#1407 0718 10P

        Believing on the divine power of God, placing an enduring faith in the atonement of Christ, and being inspired by the Holy Spirit to keep our trust on God through all tests of faith, is our basic Bible belief.  We know there is an almighty God and that every individual must place a trusting faith in the shed Blood of His Son to atone for their sins.

   1. We believe that our life must be based on the teaching of the Bible.  God speaks through His Word, so we must apply His principles of trust in our life.  2 Timothy 3:16 ”All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine [teaching], for reproof [convincing], for correction [of error], for instruction in righteousness.”

   The apostle wrote 2 Timothy 3:15 “from infancy you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise to obtain salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”  We believe that salvation is by grace through a believing faith in the Atonement of Christ, and that God is speaking to us through His Word, so we are to Luke 8:21  “hear the word of God, and do it.”

    2. The FCG Church believes and teaches that there is one God in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over [above] all and through all and in [you] all.”

          3. Jesus is God in nature—and everyone must believe that because only as God could He forgive our sins.  Matthew 1:23 ”Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” 

    Hebrews 2:14 ”Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form.  For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death.” 

God requires that we believe in His Son’s atoning sacrifice because we have all sinned and we all need forgiveness.  “God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through [in] Christ” 2 Corinthians 5:21.  Jesus had to be like us Hebrews 2:17 ”so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God.  He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.”

          Jesus was raised to life by the divine power of God, so we can be free from sin by believing; and given a new heart that is inspired to trust God in faith.  The apostle prayed Ephesians 1:19-20 ”that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him.  This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.” 

Our rebellious heart must be changed and be willing to trust God in believing faith.  Jesus told us Matthew 18:3 “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Two angels said Acts 1:11 “This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into Heaven will come in just the same way as you have seen Him going into Heaven."   Jesus is preparing a room John 14:3 and promised to “come back and take you to be with me.”  God did His part.  Hebrews 1:3 “After he died to cleanse us from the stain of sin, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven,” so now we must be willing to trust Him in faith to complete our part.

          4. The only way of salvation is through a sincere repentance and a believing faith in the shed Blood of Christ—Acts 4:12 ”there is no other name.”  We have to make a decision to place our faith in what the Atonement of Christ accomplished. 

Isaiah 53:5 ”He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”  Our responsibility is to Acts 3:19 ”Repent, therefore, and reform your lives [be converted], so that the record of your sins may be cancelled, and that there may come seasons of revival from the Lord.”

          5. The Holy Spirit is given to those who are willing to believe.  Galatians 5:16-17 “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires [lust] of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary [opposite] to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other.”

          After making the decision to trust God in faith, the Holy Spirit enables us to follow New Testament teaching by faith.  Satan constantly tries to get us away from a position of trust on God by offering false places to depend on.  It is always our choice to remain in Christ by keeping our trust on God, or to separate ourselves from Christ by putting our trust on a substitute—something else.

          6. Only those who truly believe Christ in faith will receive eternal life in Heaven, and those who do not trust in faith will spend eternity in Hell.  Everyone will stand before the Lord Matthew 25:34, “Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’  41 Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”

          Those who have compassion for others, because they love God with all their heart, enter His kingdom.  Jesus said Matthew 22:37-40 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."  Stated faith must be combined with acting faith.  James 2:24 ”It is because of actions that a man is pronounced righteous, and not simply because of [verbal] faith.”

          7. Believing faith in the Atonement of Jesus includes trusting God for healing without medicine, for divine protection without devices, and for daily needs without laid-up money.  Acts 3:16 “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong.  It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him.”  When we truly worship and trust God, He heals us of illness Exodus 23:25.

            Psalm 91:9-10 “If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the LORD, who is my refuge—then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.”  Our trust is to be on God everyday for everything in life.  Matthew 6:19-20 ”Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth… But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” by giving it to charity.

          8. Every human soul is valuable in the sight of God 2 Peter 3:9, so anyone of any nation could escape eternal suffering by a willingness to believe God, and making the decision to trust in faith on the Atonement of His Son.  Jesus said John 3:18 ”He who is believing in him [Jesus] is not judged, but he who is not believing hath been judged already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”  Romans 10:11 ”Every one who [trusts] is believing on him shall not be ashamed.”

          God loves His creation and He wants us to trust Him for everything in this life.  Anyone could be saved if they will listen to what God says through His Word, and be willing to place a believing faith in the resurrection power of His Son.  2 Corinthians 1:20 ”For as many as are promises of God, in him are the Yes, and in him the Amen, for glory to God through us.”

          9. Being baptized, and commemorating the Lord’s Supper, enables us to give evidence of our faith in Christ and to remember His sacrifice of forgiveness.  There is no merit in these ordinances; we are just doing what Jesus instructed.  Matthew 28:19 ”Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

Jesus Luke 22:19-20 “took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’  In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out [shed] for you.’”

          10. True believers should be a witness for Christ, and be willing to share God’s Truth whenever the Holy Spirit presents the opportunity, so that others can know of God’s salvation plan through faith in Christ.  Matthew 5:16 ”Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  We should “Be merciful to those who doubt” Jude 1:22.  Jesus said Matthew 12:20, “A crushed reed He will not utterly break, nor will He quench the still smouldering wick.”  

          Outward forms of religion have no spiritual value Galatians 5:6 ”The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”  Our only concern is our personal faith in God the Father, and Jesus Christ His Son, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  The apostle Paul obtained God’s mercy 1 Timothy 1:16 “that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”