Statement of Faith

Posted on 12/24/2008 03:12 am by

As a Christian Organization, FCF seeks to be in obedience to Scripture in all that we do. The following statement is a concise expression of our understanding of the core of Scriptural Christian belief.

  1. We believe the Scriptures are the Word of God, and the final authority for all matters of faith and practice (1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).
  2. We believe God exists in three eternal persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (John 14:1-36; Eph. 2:18).
  3. We believe God loves the lost and is not willing that any should perish but that all would repent and believe in Him (John 3:16; Col. 1:6, Lk. 13:34; 2 Pet. 3:9).
  4. We believe our natural separation from God is due to selfish desires and pursuits. We believe that we must die to self in order to be, through the cross, raised to life in Christ’s desires and pursuits (Matt. 10:38-39; Rom. 2:5, 6:4; Gal. 6:14).
  5. We do not believe God is the ultimate cause of pain, sickness, or problems; we believe He is the answer (Mk. 5:1-20; John 10:10, 14:14; 1 Pet. 5:7-9)
  6. We believe salvation is by faith in Christ alone, and that apart from God, man is incapable of any good work (Is. 64:6; Acts 4:12; John 3:3; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 3:15).
  7. We believe in complete forgiveness and freedom from sin through the power of Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross (Acts 10:43; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 2:13-17; Col. 1:19-21).
  8. We believe that those who are born again will turn away from sin and towards a life of godliness (1 Cor. 6:9-10; 2 Cor. 6:13-15; Gal. 5:16-26; 1 John 1:5-7).
  9. We believe water baptism is for believers and should be administered as soon as possible after conversion (Mt. 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-38; 1 Pet. 3:21).
  10. We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a divine empowerment to do the works of Christ (Acts 1:5; Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-31).  And that those who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit are able speak in other tongues (1 Cor. 14:6-19).
  11. We believe in a final Judgment where every deed of both the believing and unbelieving will be reviewed (John 5:28-29; Rom. 2:5-16; Rev. 20:11-15).
  12. We believe that those who are saved will have eternal fellowship with God in heaven, and that those who are lost will spend an eternity in hell; we believe heaven and hell are both literal (Mt. 25:31-46; Lk. 16:19-31; John 17:2).

Principles of Leadership

Those who lead within the Body of Christ are called to a higher standard than those who simply participate. Recognizing that there are there are variety of trends within the Body of Christ which undermine its fundamental mission, effectiveness, and credibility, we have adopted a statement of leadership principles. All leaders of FCF agree to these principles, helping to ensure that we are all working together for the ultimate health of the local church as well as the Body of Christ at large.

  1. We believe the primary mission of the Church is to reach lost people. We believe that every local church should be active in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.  (Is. 45:22; Mt. 28:19-20, 2 Cor. 10:12-18; Rev. 14:6)
  2. We believe in the self-government of the local church. We believe it is the responsibility of the local church to exercise discipline should its leaders err in doctrine or commit sin.  We will exercise this process without favoritism, and likewise submit ourselves to it. (1 Cor. 5:1-13; 1 Tim. 5:20-21; 2 Tim. 1:14-26; Titus 1:6-9)
  3. We commit to making leadership decisions in the best interest of those we lead, not our own interest. We refuse to ask people to lift burdens we ourselves would not carry.  Instead, we lift burdens from others which they cannot carry. (Mt. 11:28-30; Lk. 11:46, 2 Cor. 11:9, Gal. 6:2)
  4. We believe that every local church should help the disadvantaged of society. (Is. 61:1; Mt. 11:4-5, Lk. 3:11)
  5. We will encourage the operation of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit and actively develop them in the lives of all believers.  (Mt. 10:8; Rom. 1:11; 1 Cor. 14:1-40)
  6. We commit to administer church finances in transparency before the congregation with the goal of maximal Kingdom impact, especially with regard to personal salaries.   (1 Cor 9:4-18; 1 Tim. 6:3-10, 17-19)
  7. We accept the sacrifice associated with the call of the gospel.  On the other hand, we do not believe that sacrifice gives us license to neglect the fundamental needs of our families.  (1 Cor. 9:5; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 1 Tim. 5:8)
  8. We believe unbelievers are drawn to God by a proclamation of the truth, not by cultural accommodation or “watering down” the gospel.  (1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Pet. 2:1-3)
  9. We believe that worship is a time with the Lord which should be marked by intimacy and reverence. (Mt. 2:11; Heb. 9:1-3; Rev. 19:1-6)