WHAT WE BELIEVE

We believe that the Bible is a thorough guide of practical, livable principles for daily living.  Thus the following nine statements of our faith serve, not as a creed, but as a core snapshot of our significant beliefs as the Bible is the exhaustive and final rule of our faith in the Kingdom of God.  We present this as a guide and window into the Houston First Church of God. 

1.  THE BIBLE:

We believe that all the words of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God as the supreme source of knowledge on Christian living.

Ps 119:89, Isa 40:8, 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21, Rom 15:4

 
2.  GOD:

We believe in one God, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, existing co-equally and co-eternally as a trinity; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  

Ex 3:14-15, Mt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Jn 5:6-8

 
3.  JESUS CHRIST:

We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, creator of all things, his virgin birth, sinless life, and his death, burial, and literal bodily resurrection for our sins.  We also believe in his atoning blood, his bodily ascension to heaven, his present high priestly ministry, and his literal bodily return.  

Jn 1:1-3, 14; Acts 1:11; 1 Tim 3:16; Heb 7:24-25; Rev 19:16

 
4.  HOLY SPIRIT:

We believe in the person and deity of the Holy Spirit; his ministry of righteousness, judgement and reproving the world of sin; of conviction, regeneration, sealing, and indwelling of the believer.  We also believe the Holy Spirit serves as the believer’s daily alongsider, guide, healer and comforter.

John 3:6-7, 14:26, 16:7-8, 13; Rom 8:16; Eph 4:30, 5:18

 
5. THE NEED OF ALL PEOPLE:

We believe that people were originally created in the image of God, but by an act of sin became a sinner; consequently, all people are born sinners and are without hope outside the saving grace of God.  

Ps 51:5; Rom 3:23-24; Eph 2:1-3

 
6.  SALVATION:

We believe that salvation, or being made right with God, is only by the grace and mercy of God through faith in Jesus Christ as personal Savior.  We believe that salvation is made possible by the death and the atoning shed blood of Jesus Christ; and that after regeneration and Holy Spirit conviction, any and all who repent of their sins and believe on the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved.  

Acts 16:30-31, 20:21; Rom 5:8-11, 10:13; Eph 2:8-10

 
7.  THE CHURCH:

We believe that the church, as the body and bride of Christ, is composed of all born-again believers by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  The church is a local assembly of born-again believers ordained by God to obey the great commission and to observe the ordinances of water baptism, the Lord’s Supper and foot washing.  

Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15; Acts 2:41; 1 Cor 11:2, 23-26, 12:13; Eph 3:6, 5:23-32; John 13:1-20

 
8.  THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:

We believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ—that Jesus will come after a time of great persecution, at the last trump to earth in glory and the dead will rise and those who are alive in Christ will be translated into the presence of God for eternity.  

Mt 24:30-31; 1 Cor 15:51-52; Rev 11:15; 1 Thess 4:16-17; 2 Tim 4:1

 
9.  HEAVEN AND HELL:

We believe that both heaven and hell are literal places where all will go at the time of the Great Judgement.  Heaven is the place of God’s immediate presence and throne, and also the eternal home of the saints and angels of God.  Hell is a place of eternal torment, darkness and fire, and the eternal abode of Satan, his angels, and the unsaved of all ages.  

Mt 25:31-34,41,46; Lk 16:22-23; Jn 14:2-3; Rev 20:15