BELIEFS
The Bible
We believe the Bible is the inspired and only infallible and authoritative written Word of God. (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16,17)
God's Limitless and Impartial Love for Each Person
As the Father has loved the Son of God, the Son of God loves each believer. (John 15:9)
As the Father has loved the Son of God, the Father also loves each believer. (John 17:23)
As the Father and Son love every believer, God also loves each unbeliever because God is not a respecter of persons. God loves no human being less than any other but He will only save for eternity those who willfully choose to believe in Him and love Him with their faith and actions. (Romans 5:8; John 3:16; Acts 10:34; John 17:23; John 15:9)
Personally Experiencing the Infinite Love of God
We believe that God demonstrated His infinite love for each of us through the sacrificial crucifixion of His Eternal Word Who came from Heaven above. He humbled Himself and took the lowest position (the Word became flesh) by becoming a curse on a cross of execution to receive upon Himself and also to destroy all of the sins of humanity and the works of the devil. The cross of death and Christ's resurrection to the right hand of the Father was God's way of providing that same measure of righteousness to His creatures "made in His image." His taking of the "rap" for all of our sins proves His longing to have fellowship on an equal level with Himself. Those who believe in and live for Him can experience this infinite love God has for each of us. He has sought men and deeply longed to redeem all of humanity back to Himself since the "fall" of Adam and Eve. (Romans 5:8; John 1:1; Ephesians 3:18, John 17:23; John 15:9, John 3:16)
The Fall of Man
We believe that because of Adam's sin, all mankind is in rebellion against God and is in need of redemption from a rebellious nature. (Romans 3:23)
The Spirit Filled Life
We believe that the Holy Spirit is needed to fill, comfort and empower every believer to both overcome evil and be an effective witness about the reality of Jesus Christ and humanity's need for Him as Savior and Eternal King. Each believer needs to "keep on being filled" with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:30-32)
The Eternal, Triune God
We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19; 1 Corinthians 12:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
The Fruit of the Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit has gifts to give each believer; and that each true believer will show spiritual fruit as evidence of a Spirit-filled life. (1 Corinthians 12:1 11; Galatians 5:22)
Supernatural Healing
We believe the redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides access to the supernatural healing of the human body and spirit. (James 5:14-16)
The Plan of Salvation and the Deity of Christ
We believe the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who shed His blood upon the cross and died in place of each of us as a sacrifice to the Heavenly Father for each of our personal sins. For each of us who believe in Jesus Christ and turn away from a life of sin and self-centered living; the blood and death of Jesus Christ acquits us from a judgement sentence of eternal separation from God. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His bodily resurrection, and in His ascension to the right hand of the Father. (John 3:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:43; Romans 3:23-25; Romans 5:8; John 14:6; Hebrews 9:22)
The Second Coming of Christ and the Final Judgement
We believe in the Second Coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17) and that all will stand one day before the Judgement Seat of God. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Salvation through Grace
We believe that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are saved by the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, not by our own works or accomplishments. (Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:8)
Heaven and Hell
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the one to eternal life with God and the other to hell and eternal separation from God. (John 14:1-3; Revelation 7:15-17; Revelation 20:10)
Baptism and the Lords Supper
We believe that baptism by immersion is important and is an outward sign of an inward work (Matt. 28:19). We believe in the commemoration of the Lord's Supper by the symbolic use of bread and juice. (1 Corinthians 11:24, 25)
Unity
We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. First-Love Ministries is only one of many networks and ministries of believers seeking to preserve the unity of the saints in a geographic area (the United States) who are part of the worldwide Body of Christ, also called, the Bride of Christ. (Ephesians 4:3; John 17:11)
