First Christian Church of Wray, CO
Statement of Faith
To show unity in Christ and to guard the church from error, we believe it is necessary to set forth the foundational doctrines of our church as guided by Scripture. As members of FCC, we are responsible for believing and living in accordance with these truths:
1) The Bible – the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments – is the inspired, infallible Word of God and the supreme and final authority for faith and practice. We accept the Bible as our manual for living (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3-4, 21; Ps. 119:105).
2) There is one God, who is the Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; Ps. 103:19; Eph. 1:11; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:3; 2 Cor. 13:14; Col. 2:9; Jn. 1:1, 14:8-11, 17:5).
3) Jesus Christ, the Living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one Person forever. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures, satisfying the wrath of God. On the third day He arose bodily from the dead. He ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of God the Father, He is now our High Priest and Mediator (Mt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:30-35; Jn. 1:1, 14; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Lk. 24:39, 51; Acts 2:32-33; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-16; Ps. 22:1; Mt. 27:46; Isa. 53:1-12; 1 Jn. 2:2).
4) The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts of sin and draws us to the Savior. Indwelling our hearts, He gives new life to us and empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption (Mt. 3:16-17, Eph. 1:13-14, 17-20; Jn. 6:44, 16:8, 13-14; 2 Cor. 1:22; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Eph. 4:30; Gal. 5:22-24, 6:8; Rom. 8:13-16; 1 Jn. 4:13).
5) People are created in the image of God, but because of sin, we are lost and powerless to save ourselves. Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace. God credits His righteousness to those who repent and put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation and thereby justifies them in His sight. Only such as are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:9-20, 23-24, 5:12, 6:23; Jn. 3:3-5, 6:44; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 4:5, 5:1; Gal. 2:16; Jn. 1:12; Rom. 8:17; Acts 3:19, 4:12, 11:18, 17:30, 20:21, 26:20; Lk. 5:32, 13:3,5).
6) The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the Body of Christ. The Church finds her visible, yet imperfect, expression in local congregations that proclaim the Gospel and gather for worship, prayer, teaching, fellowship, and to bear one another’s burdens (Mt. 16:18; Acts 2:1-4, 38-47, 9:31; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23; Heb. 10:25; Gal. 6:1-10).
7) The Lord Jesus instituted two ordinances for His Church – baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, the ordinances confirm and nourish the believer (Mt. 28:19; Acts 2:38-41; Rom. 6:3-11; Col. 2:11-12; Lk. 22:14-20; Jn. 6:27-58; 1 Cor. 11:23-32).
8) Jesus Christ will come again to the earth – personally, visibly, and bodily – to judge the living and the dead and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. There will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. The unjust will receive eternal punishment, and the just will receive eternal life. (Eccl. 12:14; Mt. 25:31-46; Jn. 5:27-29; Acts 1:11, 17:31, 24:15; 1 Cor. 3:11-15, 15:51-52; 2 Cor. 5:10; Heb. 9:27-28; Tit. 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Isa. 65:17; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:5).
Statement of Faith
To show unity in Christ and to guard the church from error, we believe it is necessary to set forth the foundational doctrines of our church as guided by Scripture. As members of FCC, we are responsible for believing and living in accordance with these truths:
1) The Bible – the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments – is the inspired, infallible Word of God and the supreme and final authority for faith and practice. We accept the Bible as our manual for living (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3-4, 21; Ps. 119:105).
2) There is one God, who is the Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; Ps. 103:19; Eph. 1:11; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:3; 2 Cor. 13:14; Col. 2:9; Jn. 1:1, 14:8-11, 17:5).
3) Jesus Christ, the Living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one Person forever. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures, satisfying the wrath of God. On the third day He arose bodily from the dead. He ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of God the Father, He is now our High Priest and Mediator (Mt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:30-35; Jn. 1:1, 14; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Lk. 24:39, 51; Acts 2:32-33; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-16; Ps. 22:1; Mt. 27:46; Isa. 53:1-12; 1 Jn. 2:2).
4) The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts of sin and draws us to the Savior. Indwelling our hearts, He gives new life to us and empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption (Mt. 3:16-17, Eph. 1:13-14, 17-20; Jn. 6:44, 16:8, 13-14; 2 Cor. 1:22; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Eph. 4:30; Gal. 5:22-24, 6:8; Rom. 8:13-16; 1 Jn. 4:13).
5) People are created in the image of God, but because of sin, we are lost and powerless to save ourselves. Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace. God credits His righteousness to those who repent and put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation and thereby justifies them in His sight. Only such as are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:9-20, 23-24, 5:12, 6:23; Jn. 3:3-5, 6:44; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 4:5, 5:1; Gal. 2:16; Jn. 1:12; Rom. 8:17; Acts 3:19, 4:12, 11:18, 17:30, 20:21, 26:20; Lk. 5:32, 13:3,5).
6) The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the Body of Christ. The Church finds her visible, yet imperfect, expression in local congregations that proclaim the Gospel and gather for worship, prayer, teaching, fellowship, and to bear one another’s burdens (Mt. 16:18; Acts 2:1-4, 38-47, 9:31; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23; Heb. 10:25; Gal. 6:1-10).
7) The Lord Jesus instituted two ordinances for His Church – baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, the ordinances confirm and nourish the believer (Mt. 28:19; Acts 2:38-41; Rom. 6:3-11; Col. 2:11-12; Lk. 22:14-20; Jn. 6:27-58; 1 Cor. 11:23-32).
8) Jesus Christ will come again to the earth – personally, visibly, and bodily – to judge the living and the dead and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. There will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. The unjust will receive eternal punishment, and the just will receive eternal life. (Eccl. 12:14; Mt. 25:31-46; Jn. 5:27-29; Acts 1:11, 17:31, 24:15; 1 Cor. 3:11-15, 15:51-52; 2 Cor. 5:10; Heb. 9:27-28; Tit. 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; Isa. 65:17; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:5).