I Corinthians 12:11, 18; Ephesians 4:12; I Peter 4:10; I Corinthians 13:8, 12; Galatians 4:13; I Timothy 5:23

We believe a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word; that its only biblical offices are Elders (the words overseer and pastor also speak of the office of elder, thereby adding a fuller sense of the role), and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.  The office of elder and deacon are distinct.  Understanding this distinction assists a gospel church in functioning in a biblically healthy manner.

I Corinthians 1:1-3; Matthew 18:17; Acts 5:11; Acts 8:1; Acts 11:21-23; I Corinthians 4:17; I Corinthians 14:23; III John 9; I Timothy 3:5; Acts 2:41-42; II Corinthians 8:5; Acts 2:47; I Corinthians 5:12-13; I Corinthians 11:2; II Thessalonians 3:6; Romans 16:17-20; I Corinthians 11:23-24; Matthew 18:15-20; I Corinthians 5:6; II Corinthians 2:17; I Corinthians 4:17; Matthew 28:20; John 14:15; John 15:12; I John 14:21; I Thessalonians 4:2; II John 6; Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 4:7; I Corinthians 14:12; Philippians 1:1; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22; I Timothy 3; Titus 1

We believe Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful sign, the believer’s faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in the believer’s death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership.

The Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread and grape juice/wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.

Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; John 4:12; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12; Acts 16:32-34; Acts 18:8; Acts 10:47-48; Galatians 3:26-28; Romans 6:4; Colossians  2:12; I Peter 3:20-21; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; I Corinthians 11:28; I Corinthians 5:1-8; I Corinthians 10:3-32; I Corinthians 11:17-32; John 6:26

We believe Sunday, the first day of the week, is the Lord's Day.  It is a day to be regularly observed and should include enthusiastic enjoyment of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private.   Actions performed on the Lord’s Day are to be governed by the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scripture and in harmony with the convictions of the corporate local church.

Acts 20:7; Genesis 2:3; Colossians  2:16-17; Mark 2:27; John 20:19; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Exodus 20:8; Revelation 1:10; Psalm 118:15, 24; Isaiah 58:13-14; Isaiah 56:2-8; Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 11:26; Acts 13:44; Leviticus 19:30; Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2-3; Psalm 26:8; Psalm 87:3; Hebrews 4:3-11

We believe civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; and that civil officials are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.

Romans 13:1-7; Deuteronomy 16:18; II Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:23; Jeremiah 30:21; Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13; I Timothy 2:1-4; Acts 5:29; Matthew 28; Daniel 3:15-18; Daniel 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20; Matthew 23:10; Romans 14:4; Revelation 19:16; Psalm 72:11; Psalm 2; Romans 14:9-13

We believe God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it.  Civil officials being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for fear of punishment, but also for the sake of conscience.

James 4:12; Romans 14:4; Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29; I Corinthians 7:23; Matthew 23:8, 9, 10; II Corinthians 1:24; Matthew 15:9; Romans 13:1-4; I Peter 2:13-14; I Timothy 2:1-2; Titus 3:1-2

We believe there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after their death.

Malachi 3:18; Proverbs 12:26; Isaiah 5:20; Genesis 18:23; Jeremiah 15:19; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 6:16; Romans 1:17; Romans 7:6; I John 2:29; I John 3:7; Romans 6:18,22; I Corinthians 11:32; Proverbs 11:31; I Peter 4:17-18; I John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; John 3:36; Isaiah 57:21; Psalm 10:4; Isaiah 55:6-7; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21-24; Proverbs 10:24; Luke 12:4-5; Luke 9:23-26; Eccl. 3:17; Matthew 7:13-14

We believe the end of this world is approaching: that at the last day, Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be sentenced to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, solely based on the principle of righteousness.

I Peter 4:7; I Corinthians 7:29-31; Hebrews 1:10-12; Matthew 24:35; I John 2:17; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 13:39-40; II Peter 3:3-13; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7; Hebrews 9:28; Acts 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Thessalonians 5:1-11; Acts 24:15; I Corinthians 15:12-58; Luke 14:14; Daniel 12:2 John 5:28-29; John 6:40; John 11:25-26; II Timothy 1:10; Acts 10:42; Matthew 13:49; Matthew 13:37-43; Matthew 24:30-31; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 22:11; I Corinthians 6:9-10; Mark 9:43-48; II Peter 2:9; Jude7; Philippians 3:19; Romans 6:23; II Corinthians 5:10-11; John 4:36; II Corinthians 4:18; Romans 3:5-6; II Thessalonians 1:6-12; Hebrews 6:1-2; I Corinthians 4:5; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:2-16; Revelation 20:11-12; I John 2:28; I John 4:17; II Peter 3:11-12

We believe God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.

We believe marriage is the uniting of one genetic man and one genetic woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime as husband and wife. The ultimate purpose of marriage is to glorify God and manifest God's power, wisdom, and beauty in the earth. It is impossible for two persons of the same gender to be married. This type of union is contrary to the Bible and does not constitute a true marriage.

We believe marriage is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the genetic man and the genetic woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.

We believe the husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband submits to his wife by loving her as Christ loves the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.

We believe children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.

We believe heterosexuality is God's revealed will for humankind. A chaste and faithful expression of this orientation (whether in singleness or in marriage) is the ideal to which God calls all people.

We believe homosexual orientation is a result of the fall of humanity into a sinful condition.  This sinful condition includes every single person since Adam and Eve and manifests itself in a variety of sinful thoughts, beliefs and actions.  Whatever biological or familial roots of homosexuality may be discovered, these do not sanction or excuse homosexual behavior, though they would deepen one's compassion and patience for those who are struggling to be free from sexual temptations. Any attempt to change one's gender or any disagreement with one’s biological gender is sinful and offensive to God.

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 18:1-30; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; I Samuel 1:26-28; Psalm 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6, 15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15, 17; 31:10-31; Eccl. 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mk. 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians  3:19-21; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; I Timothy 5:8, 14; II Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; I Peter 3:1-7

This statement of faith is largely drawn from The New Hampshire Confession of Faith.