FGT Statement of Faith
1. In Essential Beliefs, We Have Unity
"There is one body and one Spirit.. one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all." Ephesians 4:4-6 [NKJ]
2. In Non-Essential Beliefs, We Have Liberty
"Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to dispute over doubtful things." "Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls.." "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.." "Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves." Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22 [NKJ]
3. In all our Beliefs, We show Charity
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2 [NKJ]
The Essentials We Believe
1. That God is One, revealed in Scripture as a Trinity of persons, existing eternally as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19 [NKJ]
2. That the Bible is the Word of God, a sure basis for our faith and of final authority in all matters of doctrine and practice. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16 [NKJ]
3. That Jesus Christ was God manifest in flesh, conceived of the Holy Spirit of God, born of the Virgin Mary, being perfect God and perfect Man. "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14 [NKJ]
‘Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel", which is translated, "God with us."
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.’ Matthew 1:18-25 [NKJ]
4. The personality and malignity of Satan. "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:9 [NKJ]
5. That man without exception is by nature and by practice a fallen creature and is consequently under condemnation and unable by any personal merits or works to fit himself for the presence of God. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Romans 3:23 [NKJ]
"So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God". Romans 8:8 [NKJ]
"..not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit". Titus 3:5 [NKJ]
6. That in love our Lord Jesus Christ suffered the penalty for sin at Calvary; that He rose from the dead, and now lives in Heaven as Savior and Lord. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth". John 1:14 [NKJ]
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him". 2 Corinthians 5:21 [NKJ]
"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins". Acts 5:30-31[NKJ]
7. That by personal faith in Christ alone one may receive forgiveness of sin and receive the gift of God which is eternal life. "
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast". Ephesians 2:8-9 [NKJ]
..in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:14 [NKJ]
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 [NKJ]
8. That all rejecting Christ as Savior are lost eternally.
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36 [NKJ]
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15 [NKJ]
9. That all believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God..."who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." 2 Corinthians 1:22 [NKJ]
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." Romans 8:9 [NKJ]
10. That all believers should be baptized by immersion.
"Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." Acts 2:41 [NKJ]
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. Acts 8:35-39 [NKJ]
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4 [NKJ]
11. That the Lord Jesus is coming again
(a) For His Church
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 [NKJ]
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21 [NKJ]
(b) With His Church to establish His Kingdom on earth
"To give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed." 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 [NKJ]
"Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS". Revelation 19:11-16 [NKJ]
12. That hereafter there will be a resurrection, judgment and eternal punishment of the unsaved dead. "For the redeemed a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13 [NKJ]
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:1-3 [NKJ]