Statement of Faith

We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of people, and the Divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:21)

We believe in one God, who is Creator and Ruler of the universe, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal. (Genesis 1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Psalm 102:25-27; Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; Job 1:1-3; Revelation 1:8)

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and is fully God and fully man in one person. He was born of the Virgin Mary and lived a sinless human life. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, demonstrating His power over sin and death. He ascended into Heaven, where, at the right hand of the Father, He now is our High Priest, and Advocate. He will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. (John 1:1,14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Colossians 2:9; Luke 1:30-35; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; 1 Corinthians 15:4-8, 13-20; Acts 2:24; 1 John 2:1; Matthew 24:44; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:12-13)

We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit, that He is co-equal with the Father and the Son as God. He convicts and regenerates the believing sinner, and indwells, baptizes, seals, guides, gifts, instructs, and empowers the believer for godly living and service. (Acts 5:3-4; John 16:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13; Romans 8:14; 1 Corinthians 12)

We believe that humanity was created in the image of God, but by voluntary transgression fell into sin and is thereby separated from God. Humanity, unaided by the Holy Spirit, is unable to reconcile themselves to God. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3; Romans 5:12, 19-20; Romans 3:10; Ephesians 2:1-2, 8-10,12)

We believe that the death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification, and reconciliation to God. We can never make up for our sins by self-improvement or good works. Only by believing in (trusting) Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can people be saved from sin’s penalty and receive God’s free gift of eternal life. (Romans 4:25, 5:1, 8,10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18; John 3:16; John 1:12; 1 Peter 3:18)

We believe that the church is composed of all true believers in Jesus Christ and are united together in the body of Christ of which He is the Head. This body is manifest in local churches, which are centers of believers gathered for worship, edification, fellowship, evangelism and the observance of the ordinances of Believer's Baptism by immersion and The Lord's Supper. (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:18; Acts 2:41-47; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11)

We believe people were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. (John 11:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:20-24, 35-49; Matthew 25:41, 46; Revelation 20:11-15)

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection God’s infinite and superior wisdom.

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as described in Scripture. (Genesis 2:18-25)

We believe God designed marriage to reflect the beauty and permanence of Christ’s loving relationship with his bride, the church. (Ephesians 5:22-33; Revelation 19:7) We discourage couples from using divorce as a way to run away from issues that instead can be resolved through Spirit-guided counseling, repentance, forgiveness and ongoing discipleship. We recognize however, that there are times when God permits a believer to get a divorce without sinning against God or a spouse. We believe divorce is permissible when the other spouse has been sexually involved with a person outside the marriage (Matthew 5:31-32), or when an unbelieving spouse abandons a marriage. (1 Corinthians 7:12-16) Even though divorce is permissible in these situations, it is not required. God patiently bears with His children when they sin, repeatedly calls us to repentance and freely forgives us when we turn back to him (Psalm 103:8-12; Isaiah 55:7). We must seek to imitate God in this matter of divorce.

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage delineated.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matthew 15:18-20)

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Fellowship of the Way as the local body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Fellowship of the Way members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Fellowship of the Way in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by the statements on marriage, gender, and sexuality. (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22).

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all, and gives both to those who seek His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

We believe that every person must be given 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, because they are not in accord with Scripture.

This Statement of Faith does not include all our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of humanity, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Fellowship of the Way’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our elders are Fellowship of the Way’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.