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A Place To Rest - A Vacation offer!

About Jeff

The Writings

Jeff's Teachings

This site is to allow people to read and listen to some of Pastor Jeff's theological, social, and philosophical writings and sermons.  It is sponsored by Fellowship Bible Church of Southern California, an IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and California non-profit corporation.  

Currently, Fellowship Bible Church is a "church without walls" on the internet with the purpose of not only disseminating Pastor Bowman's studies but to encourage people to consider the God of all Grace. 

As non-religious Christians, we invite you to experience God's Grace in your life.  This website was created to provide you with information about life that is centered in God's Grace.

Poke around, read the articles and join with us in the celebration of GRACE.

Here is what we believe:

Freedom in Christ – Galatians 5:1

So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.     Galatians 5:1 (New Living Translation)

We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So stand strong. Do not change and go back into the slavery of the law.   Galatians 5:1  (New Century Version)

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.   Galatians 5:1 (New International Version)

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.   Galatians 5:1 (New King James Version)

Fellowship Bible Church believes in freedom, freedom in Christ.  Often churches say: “Come to Jesus and He’ll set you free!  O.K., now here are the rules…” And to that we say: Galatians 5:1. 

Fellowship Bible Church allows its people to be themselves.  We don’t run our church by legalism, we run it by GRACE.  This is more than a belief – it is the core of our fellowship.  We believe in freedom in Christ, freedom to enjoy the Grace of God in life.

The Apostle Paul tells us: “So let no one judge you…” So we don’t, nor do we judge others in their freedoms in Christ.  (Col. 2:16; Rom. 14:13)

This cool YouTube Video (not made by us) exemplifies our approach to faith.  Make sure you look at the others (#2, #3, and #4) as well!

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

Doctrinal statements or summaries of beliefs have often had a splintering effect upon Christians.  Statements of doctrine were not so much stating what was believed by a church but rather what was not believed, or the boundaries upon which Christian fellowship was extended.

Our doctrinal concerns revolve around what we are told in Ephesians 4:1-6.  There Paul the apostle sums up what Christians must maintain in order to "keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace."  The sevenfold aspect of the unity of the spirit is our doctrinal concern.  Paul the apostle is the one to whom God gave the revelation of the mystery which is called "the dispensation of grace" (Eph. 3:2,3).  The sevenfold aspect of the unity of the spirit encapsulates this grace truth.  We believe that to emphasize any more than these results in the fracturing of the body of Christ.

Summarizing Ephesians 4:4-6, we believe in:

• ONE BODY -- the church which is made up of all who put their faith in Jesus Christ (Eph.1:12,13,22,23).

• ONE SPIRIT -- the Holy Spirit of God who indwells believers, places us into the one body (Eph. 1:13) and who irrevocably seals us there (Eph. 4:30).

• ONE HOPE -- our security in the body of Christ, our heavenly hope (Eph. 1:3-18; 2:6) which includes Christ's coming for His church (Tit. 2:13).

• ONE LORD -- Jesus Christ, who was virgin born, died for the world's sin, was buried, and is risen to provide salvation for all who believe (Eph. 2:5,12-18).

• ONE FAITH -- this is our faith in Jesus Christ.  People are saved by faith alone (Eph. 2:8,9).

• ONE BAPTISM -- this takes place when we exercise our faith in the Lord; we receive the one hope, and are baptized by the one spirit into the one body (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13).

• ONE GOD EVEN THE FATHER -- the Creator of the universe and the One by whom we are made members of His family upon belief in His Son (Eph. 1:3-5; 2:18; 3:14,15). 

This presupposes that we accept the Bible as the Word of God and is the only source for divine viewpoint.  Like any other church we believe in other theological concepts but they are secondary compared with the sevenfold unity of the Spirit.

Our approach to other theological concepts and Christian living can be summed up like this:

       in essentials -- unity
       in other things -- liberty

As the Scriptures are the Word of Christ we seek to let it dwell richly in us (Col. 3:16).  As it is the word of life we endeavor to hold it forth to the hearts of men (Phil. 2:16).  And because it is the word of truth we are diligent to present ourselves believers that do not need to be ashamed, by rightly dividing it (2 Tim. 2:15). 

Our doctrinal concerns, because they are the unity of the spirit, are the lifeblood of our fellowship.  It is God's Word that fosters the faith, hope, and love that God wants from us as His people.