What we believe and teach at Fillmore Christian Church
We know that choosing a church is a deeply personal decision, and we want to be upfront about who we are. Our mission is to make clearly known the grace of God offered through Jesus Christ and to guide believers to Christian maturity. Below is what we believe, drawn from our church's formal statement of faith. We'd rather you know exactly where we stand than discover a surprise later.
The Bible is God's authoritative, revealed word -- inspired, infallible, and inerrant in its original writings. It is composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, written by men guided by the Holy Spirit. We hold it as our sole rule for faith and practice.
What this means practically: We don't elevate any creed, tradition, or denominational statement above Scripture. If the Bible says it, that settles it for us. Our own constitution states that our documents "do not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible, itself, is the sole and final source of all that we believe."
We believe in one God -- the creator and ruler of the universe, perfect in love and righteous in all His ways -- who exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus, born of the virgin Mary, is God in flesh -- fully God and fully man. He lived a sinless life, offered Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for sin, physically rose from the grave on the third day, ascended to heaven where He intercedes for us, and will return at a future time. He is the only mediator between God and man.
Christ lives and works inside of the believer through the Holy Spirit, who provides power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance for doing what is right. When Christ ascended to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit so believers would not be on their own. Through the Spirit's work, the Christian is enabled to live a life characterized by the fruits of the Spirit.
We believe that every person was created in the image of God to have a relationship with Him, but that each person is born with a sin nature and falls short of God's standard. No one is able through human effort alone -- apart from the Holy Spirit -- to please God or save themselves from the consequences of sin.
Salvation is a gift of God's grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ. Only by accepting Jesus as God's sacrifice for the penalty of sin can a person inherit eternal salvation. We are not saved by works, deeds, or participation in religious activities -- only by God's grace.
What this means practically: We don't teach that you need to earn your way to God. We also believe that after salvation, the Christian life is one of ongoing growth -- learning to live out and demonstrate Christ's teachings in daily life, not merely understand them.
Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward transformation which begins when one receives Jesus Christ. Water is used as a symbol of the cleansing of sin. Our preferred mode is immersion, though in certain situations (as approved by the Elders) other modes may be considered.
What this means practically: If you've been baptized as a believer in Christ -- regardless of the method -- we recognize that baptism. We don't require re-baptism for membership. If you haven't been baptized yet, we'll walk through that with you.
We celebrate the Lord's Supper as a symbolic remembrance of what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross. All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord's Table.
What this means practically: We observe communion regularly as part of worship. You don't need to be a member of our church to participate -- if you are a believer in Christ, you are welcome.
We believe Jesus Christ will come again to judge all people. Those who have believed will enter into everlasting joy with the Lord; those who have not believed will enter into everlasting punishment.
We are not affiliated with any denomination. Jesus is the head of this church, and we seek to follow the New Testament pattern for worship, fellowship, and service. Our leadership structure includes a plurality of Elders (who share equal authority -- no single pastor is above the others), Deacons and Deaconesses, and Trustees, all accountable to the congregation.
What this means practically: We don't answer to a denominational headquarters. Decisions about this church are made by this church. We welcome believers from all backgrounds and aim to be united in Christ rather than divided by man-made traditions.
We believe God has given the Church a Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. As ambassadors of Christ, we seek to be a mission-minded New Testament church.
Still have questions about what we believe? We'd genuinely love to talk.
The best way to get a feel for who we are is to join us on a Sunday morning.
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