ABOUT FCC

We believe that there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons–Father, Son and Holy Spirit–each of Whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning God created out of nothing the world and all the things therein, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence, He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.

Jesus Christ is one of the Persons of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily redeemed the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute. He thus satisfied divine justice and accomplished salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died.  

The Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of the Trinity. He is God as Spirit–active in the world–who guides believers in understanding and applying scripture. He enhances the ability of believers to worship God and to work with Him in furthering His purposes. He enables every believer to lead a life of Christ-like character that is a witness of His power in their life. He indwells every believer and uniquely equips each believer with gifts for building up the body when they receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The salvation of humanity is, then, wholly a work of God’s free grace through the shed blood of Jesus. It is not the result, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness, and must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith. The central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call all people into fellowship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God, choosing to go his independent way. He was thus alienated from God. The fall took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are thus in need of the saving grace of God.  

We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God and that it was written under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit by chosen people. Scripture thus at one and the same time speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human writers. We hold that Scripture is infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.

There is one true universal church, composed of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as the only Savior for humanity. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of water baptism and communion, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Under the care of the five-fold ministry (Apostle, Evangelist, Pastor, Prophet and Teacher) its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate goal of glorifying Christ.

People were created to exist forever. After death Unbelievers will exist eternally in a state separated from God in a place known as hell because their names will not be found in the book of life. Believers in Jesus will exist eternally in fellowship with God in a place known as heaven because their names will be found in the book of life. For all humanity, there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world.

Only Humans are made in God’s image among all his creations, and as image bearers, we have a physical body, a mind, and a spirit. In the beginning humans were created to be in fellowship with God, enjoy his creation, and be stewards of it. God prioritizes humans above all others in creation, and as a result, we are called to do the same. The purpose of humanity has not changed, except for God inviting us to join his redemptive work in creation through Christ Jesus.

Water baptism is an outward symbol of an inward commitment. It’s kind of like a wedding ring–the ring doesn’t make you married. If you lose the ring, you are still married. But it is a symbol of the life-long commitment you’ve made to your spouse. Your faith in Christ saves you, and water baptism testifies of it.

There are two purposes for water baptism:
Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:23)

What Jesus said here underscores the importance of water baptism: that the personal and private decision you made to welcome Him into your life needs to be expressed openly and publicly.
1. It is a public statement of your faith in Christ.
2. To help you understand what took place in the new birth. The very process symbolizes your death, burial, and resurrection to new life with Him

We baptize by immersion:
1. Because Jesus was baptized that way - Matthew 3:16
2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion - Acts 8:38-39 is an example
3. The word ‘baptize’ means to dip under water
4. It best symbolizes burial and resurrection

Much of the church world baptizes infants, yet we do not. Why is this? Although this practice is unnecessary for ensuring babies go to heaven if they die young, it does not invalidate the movement their parents made toward God on their behalf. It gives Him something to work with. I believe God responds to any movement toward Him on behalf of children. Parents tend to baptize babies for the following general reasons (besides the fact that it is their church practice):
- some attach a sacred belief to it - meaning they believe there is a power in the ritual itself, apart from the understanding of those involved in the rite
- it is a family tradition
- as a religious acknowledgment

In saying that, it does not invalidate a movement to God by their parents on their behalf. I would also recommend that people who invite Jesus into their heart as adults take the step of baptism by immersion. The nature of adult baptism is different from infant baptism.