Essentials We Believe

 1. ABOUT GOD

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He eternally exists as three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are coequal, co-eternal, and are one infinitely perfect God. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Cor. 13:14)

2. ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is God the Son, the begotten Son of God, Son of Man. He is the agent through whom the universe was created. He is co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and Holy Spirit. Jesus was born as a result of a miraculous virgin conception. He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose bodily from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords, and in eternity He will rule the new heaven and new earth created after His millennial reign on earth (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Colossians 1:15-18; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; 6:23; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-16; 20:1ff; 2 Peter 3:10-13).

3. ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He is spiritually to us what Christ was physically to the first disciples. He provides Christians with power for loving God and others, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer at least one spiritual gift when they are saved. Some of the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life is ~ Baptizer, Sealer, Indweller, Regenerator, Renewer, Intercessor, Filler, and Anointer. Christians seek to live under His control daily (John 14:16-20,23; 16:7-13, Acts 1:4-5,8; 2:33,38-39; 4:31; Romans 6:3-8; 8:9-17, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; 12:13; Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 3:17; Galatians 3:27; 5:25; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:10; Titus 3:5; 1John 2:20-27).

4. ABOUT THE BIBLE

The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and Christian living. The Bible is the basis for both the beliefs and practices of the Church. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. 

Concerning the Bible’s inspiration, we believe in its: 

• · Revelation--God reveals truth about Himself and eternity that we couldn’t know unless He revealed it (2 Timothy 3:16). 
• · Preservation--God breathed the truth into the men who wrote the Scriptures, and their original writings were without error. Over the years since the original books of the Bible were written, God has preserved His Word from misleading error being introduced into it; therefore, rightly understood, the Bible is our infallible guide in matters both temporal and eternal. (Matthew 5:18; 24:35; 1 Peter 1:21)
• · Illumination--By revealing God's intended truth to us, as the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit makes the inspired Word of God alive in those who believe. (1 Corinthians 2:9-16; Hebrews 4:12; John 16:13-15; 1 John 2:20-21) 
• · Interpretation--The method to interpret the Bible our Church uses is a grammatical, historical, analogy of Scripture method. This method of exegesis has been in common use since the Reformation, some would say from the Apostles. The analogy of Scripture also known as the analogy of faith method was used by every New Testament writer and a large majority of Old Testament writers. It simply means comparing Scripture that has already been written (Old Testament writings or teachings by Jesus or writings by an Apostle) with the Bible texts that one is attempting to interpret. 

Along with the analogy of Scripture method, the grammatical, historical method places importance on the usage and meaning of words in the original languages—Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts—and how the words and sentences are structured by the writers of the Scripture. The writer’s use of grammar (syntax) is important. Understanding the writers viewpoint is vital for the reader to escape the demonic trap of “private interpretation,” considered by the Bible as counterfeit (2 Peter 1:20). The grammatical, historical method also stresses viewing Scripture in its context within a verse, paragraph and in regards to the entire book or composition. The history of the times in which it was written is important to understanding Scripture. Without knowing the circumstances that surrounded and prompted the writings of the document, the interpreter can miss the “then” meaning and make a bad “now” teaching to others (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160; 12:6-7a, Proverbs 30:5; Jeremiah 1:12; 1Corinthians 2:14; John 14:17, 26; 16:13).

5. ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS

People are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God's creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience of rebellion toward God called sin. Sin separates people from God and causes many problems in life. Sin is so problematic that death and separation from God is the result of its consequences. Every person needs to be redeemed from sin by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross in order to become what God desires human beings to be (Gen. 1:27; 2:15-17; 3:1-6; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Rom. 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2).

6. ABOUT SALVATION

Salvation is God's free gift to us, but human beings must accept it. Salvation comes as a result of Jesus Christ's willingness to die in our place, to take on Himself, on the cross, the consequences of our sins, which is death. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. Salvation is by God's grace alone and we reap its benefits by faith alone. The acceptance of God saving grace is revealed by growing faith, right beliefs, obedience, good works, perseverance, righteous actions and attitudes (Romans 6:23; 10:9-10,13; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; 14:6; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 1:17; 5:1-2, 8-10; Acts 4:12).

7. ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is God’s grace—His saving and keeping power—that gives us eternal security. The day a believer is born-again, the Holy Spirit, Himself, is given to him as a pledge, a security deposit, to secure the believer and seal him or her with life to the day of final redemption, which is the resurrection of the body (Ephesians 1:13-14). Spiritual birth, like physical birth, is a one-time experience (John 3:5-6). The relationship with the Father begins and never ends. Belief in eternal security has been criticized by some well-meaning Christians who say it is a license to sin. They seem to believe that only if you fear losing salvation will you live in victory over sin. However, the Bible teaches that the chief motivation to live for God is not fear but love for God (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). God gave us free will so that we may choose to love Him, not to choose to sin. Willful sin shows a lack of love and respect for the Lord Jesus Christ who saved us. (John 3:16; 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 2:1-6).

8. ABOUT ETERNITY

Made in the image of eternal God, people were created to exist forever. We will either exist separated from God by sin, or live eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in unity with Him is eternal life/Heaven. (John 3:16; John 12:25; John 14:1-6; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11; Revelation 21-22; Matthew 13:36-43; Luke 16:19-31)

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of believers into eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord and His people and of unbelievers into judgment and everlasting separation from God's love, mercy, and grace in an existence called hell. (John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, 35-54; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 1:21-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

9. ABOUT THE CHURCH

A New Testament Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers, who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel. A local congregation under the lordship of Christ is the only tangible expression of church in the New Testament times and succeeding ages from the first century. The word church is never used in the New Testament to refer to a denomination or to a regional group of churches. When referring to groups of churches, the New Testament always uses the plural “church's.” For example, “Churches which are in Asia . . .” (Rev. 1:11). Even in its plural sense, the singular local church is preserved. When John addressed the churches in Asia, he used the singular word church to describe them. (See Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14.)

There is a sense of the Church in the New Testament that is a universal expression of all the redeemed of all the ages. But this is a heavenly, eternal expression, not the earthly, temporal expression of the local church. Every Spirit-born believer automatically and forever is a member of the heavenly church, but that does not negate each believer’s responsibility voluntarily to unite with a local New Testament Church in fellowship and service with other Spirit-born Christians. (For further elaboration on what we believe about the expressions of the Church, see Session Four of Exploring Church Membership.)

10. ABOUT CHURCH ORDINANCES

Believer’s baptism (immersion) in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances of the Church commanded by Christ to be done as symbols of His saving work. The Church is to continue these ordinances until Christ returns (Matthew 28:19; 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Acts 2:37-38).

Since we are called FAMILY Life Fellowship a special word about the family is in order: 

• · God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, birth, or adoption. 
• · Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the 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.
• · 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 is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife 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 helping to manage the household and nurturing the next generation.
• · Children 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 and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 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; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7. 

Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, Family Life Fellowship will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. We believe the term “spouse” refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife. Further, the pastors and staff of Family Life Fellowship shall only participate in weddings and consecrate marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of Family Life Fellowship shall only host weddings between one man and one woman. 

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