What We Believe
First Church is a Bible-based, Spirit-filled fellowship, and we base our beliefs and lifestyle on biblical principles. We believe God changes people's lives through the power of His Spirit. This includes physical and emotional healing, deliverance from addiction, restoration of relationships, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus is fully divine and fully human, and we confess Him as Lord and Savior.
Based on Scripture, we believe the following . . .
About the Bible
The Bible is the infallible Word of God and the authority for salvation and Christian living (2 Timothy 3:15-17). God has communicated this grand narrative through the written word, inspiring some 40 authors over a period of some 1600 years to pen the 66 books of the Protestant canon. This library of history, poetry, and prophecy, as originally written in its original languages, is trustworthy and without error. Every word is the result of divine inspiration and guidance (2 Tim. 3:16) expressed through human personalities and styles (2 Pet. 1:21). Accordingly, the scriptures hold highest authority over all other means of revelation. They are not to be added to or detracted from (Deut. 4:2; Deut. 12:32; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18).
About God
There is one God, who has revealed Himself as our Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and as the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is God manifested in flesh. He is both God and man (Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16).
About Sin and Salvation
Everyone has sinned and needs salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-25; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9).
About the Gospel
The saving gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. We obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17) by repentance (death to sin), water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (burial), and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (resurrection) (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 2:4, 37-39; Romans 6:3-4).
About Christian Living
As Christians we are to love God and others. We should live a holy life inwardly and outwardly, and worship God joyfully. The supernatural gifts of the Spirit, including healing, are for the church today (Mark 12:28-31; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10).
About the Future
Jesus Christ is coming again to catch away His church. In the end will be the final resurrection and the final judgment. The righteous will inherit eternal life, and the unrighteous eternal death (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:11 15).
About Truth
We submit to the revelation of God, no matter how much it may offend us. We consider the post-modern ideals of pluralism and self-determined truth to be arrogance masquerading as humility. Uncertainty in matters on which God has spoken clearly is folly.
About Worship
As a Spirit-filled, Bible-based church, we seek to worship God in spirit and truth according to worship practices found in the Bible.
We raise our hands because 1 Timothy 2:8 says, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands."
We clap our hands because Psalm 47:1 says, "O clap your hands, all ye people."
We sing and play music because Ephesians 5:19 says to worship
"in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord," and Psalm 150 says to praise God with musical instruments.
We worship with a joyful noise because Psalm 66:1 says, "Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands."
We pray aloud because the early church "lifted up their voice to God with one accord" in prayer (Acts 4:24).
We dance in the Spirit because Psalm 149:3 says, "Let them praise his name in the dance."
We include testimonials, teaching, preaching, and spiritual gifts because 1 Corinthians 14:26 says, "Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation" (NKJV).