Scripture

We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God.  In the 66 books of the New and Old Testament God reveals Himself to mankind and makes His will clearly known.  The Bible is the ultimate authority for the church and the believer.  It is to be obeyed and submitted to in all that it says.  We affirm the inspiration, inerrancy, infallibility and sufficiency of Scripture.  In the Bible we are given the wisdom that will lead to trusting Christ alone for salvation and living lives that honor God.

God

We believe in One God who is infinite in His being and perfections.  He is an intelligent, spiritual, eternal and personal Being.  He is the Creator and Sustainer and Ruler of all the universe.  He created all of the universe out of nothing by the power of His Word.  He is the Redeemer of all who trust and follow Christ.  He is all powerful and all knowing.  His knowledge extends to all things past, present and future.  This knowledge includes the future decisions of mankind.  He rules the universe in power and mercy.  Mankind owes God all affection and devotion.

We affirm the Biblical truth of the Trinity.  In the unity of the Godhead there are three distinct persons who are co-eternal and co-divine - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

God the Father

The Father sovereignly rules over all the universe.  He providentially guides all things according to His eternal purpose that brings Him glory.   He is the creator of all mankind but Father to those who have faith in Christ and follow Him in obedience.

God the Son

Christ is the eternal Son of God.  In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary.  He lived an impeccable life of sinlessness and died upon the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of God's people.  After His death He was buried and raised to life on the third day.  He is now at the right hand of God the Father reigning as King of His people.  He is the one sufficient Mediator between God and mankind.  He will return to this earth to be the King of kings and redeem and restore all creation.

God the Holy Spirit

The Spirit is the third member of the Trinity.  He is divine in His essence. He inspired men to write the Scriptures.  He enables mankind to understand the truth of the Scriptures by illumination.  He exalts and glorifies Christ in all His activity.  He convicts people of sin and righteousness and judgement.  He alone regenerates the human heart and imparts the life of Christ to God's people.  He indwells believers and will never leave them.  He empowers obedience to God and transforms believers in the image of Christ.  He imparts spiritual gifts to all believers for the strengthening of the church.

Mankind

Mankind is the special creation of God.  All people are made in the image of God and therefore have great worth and dignity.  Mankind is made male and female.  Gender is the creative and good design of God.  Mankind is the crown of all creation.  Yet all people have not lived according to God's commands and design therefore fall short of living to glorify God.  It is through the perfect life and satisfactory death of Christ that people are forgiven and restored to right relationship to God.

The Church

The church is the local assembly of God's people who are united by faith in Christ, baptized by immersion and covenanted together for growth and evangelism.  Jesus Christ is the head of the church.  Christ expresses His headship in the church through the Word of God and members of the church are called to be obedient to that Word. The scriptural offices of the church are pastors and deacons.  While the Spirit gifts all believers, men and women, for ministry in the local church the Biblical offices of pastor and deacon are limited to qualified men.

The Gospel

Fourway is first of all a church that is committed to keeping the gospel of Jesus Christ at the center and heart of our church.  The good news about Jesus is central to the whole Bible.  What is the Gospel?  It can be summarized under four headings: God, Man, Christ, Response

God

The Bible tells us that God has created each one of us and has given to us the way in which we should live for His honor and our joy.

Genesis 1:27- 28a 

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them”

Man

Yet people have not lived for God's honor and deserve God's just punishment for sin.

Romans 3:23

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

Romans 6:23

"For the wages of sin in death..."

Christ

But God in His grace and love sent Christ to pay the penalty for His people's sins.  Christ lived a perfectly obedient life and died upon the cross for His people.

1 Peter 3:18

"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring jus to God..."

Response

We receive the benefits and blessings of Christ's life and death as a free gift by turning from our sin and trusting Him completely for forgiveness and submitting our life to Him as Lord.

Mark 1:15

"...repent and believe in the gospel."

Ephesians  2:8-9

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Baptism

Baptism is an act of obedience on the part of a person who has trusted in Christ for salvation.  It does not make a person a Christian.  Rather it is a public and symbolic statement of what has happened in a person's life and the commitment he/she is making to follow Christ whole heartedly.  We practice baptism by immersion and only for those who have believed upon Christ for salvation.

The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper is a remembrance and celebration of what Christ has done on behalf of His people on the cross.  It is also a reminder to believers that Christ will return to this earth to renew and restore all things.  We believe the elements of the Supper, the cup and bread, are symbolic in nature and yet significant in meaning.  The Supper is to be taken by those who have trusted Christ for salvation and it is an act of worship that does not earn salvation for a person.