What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of FCOG La Porte based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22, Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19,
1 Peter 1:2, 11, Corinthians 13:14

Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is 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. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30;
Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4;
Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13

The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.
2 Corinthians 3: 17; John 16:7-13, 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8;
1 Corinthians 2: 12,3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25;
Ephesians 5:18

The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. The Bible is God’s way of speaking to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13;
Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

Human Beings
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character.  People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2

Salvation
We believe that Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God, was given by God as a sacrifice for the sins of all men. Christ died on the cross to mend the broken relationships which were caused by man’s sin of disobedience. This severed relationship between God and man may be restored into perfect harmony through belief in Jesus Christ by faith, and not on the basis of our works (Galatians 5:4, 5; Ephesians 2:8, 10). This belief and faith in Jesus Christ, recognizing Him as Lord and Savior, gives men and women the free gift of eternal life (John 1:29; 3:16; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 5:2; 1 Peter 1:19). After receiving salvation by faith through belief in Jesus Christ, the “born-again” (John 3) believer may live free from the judgment of God, by living a life according to the teaching of the scriptures and trusting the Holy Spirit for the power to live a holy
life according to God’s Word.

Good Works
We believe that after we have experienced regeneration, it is possible to fall into sin, for in this life there is no such height or strength of holiness from which it is impossible to fall. But, by the grace of God, one who has fallen into sin may, by confession and true repentance, find forgiveness and restored fellowship with God (Matthew 18:21; 1 John 1:9; John 15:6; 2 Peter 2:20-22). We believe that even though men and women cannot receive salvation by good works, their good works are still pleasing to God and show evidence of a true faith in God, and Jesus as Lord of the believer’s life.
Matthew 5:16; 7:16-20; Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16;
James 2:18, 22

Eternity
We believe all people will exist beyond this life in eternity. We will have eternal life with God in Heaven, or eternal death and punishment with Satan in Hell. To obtain eternal life with God in Heaven we must believe in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God’s son, who was sent by God to redeem us. Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father (heaven) but through me.” Those who don’t believe in Christ as their savior, and choose not to follow Him, will be separated from believers, like the sheep are from the Goats, and will be cast into Hell and into eternal punishment for their sins.
John 2:16; John 14: 17; Romans 6: 23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation
20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9

Baptism
We believe Christian baptism, according to the Bible, is an outward testimony of what has occurred inwardly in a believer’s life. Christian baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The Bible declares, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father; we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4).
In Christian baptism, the action of being immersed in the water pictures us being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures our resurrection with Christ, and our new life with Him.  The word Baptize in the Greek literally means “immerse, submerge, dip or bury.” Therefore, we believe that the Biblical form of baptism is full immersion. In Christian baptism, there should be two requirements before a person is baptized: 1) the person being baptized must have accepted and trust in Jesus Christ as their savior, and 2) the person must understand what baptism signifies. According to the Bible, Christian baptism is simply a step of obedience and a public proclamation of one’s faith in Christ alone for salvation.
Acts 8:36-37; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:3-6


Communion
We believe that Christian Communion is a remembrance of what Christ did for us, and a celebration of what we receive as a result of His sacrifice. “For I received from the Lord Jesus what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said ”This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this in
remembrance of me”. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes”.
(Corinthians 11:23-26) Christian believers participate in communion, remembering “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). Through Christ’s death on the cross we have participated in “the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Hebrews 13:20).  Never again need another die, for Christ has set us free. We are to remember this as we receive the fruit of the vine and the unleavened bread. Each time, we recall that “without the shedding of blood is no remission of sin” (Hebrews 9:22). Only through faith in Christ whose body was broken and whose blood was shed for our salvation are we delivered from sin. We gladly allow all believers to participate in communion with us, in which we partake of every week.

