WE BELIEVE IN ONE GOD – FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.
God is the creator of all things visible and invisible and is the ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – co-equal, yet one God.
Genesis 1:1,26; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
WE BELIEVE IN BAPTISM BY IMMERSION AND COMMUNION (THE LORD’S SUPPER)
Baptism by immersion symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and is the Christians’ public declaration of having accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. The act of baptism alone does not save you but is an outward expression to the world that you have been saved. Baptism is a biblical command and demonstrates your love and obedience to Christ. Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is an ordinance given to all believers by Jesus Christ to remember His sacrifice for us and the new covenant in His blood and is celebrated when believers meet together for worship. The bread and wine (juice) represent Christ’s broken body and shed blood. Communion is not a means of salvation but is a testament of a believer’s faith in Christ’s atoning work on the cross and the fellowship believer’s share as members of the Body of Christ (the church).
Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2: 8-9; Matthew 28:19-20, Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19,20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
WE BELIEVE MAN IS A SINNER AND CAN ONLY BE SAVED THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST.
Man is made in the spiritual image of God and is the supreme object of God’s creation. However, man rebelled against God and is now marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin” which separates man from God. Man is lost and lacks eternal hope apart from Christ. Salvation is a free gift from God to man by grace through faith. Man can never save himself by good works or self-improvement, but only by trusting in Jesus Christ who paid for man’s sin by shedding His blood on the cross to save man from sin’s penalty and judgment.
Genesis 1:27, 3:1-19; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6, 59:1-2; Romans 3:23, 5:1, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5-7
WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS GOD’S HOLY WORD.
The Bible is God’s message to mankind, written by human authors under the supernatural guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is the final authority for all matters of faith and Christian living. Because it is inspired by God, the original writings of Scripture were without error, and its truths are the basis for all doctrine and practice.
2 Timothy 3:16, 1:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:11, 18,105,160, 19:7-11; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 40:8
WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.
God the Father “so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (Jesus) to die for the sins of the world. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, being both fully God and fully man. He lived a sinless human life and was the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross according to the Scriptures. After three days He arose from the dead, demonstrating His power over sin, death, and the grave, and He ascended back into Heaven. One day He will return victoriously to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
John 3:16; Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; John 14, Revelation 19:11-16
WE BELIEVE IN THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST.
The Church was founded on the day of Pentecost and consists of all believers in Jesus Christ until the “gathering together to Him” at the time of the coming of the Lord (the Rapture) before the pouring out of God’s judgment on the world at the end of the age. We believe that Israel exists as a covenant people through whom God continues to accomplish His purposes (Genesis 12:1-3, Romans 9-11) and that the Church is a separate entity comprising both Jews and Gentiles who acknowledge Jesus as Messiah and Redeemer. Believers should be an active part of a Christian fellowship and should do their part in supporting the Body of Christ by giving financially and by serving. Ministers and Elders are given to the church to “equip the saints for the work of ministry” by teaching the Word of God and are the overseers of the local church and its members. Believers are commanded to love one another and to look out for the interests of others. The mission of the Church is the Great Commission: going into all the world to share the Gospel and make disciples.
Acts 2:1-4, 46-47; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, Hebrews 10:24-25, Ephesians 4:11-16, Matthew 28:18-20, John 15:12-13, Philippians 2:3-4
WE BELIEVE IN THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to convict people of their sins, making them aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He comes to live in every believer in Christ from the moment of their salvation, empowering them to live the Christian life, to understand the truths of God’s Word, and to guide them and gift them in serving the Lord, and in sharing the Gospel.
John 16:7-13, 14:16-17, 26; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; Galatians 5:22-25
WE BELIEVE IN ETERNAL LIFE AND ETERNAL SECURITY FOR BELIEVERS.
Man’s spirit will exist forever either eternally separated from God by sin (Hell) or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation (Heaven). By accepting Christ as Lord and Savior and repenting of (turning away from) sin, man comes into a relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit and receives the promise of eternal life. The believer is secure in his salvation for eternity because salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by our self-effort.
John 3:16, 10:29; 1 John 2:25, 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:31-46, 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 1:3-5
WE BELIEVE MARRIAGE IS A COVENANT BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN.
We believe a sexual relationship is only appropriate in a monogamous, heterosexual marriage covenant, and therefore should only be practiced in such a way. We believe that any sexual practice outside of the previously described marriage covenant is sin. We believe that God created humankind in His image, intentionally male and female with each bringing unique qualities to sexuality and relationships. We believe that marriage is the union of one man (husband) and one woman (wife) through a sacred covenant designed by God to be a lifelong relationship and commitment between a husband and a wife. We will only teach and uphold God’s marriage design as found in the Scriptures, but we also seek to minister to those who suffer the consequences of its brokenness. We also affirm that we are called to minister to all who fall short of God’s standards with love and compassion.
Genesis 1:27, Hebrews 13:4, I Corinthians 7:35, Matthew 19:4-6
Global Missions
We are a body of believers dedicated to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to a lost and broken world.
Our Ministries
Discipleship. Fellowship. Outreach. We are a church that desires to give back to others because of what the Lord has done for us.
Celebrate Recovery
Celebrate Recovery is a 12 Step, 8 Principle Recovery Program based on the Beatitudes in the Bible. Join us Wednesdays, 6-9PM
Articles
Read articles and lesson handouts and notes from Pastor Ray and other teachers at First Christian Church.
Mission Statement
As Followers of Christ, our mission is to make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to teach them to observe all that He commanded.
Our Vision
• To know Christ as our Lord and Savior;
• To grow in Christ;
• To serve Christ and others.