OUR MISSION STATEMENT
AT
ETERNAL FRIENDS IN CHRIST
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20 ESV
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
AT
ETERNAL FRIENDS IN CHRIST
(Rev. A November 16,2016)
We believe in the Trinity-Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in God the Father, maker of Heaven and earth and all life. God is all-powerful, all-knowing and always in control.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's sinless son, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. Jesus was fully human and fully Divine, coming to the earth to take on the sins of the world and to be our perfect sacrifice. On the third day after His crucifixion, He arose and sits at the right hand of God the Father to judge the quick and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who was sent to be our guide, helper and comforter.
Gen. 1: 1, 26; Isaiah 11:2, 42:1, 48:16; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34; Matt. 1:18, 28:19; Mark 1:1-11; Gal. 4:6; 2Tim 1:14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1John 4:13-16
We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. We follow the Bible's instructions for baptism and observance of communion as a means to remember our Lord's sacrifice for our sins. We believe Christ is the head of the church and all ministers of Christ are servant-leaders.
Ex. 24:4; Joshua 8:34; Isaiah 34:16, 40:8; Ps. 119;11, 89, 140; Matt. 3:13-17, 5:17-18, 26:26-30, 28:19-20; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22, 21:33; John 16:13-15; Rms. 6 :35; 1Cor 10:16-17, 11:23-25
We believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one goes to the Father but through Jesus. Jesus is the only way to eternal life, not just one of many ways to gain eternity.
Isaiah 53:1-2; Matt. 1:21, 3:17, 11:27; John 1:11-14, 29, 3:13-18, 10:30-38, 12:44-50, 14:6, 17:1-5; Acts 4:12; Rev 12:10-11
We believe that we have been saved by Grace - not by works, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Once saved, we still have freedom of choice and will be held accountable for our decisions and actions.
Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-8; 1Sam 8:4-7, 19-22; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jer. 31:31ff; Matt. 16:18-19, 21:28-45, 24:22,31, 25:34; Luke 1:68-79, 2:29-32, 19:41-44, 24:44-48; John 1:12-14, 3:16, 5:24, 6:44-45, 65, 10:27-29, 15:16, 17:6, 12, 17-18; Acts 20:32; Rom. 3:23, 5:9-10, 8:28-39, 10:12-15, 11:5-7, 26-36; 1Cor. 1:1-2, 15:24-28; Eph. 1:4-23, 2:1-10, 3:1-11; CoI. 1:12-14; 2Thes 2:13-14; 2Tim. 1:12, 2:10, 19; Heb. 6:4, 11:39- 12:2; James 1:12; 1Peter 1:2-5, 13, 2:4-10; 1John 1:7-9, 2:19, 3:2
We believe in eternity - singing praises and worshipping God in Heaven or being condemned to Hell.
Ps. 93:2, 98:1; Matt. 21:28-45, 25:34; Luke 13:18-21, 15:11-31; John 3:15-18, 5:24, 6:40, 12:25, 17:2-3; Heb. 6:4; Phil. 3:17-21; Rev. 14:6; Rev. 21
We believe we have been commissioned to go out to make disciples for Christ. We are to show others how to love God with all their hearts, minds, soul and strength and we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Ex. 19:5-6; Matt. 9:37-38, 16:24-28, 22:37-39, 28:19; Mark, 8:34-37; Luke 9:1-2, 10:1-18; Acts 1:8; Rev. 22:17
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male and female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one's biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
Gen. 1:26-27, 5:1-2; Acts 17:26-31; Rms. 1:19-32
We believe that the term "marriage" has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other.
Matt. 19:4-6; Gen.2:18-25; 1 Cor. 6:18, 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest and use of pornography) is
sinful and offensive to God.
Matt. 15:18-20; 1 Cor. 6:9-10
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Eternal Friends in Christ as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Eternal Friends in Christ members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Eternal
Friends in Christ in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender and Sexuality.
Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2;14-46; 1 Thes. 5:22
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:19-21; Rom. 5:8, 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-1
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the Bible based teachings of Eternal Friends in Christ.
Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged,
the physically or mentally challenged and every other stage or condition from conception though natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect and value all human life.
Ps. 139
This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Eternal Friends in Christ's faith, doctrine, practice, policy and discipline, our Board of Directors is Eternal Friends in Christ's final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application.
