Pascal Blin

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE FELLOWSHIP Ile Maurice Notre Declaration de Foi LA PAROLE DE DIEU We believe that the Bible (66 books of the Old and New Testaments) is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. We believe that God has so preserved the integrity of Scriptures from men, that the available manuscripts are faithful representations of the originals and further, that accurate translations are thus reliable and authoritative as the Word of God. We believe that the Bible is not a compilation of individual verses, but is as a whole the Word of God and no verses should be isolated or separated from the whole. We believe the various passages of Scripture complement, interpret, and clarify other passages leading us to an accurate understanding of truth. Scriptures cannot be used to contradict or cancel other verses. When correctly understood the Word of God is a unified whole, though progressive in revelation and unfolding in terms of covenants, it is in complete harmony. We believe that God has given His Word to His people and that verses or passages are not to be 'given' or 'claimed', on some subjective basis without a consistent Biblical hermeneutic. We believe in accordance with the Scriptures that the Word of God is complete in its revelation and that the former ways of direct divine authoritative revelation have now ceased. Nous croyons que la Bible (les 66 livres de l’Ancien et du Nouveau Testaments) est la Parole de Dieu, pleinement inspiree et sans erreur dans les manuscrits originaux, ecrits sous l’inspiration du Saint Esprit, et qu’elle a l’autorite supreme en matiere de foi et de conduite. Nous croyons que Dieu a preserve l’integrite des Ecritures de telle facon, que les manuscrits disponibles sont la representation fidele des originaux et que les traductions precises sont donc fiables et autoritaires en tant que la Parole de Dieu (Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20, 40:48; Psalm 12:6, 18:30, 19:8; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Luke 21:33; Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21, 3:2, 16)   GOD We believe that there is only one true and living God, though He is incomprehensible in His fullness and inscrutable in His wisdom He has revealed Himself in measure showing that He is sovereign, eternal, self-existent, immutable, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, just, and loving. (Isaiah 6:3, 44:6, 55:8-9; Deuteronomy 6:4, 29:29; Job 42:2-3; Psalm 90:2, 115:3, 145:3; Malachi 3:6; Acts 4:24, 17:23-24; Romans 11:33, 36; 1 Timothy 1:17) We believe that He has revealed Himself in three distinct 'persons': God the Father; God the Son, Jesus Christ; God the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14; Titus 3:4-6) God the Father We believe in God the Father: an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, justice and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of man, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (John 4:24, 6:37, 14:6; 1Corinthians 8:6, 15:24; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 5:20, 25, 6:23;Philippians 2:11; Colossians 1:3, 3;17;; Hebrews 1:5-9; 12:5-10) God the Son We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He is eternal and shares all of the attributes of Deity with the Father and the Holy Spirit, as God's only begotten Son. We believe that He was conceived in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death for the elect, His bodily resurrection, His post-resurrection appearances to many, and that Paul was the very last of all people granted personal appearances and appointed as an Apostle of the risen Savior who, though no longer appearing or speaking physically, ministers through His Word by the Spirit. We believe in His ascension into Heaven, His perpetual intercession for His people and His personal future visible return to earth. (Mat. 1:21; John 3:16-17, 10:2-11, 14:3; Luke 1:35, 24:51; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8, 7:25)   God the Holy Spirit We believe the Holy Spirit is a 'person' not merely a power and shares all the attributes of Deity with the Father and the Son. He came forth from the Father and Son to testify of Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He 'regenerates-baptizes-causes new birth', sanctifies, and 'empowers-fills' and seals all who believe in Jesus Christ. He is an abiding Helper, Teacher and Guide for all Christians. We believe that He gives gifts to those who are in Christ for the common good, to be exercised Biblically for the edification of the body of Christ. (Luke 11:30; John 3L6-8; John chapters 14-16; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 14; Ephesians 1:30, 4:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; )   SALVATION We believe that all men are sinners by nature (and accordingly by choice), and are therefore under eternal condemnation. Because lost man is spiritually dead, he is unable and unwilling to contribute anything to his own salvation. We believe that those who trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, repenting of their sins, are forgiven of their sins. They trust in Him because God has graciously given them both the desire and the ability. God graciously grants this to those whom He has chosen and set His redeeming love upon before the foundation of the world, who were given to the Son, whose names were recorded in the Lamb's book of life. Therefore, we believe salvation is wholly of God, not of man. We believe that all men as creatures are under the obligation of their Creator to repent of their sins, yet because of the effects of Adam's sin on the human race, until we are regenerated, we are unwilling and unable to do so. We believe that the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (evangelism) has been designed by God as the means of calling (by the Word and Spirit) His people from throughout the whole world unto Himself. We believe that true conversion involves both faith and repentance. These are brought forth within us by the gracious and effective work of the Holy Spirit according to the will of God. We affirm in accord with the Scriptures the Doctrines of Grace often called by it's theological term - (biblical) "Calvinism" [5 points], We deny on the grounds of Scripture: Hyper-Calvinism and Arminianism in all its