Beliefs

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." - A.W. Tozer

What We Believe

FAMILYLIFE Christian Church has grown because God has added to our numbers (Acts 2:47). We have tried to glorify Christ in all we do. Our Church has sought to be unified on salvation beliefs while permitting differing opinions on non-salvation beliefs. This Church has people with many different backgrounds, but we are a family. Jesus said that the world would know that we are His because we love one another and because we are one (John 13:35; John 17:21-22). Therefore, these Statements of Faith are our non-negotiable statements of belief.
The following doctrines are essential for salvation:

We believe God is self-existent, and by nature, He is eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere. God has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are in agreement and unified with each other role in the Godhead. We believe these three are co-equal and are one God.

Supportive Scripture: Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Deuteronomy 6:4; Job 38, 39, & 40; Psalm 90:2, 139:1-4, 7-10; Isaiah 40:13-17,45:18; Matthew 19:26, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; I Peter 1:2 John 1:1, Colossians 1:15ff

We believe that God the Father holds all the attributes of God while exercising a unique role in the Godhead. He is the father of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and yet still one with both as God. God the Father adopts believers in Jesus Christ into a relationship with Him as their Father (see salvation).

Supportive Scripture: John 15:1-4; Deuteronomy 32:6; Isaiah 9:6, 63:16; John 20:17; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:6.

We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He is God. He is co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit, present and participating in creation. Jesus took on human flesh in the fullness of time so that He could live a sinless life and offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He was raised from the dead, after three days, victorious over the power of sin and death. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead and to make all things new.

Supportive Scripture: Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1-5; 8:58; 14:10-30; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Colossians 1:15-23; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-15; Revelation 1:8.

We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make all people aware of their sin and their need for Jesus Christ. His purpose in our time is to bring glory to Jesus and to intercede with God the Father on our behalf. He dwells in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He gives gifts to believers, providing them with the power to grow in Christlikeness, understand spiritual truth, and serve the mission of the Church.

Supportive Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2; Psalm 51:10-12; John 14:16-17, 16:7-13, 17; Acts 1:8; Romans 5:5; I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

We believe that all have sinned (willful disobedience to God). We believe that the wages of sin is death and eternal separation from God. Salvation is a free gift of God. Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection is the only sufficient payment for our sins. Only by grace through faith can one receive this free gift. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their life. This is evident by repentance, confession, baptism by immersion, and a life submitted to Christ. We believe a baby or a young child cannot understand sin or the need for Christ and are under God’s grace until an age of accountability determined by God (2 Samuel 12:23; Matthew 18:2-3; 19:13-15).

Supportive Scripture: John 1:12, 14:6; Romans 5:1, 6:23; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Romans 10:9-13, Acts 2:38-40.

People are made in the image of God, male and female He created them to be in relationship with Him, to become like Him in character, and to bring Him glory. We believe we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Sin separates people from God, thus affecting all areas of life, resulting in suffering and hopelessness apart from Jesus Christ.

Supportive Scripture: Genesis 1:27; Genesis 3; Psalms 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:23.

We believe the Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by humans authored under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it is inspired by God, the Bible is infallible, inerrant, and absolute truth. It is the ultimate and final authority for Christian beliefs and living.

Supportive Scripture: Psalms 12:6, 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21.

We believe the Church is the body and bride of Christ and also serves as the household of faith. It is a living temple where God dwells in each of His people. We believe that everyone that has been saved by Christ is a member of His Church and called to be a connected and beneficial part of His body. We believe that the Church is commanded to love God and others. This relationship is the primary vehicle through which we share the gospel. The Church will grow to maturity. We believe that His Church exists throughout the world and is witnessed and experienced in local autonomous gatherings of believers overseen by Elders. We believe submission to God’s authority and the authority of the appointed Elders in the local Church is essential for unity and reveals our spiritual maturity.

Supportive Scripture: Ephesians 4:16; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 5:24-32; Galatians. 6:10; 1 Peter 2:4-5; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Acts 14:23; Matthew 16:16–18; Acts 2:42–47; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Ephesians 1:20–23; 4:3–10; Colossians 3:14–15 Romans 13, Hebrews 13.

We believe Christ is the head of the Church. We believe the local Church should be governed by a plurality of male elders (who have been appointed by existing Elders) to oversee the carrying out His will in the local assembly of believers.
We believe men who have aspired to a Pastoral role and have been confirmed through character and gifting by our existing Eldership and Pastoral staff must go through an ordination process before they are publicly set aside and ordained as Pastors at FAMILYLIFE Christian Church.

Supportive Scripture: Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 5:17; Ephesians 5:23-25; 1 Peter 5:1-4. Acts 13:1-3, 20:26-31; 1 Timothy 3:1-7,4:14,5:17,22.

We believe baptism, by immersion, was both modeled and commanded by Christ. We believe baptism is only for those who believe in Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We believe one who has believed, confessed, and repented should be baptized in a timely act of obedience.

Supportive Scripture: Matthew 28:18-21,Acts 2:37-38,Acts 8:35-39,Romans 6:4,Colossians 2:12,1 Corinthians 12:13.

We believe celebrating communion was both modeled and commanded by Christ. We believe communion is a memorial, a proclamation, and representative of the new covenant in Christ Jesus as defined by Scripture: “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
(1 Corinthians 11:23-25 ESV).
It is a distinction of our Church that we take communion every week. We do not believe you have to take communion every week; however, when you do partake in it, do so in a correct manner. (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:25-28) When we take it, we do so in a distinctive manner.

“Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-28 ESV)

Communion (Lord’s Supper) is a time when Christians assemble together to remember and celebrate Jesus Christ. This practice is carried out following a person’s commitment to Jesus Christ. A non-believer should not participate.

Supportive Scripture: Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Acts 20:7

We believe every Christian has been given at least one spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit. We believe these gifts are given to edify the body of Christ (the Church). All spiritual gifts will be expressed in harmony with the fruit of the Spirit. We believe that spiritual gifts must be handled in a manner that honors Christ, builds up the individual, and serves to grow the church. God gives gifts and abilities for the edification of others and the advancement of the Church. God has given some people certain gifts to be used to teach and grow other believers and to help the lost come to know Jesus as their personal savior.

Supportive Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Peter 4:9-11; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-13; Hebrews 2:4.

We believe people were created to exist forever. Every person will either exist eternally separated from God in Hell because of sin or in union with God in Heaven through the forgiveness and salvation found only in Jesus Christ. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

Supportive Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46; John 3:16, 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:15