I. Introduction to Christian Faith
i. Overview of the statement of faith
ii. What is biblical faith?
iii. The importance of faith in the Christian life
II. The Authority of the Bible
i. The inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture
ii. The role of the Bible in Christian faith and practice
iii. Principles of biblical interpretation
III. The Tri-unity of the Godhead
i. The nature of God as three-in-one
ii. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Scripture
iii. Implications of the Trinity for faith and practice
IV. Creation, Fall, and Redemption
i. The biblical account of creation, fall, and redemption
ii. The sinfulness of humanity and our need for a savior
iii. The work of Christ on the cross and our salvation
V. The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
i. The deity and humanity of Christ
ii. The virgin birth and the life of Christ
iii. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ
VI. The Gospel of the Grace of God
i. The message of the gospel
ii. The importance of the death, burial, and resurrection
iii. The implications of the gospel for our lives
VII. The Salvation of Sinners
VIII. The Second Coming of Christ
i. Christ's bodily ascension and heavenly enthronement
ii. The second coming and the resurrection of the dead
iii. The implications of the second coming of Christ
X. Pursuing Personal Holiness
i. The importance of personal holiness
ii. The role of discipline and self-control
iii. Sexual immorality and the honor of marriage
i. The nature of salvation
ii. The role of faith in salvation
iii. The assurance of salvation
VII. The Salvation of Sinners
i. The nature of salvation
ii. The role of faith in salvation
iii. The assurance of salvation
IX. Baptism and the Holy Spirit
i. The importance of water baptism by immersion
ii. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and tongues
iii. The gifts of the Spirit and their role in the church
XI. Divine Healing and the Lord's Supper
i. The nature of divine healing
ii. The prayer of faith
iii. The importance of the Lord's Supper for believers
XII. Eternal Life and Eternal Punishment
i. The reality of eternal life for believers
ii. The reality of eternal punishment for unbelievers
iii. The implications of eternal life and eternal punishment for Christian faith and practice
X. Pursuing Personal Holiness
11. We believe it is each believer’s duty to pursue personal holiness and develop spiritual maturity; to pursue a Spirit-filled life and grow in grace; to practice discipline and self-control; to avoid sexual immorality and honor the Work of God which sets forth marriage as a life-long convenient between one man and one woman, and the legitimate context for sexual relations. ( 2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, Matthew 19:4-6, Hebrews 13:4).
Living Waters Fellowship FCA Statement of Faith
i. The Importance of Personal Holiness
How do we attain holiness? Simply, and gloriously, there is only way. It is the same way we gain every other spiritual blessing we possess. It is granted to us as a gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. When God works in our hearts to convert us, such that we repent of our sin and believe in Jesus, we are once and for all made holy. Our personal holiness is gained by God’s work, not ours.
The Bible commands us to pursue personal holiness as a vital aspect of the Christian faith. The apostle Peter urges believers to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16) and Paul encourages Christians to strive for sanctification, which is the process of becoming more like Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).
This pursuit of personal holiness involves putting off the old self and putting on the new self, which is created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).
Furthermore, personal holiness is a result of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, who empowers them to live a holy life (Romans 8:13-14). The apostle John explains that those who have been born of God do not continue to sin because the seed of God remains in them, and they cannot keep on sinning because they have been born of God (1 John 3:9).
The pursuit of personal holiness is also essential because it enables us to be more effective witnesses for Christ. Jesus himself said, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). In other words, when we live a holy life, it demonstrates the power of God to transform lives and draws others to Him.
Additionally, pursuing personal holiness brings about a deeper relationship with God. The psalmist declares, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8). When we strive for holiness, we are able to draw closer to God and experience Him in a deeper way.
In summary, pursuing personal holiness is an essential aspect of the Christian faith that enables us to be more effective witnesses for Christ, have a deeper relationship with God, and become more like Christ. The Bible provides numerous references to support this, including 1 Peter 1:15-16, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, Ephesians 4:22-24, Romans 8:13-14, 1 John 3:9, and Matthew 5:16 and 5:8.
ii. The Role of Discipline and Self-Control
The Bible emphasizes the importance of discipline and self-control in the life of a believer, as it helps them to grow in their faith and become more like Christ. The Scriptures refer to it in many ways. Dying to self; Self denial; Taking up your cross; Losing your life, etc. The bible refers to Christians as disciples, or disciplined ones.
Here are some biblical references that support this:
Proverbs 25:28: "A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls."
1 Corinthians 9:27: "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to
others I myself should be disqualified."
Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
2 Timothy 1:7: "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
Titus 2:11-12: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age."
From these verses, we see that discipline and self-control are important for several reasons:
Without self-control, we are vulnerable to temptation and sin, which can harm our relationship with God and others.
Discipline helps us to stay focused on God and His will for our lives.
Self-control is evidence of the fruit of the Spirit working in our lives, and it helps us to grow in our faith and become more like Christ.
Pursuing self-control and holiness is a way of responding to God's grace and salvation, and it helps us to live a life that is pleasing to Him.
Discipline and self-control are essential for the Christian life as they help us to stay on track with God's plan for us, resist temptation, and grow in our relationship with Him.
iii. Sexual Immorality and the Honor of Marriage
The Bible places a high value on sexual purity and the honor of marriage. Sexual immorality is seen as a serious sin that can lead to severe consequences. The Bible also provides clear commands and guidelines for believers to follow in regards to sexuality and marriage.
In 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, the apostle Paul exhorts believers to flee from sexual immorality and to honor God with their bodies. He reminds them that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and therefore they should not engage in sexual sin.
In Hebrews 13:4, it says, "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." This verse emphasizes the importance of keeping sexual relationships within the confines of marriage.
In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus teaches that even lustful thoughts and desires are sinful. He raises the standard of purity beyond just physical actions, but to the level of one's thoughts and heart.
In Ephesians 5:3-5, Paul instructs believers to not even have a hint of sexual immorality or any kind of impurity or greed, and that these things are not fitting for God's holy people.
Additionally, the Bible provides clear guidelines for marriage in regards to roles, responsibilities, and commitments. In Ephesians 5:22-33, husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and wives are called to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord.
In 1 Corinthians 7:3-5, it says that husbands and wives should not deprive one another of sexual intimacy, except for a limited time of mutual agreement for prayer and fasting.
Overall, the Bible emphasizes the importance of sexual purity and honoring marriage, and provides clear commands and guidelines for believers to follow in this area of their lives.