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First Christian Church Ministries is a non-denominational, Bible believing Church that recognizes the Bible as the inspired word of God.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, who came to Earth to die as a sacrifice for sins. We believe that Jesus offers hope, and that the bible teaches that he alone is the way to heaven. We believe that Faith in Christ, confession of sins, repentance of those sins , Baptism by immersion and the continuance to live a Christian Life are all an integral part of the salvation process as outlined for us in detail in the New Testament. We also encourage you to take an in depth look into the New Testament for more information on Salvation, or you can e-mail us with your questions at info@fccministries.com. We lovingly invite you to ask any questions you may have and also to visit with us at our Kernersville or High Point Campus. For more information e-mail INFO@fccministries.com Important Information about Baptism "Baptism and Becoming a Christian in the New Testament" - by Robert H. Stein, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Historic Glimpses of the Church:
The church came into existence on Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. The book of Acts contains the record of the Church’s beginning, teachings and the first fruits of her labor. For many years she remained true to Christ’s teachings. But by the mixing of Jewish teachings and paganistic ideas, and through political intrigue the Church was corrupted. Centuries of ignorance and superstition resulted; and the world was plunged into the Dark Ages. During the period more and more power was exerted by the church leaders in Rome. By many standards this leadership was thoroughly corrupt. Morality was at a low ebb; superstition and great suffering were forced on the world by the Roman Church.
In the early part of the sixteenth century, Martin Luther broke the shackles of Roman Catholicism and gave the open Bible to the world. Later John Calvin advocated the divine sovereignty of God. John Wesley labored for more spirituality in the churches. Around these ideas and men, denominations were born. The people were inquiring for God’s truth, but they were only trying to reform the corruption in the Roman Catholic Church. Others withdrew from the newly formed denominations to further divide the church. Modern denominations are the offspring of the Roman Catholic Church; they are attempts to reform.
We believe that the reform of evil is not enough; it is better to restore the good than to reform the evil. We are not reformers; we are restorers. We gratefully acknowledge the courageous contribution made by the reformation leaders such as Luther, Calvin, Wesley and so forth. They protested against the evil which existed in Catholicism at that time. They were called Protestants or Reformers.
We are merely Christians who seek to follow the teachings of Christ in His Word. We believe that it is not relationship to the system, but relationship to the Savior that is imperative! We seek to obey His Word and not the creeds, traditions or innovations of men regardless of how fine and well intended they may be.
Scriptural Studies
As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
John 17:18-21
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 1:10-13
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6
A Church That Belongs to No Denomination:
There were Christians for hundreds of years before the beginning of denominations. The Christians work and worship in the first century is described in the New Testament. The changes in work, worship and authority are recorded in the succeeding centuries of history. To what denomination did the 3,000 baptized on Pentecost belong (Acts 2)? None! The early Christians simply followed Christ. That is all we need to do today. It is possible to be a Christian without being a member of a denomination. Denominationalism divides professed Christians into groups and makes them a certain brand or type of Christian. It gives human names more prominence than the name of Christ. It introduces practices into the church to be frustrated.
The ecumenical movement attempts to produce union with the merges and federations of denominational agencies. Bible doctrine seems minimized and compromised. Christ’s authority is seized and vested in men.
The merger of denominational agencies will never produce Christian unity. It will only produce larger denominations. The evolution of such unity will result in an authoritarian super church. This we fear. Europe has struggled with the problem of super churches for centuries.
The Church is just as Christ intends when she conforms to the requirements revealed in the New Testament. We do not plead for anyone to join us. God forbid! We do plead for denominational Christians to eliminate the denominators that make one man a Presbyterian, another a Methodist, another a Baptist, another a Congregationalist and so forth. The Bible only will make only Christians. Wear no name but the divine name! The Lord established His Church. Men have made denominations. Let us resolve to cooperate to end our sectarian ways so we may be in full fellowship with God’s people and with the Lord. The Christian church is demonstrating that it is possible to train preachers, evangelize the world, do missionary work and expand the work of Christ without denominational status. Millions of Christians only are serving in the Lord’s Church throughout the world. The Church is the people of God! The Church is the fellowship of believers which needs no denominational means or controls.
What Kind of Church?
What kind of church is this? Russell Blowers, minister of East 49th Street Christian Church was asked this question so often that he formulated an answer from the depths of his conviction. He said: “This is a congregation of sinners ‘saved by grace’. We range the spectrum from ‘superior’ to ‘failing’ on our faith, spirituality, Bible understanding, personal witness and stewardship of life. We are a fellowship of the imperfect growing, we trust, from one level of maturity up to the next, and never content with any life of attainment. We are committed to the principles of the historic Restoration Movement which believes that the unity of Christians comes through common devotion and obedience to the Lord, Jesus Christ. The New Testament, the record of God’s self-revelation in His Son, is our only rule of discipline, doctrine and devotion. We lay no claim to being the only Christians, but we are happy to be Christians only. We try to remind each other frequently of the evils of sectarianism and pharisaim. This is Christ’s Church. It is not a Disciple Church, nor is it and Independent Church. We are not chained, fettered, bridled, governed or muzzled by any party or service agency. We rejoice in our Christian status as free men and women. We are free to love our enemies, our antagonists, lampooning liberals and cantankerous conservatives. This church is dismayed by the division which keeps brothers split and the world lost. And we repent for our part in that shameful strangulation and recrucifixion of the Lord Jesus. This is not a Republican church or a Democratic church. It is not a John Birch Society church or an American Civil Liberties Union church. It is not a white man’s church nor is it a colored man’s church. It turns away no seeker after God. We are not at war with the National Council of Churches, the World Council or the United Christian Missionary Society. We are too much involved on the urgent cause of Christ to allow the devil to lure us into the trap of being mere crusaders against men and movements. We are anti-communists, and anti-crime, and anti-anything we are persuaded is antithetical to the will of the Father. But we are first of all pro-Christ, pro-love, pro-humanity! All who accept Jesus Christ and obey Him will find here an open heart, and open Bible, and open Communion table, and open baptistery, pacifists, pietists, seekers, doubters, capitalists, debtors, laborers, professionals and other sinners.
By God’s grace, this is a free church – a “Christian Church”.
How can I be saved?
The Christian Church believes that the following fundamentals should be adressed when one plans to become a Christian.
Faith-Faith in the deity and sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.
Confession-Confessing sins to God for the cleansing of the heart by Christ's blood.
Repentance-Turning away from a sinful lifestyle and turning to Christ.
Baptism-Immersion, as commanded in the new testament by Christ for the remission of sin, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Living a Christian Life-As a Christian, the Bible says that we are a "new creature" and that "old things have passed away." We are not perfect, but we are forgiven and strive to follow the ways of Christ and his teachings. We believe that a Christian should live a Godly life, produce fruit and be a witness to those around him.
Our mission is to reach the lost, preach the gospel and spread the good news of God's Kingdom to all of the world. This is the Great Commision-To go forth into all of the world, preaching, teaching and baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
More information:
"Baptism and Becoming a Christian in the New Testament" - by Robert H. Stein, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
INFO@FCCMINISTRIES.COM |