We believe in and/or that …
1. The entire collection of the sixty-six books of The Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, are without error in the original manuscripts. From Genesis to Revelation, over time and through different human writers, the words were verbally inspired by The Holy Spirit and are the very Word of God to mankind. We further believe that God has preserved His Word for us throughout history. The Bible is the complete revelation of God’s will for salvation and the ultimate and infallible authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. It is, therefore, to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises. II Peter 1:19-21; II Tim. 3:16-17; Psalm 12:6-7; Rom. 15:4; Matt. 5:18, 24:35; Psalm 19:7-11
2. One God eternally exists in three distinct Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in essence, while distinct in personality and function Ex. 20:1-3; John 16:12-15; Matt. 28:19
3. The direct creation of the physical universe by God, out of nothing, for His glory. His creative acts were apart from any process of evolution, and according to the literal Genesis account. We further believe that God, in His wisdom and by His power, created those things which are yet invisible to us here on earth – The angels, Heaven, and all that it contains. Gen.1:1-31; Ex. 20:11; Col.1:16-17; Eph. 1:10; Heb. 11:3
4. Man was created by God in His own image and was perfect. Man fell from his perfection by disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden and sin entered the world. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled, and renewed. Gen. 1:26-27, 2:7-3:24, Rom. 5:12-21
5. The deity of Christ. Rom. 1:3-4; John 1:1, 10:30
6. The virgin birth of Christ. Is. 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:14
7. The personality of the Holy Spirit. John 16:7-15; Romans 8:9-15
8. The substitutionary and blood atonement of Jesus Christ for the sin of mankind. Heb. 9:22-28; Eph. 1:7; I Peter 1:18-20; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21
9. The necessity of the new birth for eternal life in Heaven. John 1:12-13, 3:3-5, 16-18; I John 5:4-6
10. Salvation as a gift of God that comes to us by grace alone, and is received through faith alone in the risen Lord Jesus Christ, apart from our own works or merit. John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9
11. The eternal security of the genuine believer. John 6:37-47,10:27-30; Phil. 1:6; Rom. 8:28-39; Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30; 1 John 2:19; 2 Cor. 13:5
12. The maintenance of good works. Eph. 2:10; John 15:8,16; Titus 3:8,14; James 2:14-26
13. The Church – His called out ones; Christ’s Body, Christ’s Bride, consisting of all who have been made to become the Children of God by grace, through faith, by the work of The Holy Spirit. All born-again believers throughout the world and over the entire span of human history. Eph. 1:22-23; 2:8-10, 5:23-32; Jn. 1:12, Col.1:18; Heb. 11:4-12:1; 1 Cor. 12:13, 27; Jn. 3:29, Rev. 21:2, 21:9
14. The Local Church – His called out ones gathered in a specific place; that entity where, and through which, God has chosen to accomplish His work in this world. Acts 1:8, 2:41-47; Matt. 28:19-20
15. The pre-tribulational rapture of The Church. I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:51-58
16. The literal, premillennial Second Coming of The Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 1:11; II Thess. 1:7-10; I John 3:2-3; Rev. 19:11-16
17. The resurrection of the saved and the lost. Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Rev. 20:4-6, 12-13
18. The endless blessedness of true believers. John 3:16, 5:24, 14:1-6; Romans 8:18; Rev. 21:1-7
19. The endless punishment of unbelievers. John 8:24; II Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 14:10-11, 20:11-15, 21:7-8
20. The reality and personality of Satan. Gen. 3:1-5; Luke 4:1-13; Rev. 2:9-10; 12:7-9, 20:1-3, 7-10
21. The ordinances of the local church:
– Baptism by immersion Acts 8:38, John 3:23, Matt. 28:19,20
– The Lord’s Supper Luke 22:19,20; I Cor. 11:23-31
22. Allowing humility, grace, and love to guide us when situations arise involving differences, hurt feelings, or trespasses between us. Matt. 5:21-24; 6:12-15; 18:15-17; Eph. 4:1-3,32; Phil. 2:1-4; Col. 3:12-15; I Cor. 6:1-8; Gal. 6:1-5; I Corinthians 13
PLEASE NOTE: A. This, of course, is not meant to be a declaration of all that we do NOT believe. B. If our doctrinal position would ever change, in any way, from that which is declared on this page, we would notify both The FITGM Advisory Board and all of our supporters.