Our Beliefs
GOD
We believe God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe, and that He exists in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe these three are co-equal and are one God.
Gen. 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Psa. 90:2; Mat. 28:19; 1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Cor. 13:14
Gen. 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Psa. 90:2; Mat. 28:19; 1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Cor. 13:14
JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Co-equal with the Father, Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. Christ rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death, then ascended to Heaven’s glory. We believe Jesus will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Mat. 1:22-23; Isa. 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Heb. 4:14-15; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Tim. 6:14-15; Tit. 2:13
Mat. 1:22-23; Isa. 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Heb. 4:14-15; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Tim. 6:14-15; Tit. 2:13
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. Present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ., the Holy Spirit indwells every Christian from the moment of salvation. We believe He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. We also believe He gives every believer a spiritual gift or gifts when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.
2 Cor. 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:12; 3:16; Eph. 1:13; Gal. 5:25; Eph. 5:18
2 Cor. 3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:12; 3:16; Eph. 1:13; Gal. 5:25; Eph. 5:18
SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible is God’s Word to us, that it was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, and as such is the sole authority for Christian beliefs and living. Because the Scriptures are inspired by God, we believe they are the truth without any mixture of error.
2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 1:13; Psa. 119:105, 160; 12:6; Prov. 30:5
2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 1:13; Psa. 119:105, 160; 12:6; Prov. 30:5
HUMANITY
We believe people are made in the spiritual image of God and are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all are marred by a predisposition to disobedience toward God called “sin”. Sin separates people from God and is the root cause of life’s problems.
Gen. 1:27; Psa. 8:3-6; Isa. 53:6; Rom. 3:23; Isa. 59:1-2
Gen. 1:27; Psa. 8:3-6; Isa. 53:6; Rom. 3:23; Isa. 59:1-2
SALVATION
We believe salvation is God’s free gift to humanity but individuals must accept it. People can never make up for their sin by self- improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can one be saved from sin’s penalty. When one turns from their self-ruled life to Jesus in faith they are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into their life by faith.
Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; John 14:6; 1:12; Tit. 3:5; Gal. 3:26; Rom. 5:1
Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; John 14:6; 1:12; Tit. 3:5; Gal. 3:26; Rom. 5:1
JUDGEMENT
We believe people were created to exist forever, that their souls will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be separated from God is to spend eternity in hell, but to be in union with Him is to spend eternity in heaven. We believe heaven and hell are actual places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; 14:17; Rom. 6:23; 8:17-18; Rev. 20:15; 1 Cor. 2:7-9
John 3:16; 14:17; Rom. 6:23; 8:17-18; Rev. 20:15; 1 Cor. 2:7-9
ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, we believe the true believer is forever secure in that salvation. One who has been genuinely saved cannot “lose” salvation, for it is maintained by the grace and power of God—not by the self-effort of the Christian. We believe only the grace and keeping power of God gives us this eternal security.
John 10:29; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Pet. 1:3-5
John 10:29; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Pet. 1:3-5
BAPTISIM
We believe baptism is an ordinance of Jesus Christ given to the Church to be followed by those who come to faith in Him. An outward sign of an inward change, baptism is a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We practice baptism by immersion under water – as was modeled by Jesus and the early Church.
Mark 1:9; Matt. 3:16; 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; 8:12-13, 38-39; 18:8; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 2:12; Romans 6:4
Mark 1:9; Matt. 3:16; 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; 8:12-13, 38-39; 18:8; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 2:12; Romans 6:4
LORD'S TABLE
We believe the only other ordinance of Christ is the Lord’s Supper, which when shared by believers witnesses to the saving power of the Gospel, to Christ’s presence in His church, and looks forward to His victorious return.
Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 2 Cor. 11:29
Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 2 Cor. 11:29
MARRIAGE, GENDER & SEXUALITY
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female[1]. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
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 (Gen. 2:18-25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Cor. 6:18, 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including but not limited to adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pedophilia 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 Faunce Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to Faunce Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Faunce Church in any capacity, its members, and all who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:14-16; 1 Thess. 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. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-11).
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Faunce Church.
[1] Any and every occurrence of “man” and “woman” refers to biological man and biological woman.
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 (Gen. 2:18-25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Cor. 6:18, 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including but not limited to adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pedophilia 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 Faunce Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to Faunce Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Faunce Church in any capacity, its members, and all who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:14-16; 1 Thess. 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. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-11).
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Faunce Church.
[1] Any and every occurrence of “man” and “woman” refers to biological man and biological woman.