forms including so called 'moderate Calvinism' (which is simply a restatement of Arminianism by deceptively redefining biblical, historic Christian, theological and Calvinistic terms rendering them void of their true meaning.] Salvation is not a cooperative effort, but a divine act. It is the exercise of God's Sovereign free grace and choice having nothing to do with any supposed 'foreseen faith' or 'freewill', both of which are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible. We renounce the false gospels of the Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and any other groups who have altered (added or subtracted from) the Biblical Gospel. (Jonah 2:9; John 1:12-13, 6:35-69; Romans 3:10-12, 5:6-12, 8:7-8, 9:10-24, 10:12-20; Ephesians 1: 3-14; 2:1-10; Titus 2:11-3:7; Acts 11:18; Revelation 13:8, 17:8, 20:11-15, 21:27; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, 2:4-14; 1 Peter 1:1-5) THE CHURCH We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ, of which Christ is the Head. It consists of all regenerated persons. We believe in local churches-fellowships as segments of the universal Body of Believers, and that it is the spiritual obligation of every believer to be a part of a local church. We believe that we are to worship God in Spirit and in Truth, thus God and His Word (read, preached and discussed) with dependence upon the Holy Spirit must have priority and preeminence in all our gatherings as well as our lives. We believe local church members are to be accountable to one another and to the recognized leadership (Elders/Pastors) of the local church. We believe that the local church must exercise church discipline according to the instructions given in the Word. We believe that the Chief Shepherd of the sheep is Jesus Christ and that until he physically returns he has determined to put in place biblically qualified undershepherds, variously termed Pastors-Teachers, Elders, to feed and guard the flock, provide leadership and teaching/spiritual food to the local congregations equipping the believers for the work of the ministry through the Word of God, each church/fellowship functioning independently in practice, but interactively and cooperatively with other genuinely biblical fellowships/local churches. Additionally to relieve the burden of Elders, so that they can focus their efforts and energies on prayer and ministry of the Word, biblically qualified Deacons may be appointed to assist the Elders in service to the saints. We believe that God has called the church to evangelize the lost, and to act as a preserving and illuminating influence in the world. This calling can only be fulfilled under the guidance and in the power of the Holy Spirit in accordance with the Word of truth. (Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11-12; Hebrews 10:24-25, 13:17; Acts 6:2-4, 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 4:13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Matthew 5:13-16, 18:15-18, 28:18-20)   CHRISTIAN LIVING We believe that every Christian should and must live for the glory of God, genuine love for the family of faith and the well-being of his fellow man; that he is called to live a holy and godly life. We believe that every Christian is called to be an active member of a local church. We believe that every Christian is called to be salt and light in the world and to be actively learning, praying and working to personally grow in grace and knowledge and to lead others to faith in Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 1:14-16, 3:18; Romans 12:1; Matthew 22:37-40; Hebrews 10:25-26) ORDINANCES We believe that the ordinances of the Lord's Supper and water Baptism by immersion are for Believers only. They should be observed and administered as they are recorded in Scripture. (Acts 2:38, 8:12, 36-39, 13:24 (19:4), 18:8; Romans 6:1-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26) LAST THINGS We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous in the presence of God and the endless punishment and suffering of the wicked. (Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 1:11; Isaiah 9:6-7; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2 Peter 3:7; John 3:16-18)   CHRISTIAN LIBERTY We believe in the personal Lordship of Christ over individual Believers. Each must give account of himself to God. Therefore, in matters not clearly defined in Scripture, the convictions of one should not be imposed on others. In addition, doctrinal differences that are clearly within the bounds of historic orthodox (apostolic and protestant) Christianity should be cause for discussion, not division, and even if leading to separate gatherings, still fellowshipping together in Christian love. (Romans 14; Mark 9:38-40; Mathew 18:15-17; Colossians 2:16-17) CHRISTIAN UNITY We believe that all believers are called to unity. The essence of unity is not co-operation and joint programs but the same beliefs, faith, Spirit, salvation, doctrine, life and love in accordance with the Scriptures. We believe that though believers may not agree on all points there must be an established and essential core of truth adhered to by all because our unity is not merely with one another but first a unity with Christ. There can never be unity at the cost of truth. Truth remains the priority and basis of any meaningful unity. Thus groups whose basic 'gospel' and doctrines are different have no place among us. (John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 11:18-19; Acts 20:30; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Peter 2:1-2; Jude 1:3) HISTORIC STATEMENTS OF FAITH We embrace the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicean Creed, the Definition of Chalcedon, First London Baptist Confession of 1644 and its revision in 1646 as being less than Scripture but substantially consistent with the truths revealed in the Word of God. We affirm the Solas of the Reformation: Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone), Solus Christus (Christ Alone), Sola Gratia (Grace Alone), Sola Fide (Faith Alone), Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be the Glory). The verses noted at the end of each statement are not intended to be comprehensive or deal with each point stated, they are exemplary of the reasons why we have, through in-depth study of God's Word, come to the above beliefs.