What we believe at Friendship

scripture

We believe the Bible in its entirety is the inspired Word of God written by men whom He inspired, revealing Himself to man. All Scripture is true and without error. It is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.

"All Scripture is God-Breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, to that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

God

We believe in one true God who exists in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each being fully God. God the Father created the heavens and the earth and everything in the earth and on the earth. Genesis 1-2  He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is "the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8  God the Son is the Christ, the eternal Son of God. Jesus Christ is God the Son, fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Matthew 1:18 He lived a spotless and perfect life on earth, taking upon Himself the demands and necessities of human nature, identifying Himself completely with mankind yet, he didn't sin Hebrews 4:14-15. He was crucified on a cross, providing a substitutionary sacrifice for all mankind, taking on the sins of the world in order that we might redeemed of our sins and live. John 19:18, Luke 23:33, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:21  The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, or God the Holy Spirit. He is the third member of the Trinity. He is often referred to as "the Advocate," John 14:26 "Spirit of Truth," John 15:26 or the "Helper" John 16:7. He helps believers understand God's Word. Hebrews 10:15-16, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13  The Holy Spirit helps believers pray, interceding for us when we don't even know what we ought to pray for. Romans 8:26-27 He inspired the writing of the Scriptures through humans 2 Peter 1:20-21, and helps believers understand the Scriptures John 16:13-15.

Humanity

We believe all of humanity was created in the image of God Genesis 1:26-30. Through the temptation of Adam and Eve by Satan in the Garden of Eden, they disobeyed God's command to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and thereby introduced sin against God into the world and separated mankind from God through their act of disobedience. Genesis 3:1-24, Romans 5:12 Humanity became alienated from God and enemies of God. Colossians 1:21 Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the purpose of God. Ephesians 2:8-9

Salvation

We as humans cannot atone for our sin, and the penalty for our sin is death Romans 6:23. God loves us so much and wants us to be saved that he offered His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. John 3:16-17 Jesus took on the sin and shame of all of mankind through his death on the cross as a sacrifice, his burial, and His resurrection, once and for all overcoming sin and the grave, so that we may have eternal life and become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24  God offers salvation freely to those who place their faith in Christ's death and resurrection. By his resurrection, he conquered sin and the grave.

The Church

The church is the Body of Christ, of which Jesus is the head. Ephesians 1:22-23 The members of the Body of Christ are joined to Christ in salvation, and possess a diversity of gifts suited to particular functions, where there should be no division in the body, but rather its parts should have equal concern for each other. 1 Corinthians 12:18-27 The purpose of the church is to glorify God and make him known to the world. Acts 2:42-47, Matthew 28:16-20

The Christian Life

We believe every Christian should daily live for Christ, being conformed to His image. 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 8:28-29 We believe every Christian should be obedient to God’s Word John 14:15, Acts 5:29, 1 John 5:3-4, and walk by the Spirit of God. Galatians 5:16

Baptism

Baptism is the immersion of a believer of Jesus Christ in water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, signifying faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior Jesus Christ, thus forgiving us of sin, and the believer's commitment to the death and burial of the old life and old self, being resurrected to walk in newness of life in Christ. Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38, Colossians 2:11-15