Marriage
We believe that marriage is ordained by God to be between one man and one woman. Marriage is to be entered into as a covenant promise, a sacred vow spoken to each other, before God, and to God. Marriage is a lifetime commitment, “What the Lord has put together let not man separate.”
Genesis 2:21-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Numbers 30: 2; James 5:12


Divorce
We believe that when discussing what the Bible says about
divorce, it is important to keep in mind the words of Malachi 2:16, “I hate divorce, says the Lord God.” According to the Bible, God’s plan is that marriage be a lifetime commitment. “So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matthew 19:6). God realizes, though, that since a marriage involves two sinful human beings, divorce is going to occur.
The Bible gives two clear grounds for divorce: 1) sexual immorality
(Matthew 5:32; 19:9) and 2) abandonment by an unbeliever
(Corinthians 7:15). Even in these two instances, though, divorce is not required or even encouraged. The most that can be said is that sexual immorality and abandonment are grounds (an allowance) for divorce. Confession, forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration are always the first steps. Divorce should only be viewed as a last resort.
Could there be any grounds for divorce beyond what the Bible says? Perhaps, but we do not presume upon the word of God. It is dangerous to go beyond what the Bible says (Corinthians 4:6). The most frequent additional grounds for divorce that people inquire about are: spousal abuse, child abuse, addictions, imprisonment, and
mismanagement of finances. None of these can be claimed to be
explicit biblical grounds for divorce. That does not mean, though, that none of them are grounds for a separation/ or divorce which God would not approve of.  For example, we cannot imagine that it would be God’s desire for a wife to remain with a husband who physically abuses her or her children. In such an instance, the wife should definitely separate herself and the children from the abusive husband. However, even in such a situation, a time of separation with the goal of repentance and restoration should be the ideal, not necessarily immediately beginning divorce proceedings.


Homosexuality & LGBTQIA+
We believe the Bible is clear and consistent when it tells us that all homosexual activity is a sin (Genesis 18:22-19:14; Leviticus 18:22;
Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). God does not create a person with homosexual desires. A person becomes a homosexual because of sin (Romans 1:24-27) and ultimately because of his or her own choice. We also believe that homosexuality is just as forgivable as all other sins. God’s love and desire to save extends to homosexuals (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). God promises the strength for victory over sin, to all those who will believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17). To give sanction to homosexual marriage would be to give approval to that lifestyle, which the Bible clearly and consistently condemns as sinful. We believe that Christians should stand firm against the idea of gay marriage/ same sex marriage.  Marriage is ordained by God to be between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:21-24; Matthew 19:4-6). As Christians, we are to seek to share the love of God and salvation through Christ with all people including homosexuals. We are to be loving and kind, while at the same time not condoning their sinful lifestyle.

Abortion
We believe that there are numerous teachings in scripture that make it abundantly clear what God’s view of abortion is. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that God knows us before He knits us in the womb. Psalm 139: 13-16 speaks of God’s active role in our creation and formation in
the womb. Exodus 21: 22-25 prescribes the same penalty for someone who causes the death of a baby in the womb as the penalty for someone who commits murder.  This clearly indicates
that God considers a baby in the womb just as much a human being
 as a full grown adult. For the Christian, abortion is not a matter of woman’s right to chose. It is a matter of the life or death of a human being made by God in His image (Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6).
What about the cases of rape, incest, or any other unwanted
pregnancy? As horrible as this may be, does that make the murder of an innocent baby the answer? Two wrongs cannot make a right. The baby should not be punished for the evil acts of its father. What about when the life of the mother is at risk? We believe that this is a most difficult question; however we need to remember that this situation is the reason behind less than one-tenth of one percent of the abortions in the world today. Let us also remember that God is
the God of miracles. He can preserve the life of a mother and a child despite all the medical odds being against it. Ultimately, though,
this question can only be decided between a husband, wife and God. Any couple facing this extreme difficult situation should pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) as to what He would have them to do.


If you have questions concerning our faith statement please contact one of our Pastors:
219.362.7433