FDCC STATEMENT OF FAITH

God, Our Father

We believe that there is only one true and living God—infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient—Who is the Creator and supreme Ruler of all that exists.  We believe that God seeks relationship with God’s creation, humankind, and has made provision for that relationship through humankind’s faith in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son (Genesis 1:1; Psalms 83:18; John 4:24; Ephesians 1:3-12).

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  We acknowledge through the scriptures His virgin birth (Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:31); that He came to earth to live among us, died on the cross of Calvary, was buried and rose from the grave on the third day; and that He now sits on the right hand of God making intercession for all believers (Hebrews 7:25).  We believe that the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:34; Colossians 2:9).  We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 10:30; John 1:1, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:19), His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22), His miracles (Acts 2:22; Acts 10:38), His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21), His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4), and His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9; Acts 2:33; Hebrews 1:3).

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is sent to the believer to lead the believer into all truth (John 16:13).  We believe that through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit the believer is enabled to live a Spirit-filled life (1 Corinthians 6:19).  We believe that the Holy Spirit will empower believers to become children of God and to be effective witnesses to the world (John 1:12; Acts 1:8).

The Fall of Humankind

We believe that humankind was created in the image and likeness of God.  However, by voluntary transgression humankind fell into sin and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3:16; Romans 5:12-19).

The Plan of Salvation

We believe that salvation is the result of faith in the finished, vicarious, and redemptive work of Christ on the cross.  The means of being cleansed from sin is by the precious blood of Jesus Christ through repentance and faith in His bodily resurrection (Romans 3:10, 23-25; 10:8).  We believe that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was substitutionary for all humankind (Isaiah 53:6; Heb. 2:9; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2).

Salvation through Grace

We believe that individuals are born with sinful natures (Psalms 51:5).  It is through the unmerited favor of God that we are given the opportunity to freely choose a victorious life by receiving Jesus Christ as our personal Savior (Ephesians 2:8-9).  We believe that Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.  This experience is known as the new birth and is wholly a work of Grace (John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Titus 3:5-7).

We believe that the inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Rom. 8:16).  We believe that the outward evidence to all humankind is a transformed life of righteousness and true holiness (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:24).

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

We believe that all believers are entitled to, should ardently expect, and should earnestly seek the promise of the Father—the baptism of the Holy Ghost—according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church.  With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31).

We believe that the experience of the baptism of the Holy Ghost is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of salvation, also called the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 15:7-9).

We believe that with the baptism in the Holy Ghost come such experiences as:

  • an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (Acts 4:8)
  • a deepened reverence for and sensitivity to the Spirit of God (Hebrews 12:28)
  • an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work 
 (Acts 2:42)
  • a more active love for Christ, for God’s Word and for the lost 
 (Mark 16:20)
  • a spiritual connection with other believers that fosters spiritual growth (Ephesians 4:16)

We believe that the baptism of the Holy Ghost is witnessed and evidenced by the physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance (Acts 2:4). We believe that the speaking in tongues in this instance is similar to the gift of tongues but is different in purpose and use (I Corinthians. 12:4-10, 28).

Sanctification

We believe that Sanctification is the intentional separation from that which is displeasing to God.  It is dedication and consecration of our entire beings for God’s service (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12).  We believe that the Scriptures teach us to live a life of holiness (Hebrews 12:14; Philippians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:7).

We believe that Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his or her identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by striving daily to live lives that identify with that union. We believe this can only be accomplished through consciously offering every part of our being continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11; Romans 8:13; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 1:5).

The Holy Bible

We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God and the final authority in all matters.  Its purpose is to impart the heart of God to the people of God so that we do not sin against God. (II Timothy 3:16; Psalm 119:11) We believe in the divine inspiration of the Bible (Old and New Testaments) and that the Bible is the authoritative rule of faith, conduct, and practice in the life of every believer (Psalm 119:160; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 1 Peter 1:21).

Family Relationships

We believe in the family, celibate singleness, and faithful heterosexual marriage as God’s intent and design (Mark 10:6-9; Leviticus 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

Divine Healing

We believe that healing is an integral part of God’s will and purpose for humankind. We believe that deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5; James 5:14-16; 3 John 2).

Resurrection

We believe in the bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ and the future bodily resurrection of His saints (Matthew 28:1-7; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:42-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Return of Christ

We believe in the personal, bodily return of Jesus Christ as the crowning event of the Gentile age.  We believe that Jesus Christ will return to earth, visibly and bodily, at a time when He is not expected, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 16:51-58).

Final Judgment

We believe that the bodily return of Christ will include the resurrection of the righteous to eternal life with God and the Millennium will be followed by the resurrection of the unrighteous—those who refuse to receive Christ as Savior—unto eternal punishment in the lake of fire (John 14:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19; Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8).