FGEA

STATEMENT OF FAITH

We Believe…

A. CONCERNING GOD

1. The One True God

The one true GOD has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM”, the Creator of heaven and earth, and the redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).

2. The Deity of Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:

a) His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35).

b) His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).

c) His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).

d) His work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3).

e) His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:5-6).

f) His exaltation to the right hand of GOD (Acts 2:33).

3. The Scriptures Inspired

The Scriptures, both the Old and the New Testaments, are verbally inspired of GOD and are the revelation of GOD to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct and is all sufficient for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16).

B. CONCERNING MAN

1. The Fall of Man

Man was created good and upright, for GOD said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. However, man by voluntary transgression, fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from GOD (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).

2. The Salvation of Man

Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

a) Conditions of Salvation

Salvation is received through repentance toward GOD and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47).

b) The Evidence of Salvation

The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).

3. The Sanctification of Man

Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil and a dedication to God. The scriptures teach a life of “holiness”, without which no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

C. CONCERNING THE CHURCH

1. The Mission of the Church

The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointment for the fulfillment of her great commission. Priorities of the Church are:

a) To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world.

b) To be a cooperative body in which man may worship God.

c) To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of believers, being perfected in the image of His Son.

That these believers, saved and called out of the world, constitute the body or church of Jesus Christ, built and established upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.

That the church come together in fellowship as a representative body of saved, Spirit-filled believers who ordain and send out evangelists and missionaries, and under supervision of the Holy Ghost, with signs and wonders following those who believe (Mark 16:17-18).

Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4).

2. The Ministry

A divine call and scriptural ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the church in:

a) Evangelization of the world.

b) Worship of God.

c) Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of HIS SON.

3. The Church Ordinances

a) Baptism in Water:

Baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who believe in Christ and repent, thereby accepting Him as Lord and Savior, are to be baptized (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38).

b) Holy Communion:

The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and is enjoined on all believers “Till He Comes!”.

c) Baptism in the Holy Ghost:

All Believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and seek, the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience in all of the early Christian church.  With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their use in the work of the ministry (Acts 2:4). This experience is distinct from the experience of the new birth.

d) Marriage:

We positively disapprove of Christians being divorced for any cause except fornication and adultery (Matthew 19:9). When these circumstances exist, or when a Christian has been divorced by an unbeliever, we recommend the question of marriage be resolved by the believer as he walks in the light of God’s word. There are now among Christian people those who became entangled in their former lives of sin and do not see how these matters can be adjusted. We recommend that they come into membership and these marriage complications be left in the hands of the Lord.

e) Ordination:

Qualifications for ordination are outlined in the New Testament Scriptures. No person will be ordained until they demonstrate maturity in his Christian life (1Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:7-9).