The Bible – is the perfect Word of God. It is holy and inspired by God.
It is God’s only written source and final authority in knowing God and His will. 2 Timothy 3:15-16
The Church – the way God has chosen to accomplish His purposes is through His Church, the Body of Christ, best seen working together in local congregations in every community but also working as One Body everywhere using every means available. Ephesians 2:2; 5:25, Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-20
The Trinity – there is one God, eternally revealed in three persons – The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
Jesus Christ – is the Son of God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and then took all our sins upon Himself on the cross. His death on the cross paid the penalty God has set for our sins. He rose from the grave, ascended back into heaven and is at the right hand of the Father in heaven working as our mediator and advocate. He is returning to earth to judge all mankind, the living and the dead, and will set up His promised eternal Kingdom.John 1:14, Matthew 1:20-21, Hebrews 4:14-16
Holy Spirit – every Christian is born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Every Christian possesses the Holy Spirit as God’s redeeming presence and regenerating power in their life. Every Christian should seek everyday to be filled and led by the Holy Spirit. John 3:3-8; 14:26, Acts 2:38; 15:8, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Ephesians 5:25
Sin – every person everywhere is separated from God and will face the judgment of a holy and just God. Persons everywhere needs to enter into a redemptive relationship with Jesus Christ, which is humanity’s only satisfactory atonement. Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Hebrews 9:27
Salvation – to go to Heaven a person must accept Jesus Christ and receive God’s love and forgiveness, demonstrated and offered to every person, by God, only through His son Jesus Christ who shed His blood for our sin on the cross of Calvary. Romans 6:23, John 14:6, 1 Peter 1:18-21, Ephesians 1:7
Heaven – is a real place and is the eternal destiny for those people
who have been made right with God through Jesus Christ. John 14:1-3, 2 Timothy 4:18
Hell – is a real place created for the Devil and his demons.
All people who die without Christ will also be condemned to hell for eternity. Matthew 10:28, 2 Peter 2:4
Discipleship – every Christian is to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ which is God’s design and desire for their destiny. Romans 8:28-29, 1 Corinthians 7:1
Missions – every Christian must dedicate themselves to serve Jesus Christ.
We must submit to His authority over our lives and to His purpose in our lives. Matthew 6:24; 16:24, James 4:7
Ministry – every Christian should pursue a holy Christian life and have compassion and concern for the well being of every person, putting others before themselves. Matthew 22:37-39, Philippians 2:2-5
Human Life – all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalm 139.)
Marriage – 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 of the image of God within that person. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Genesis 2:18-25.) 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.)
Statement of Final Authority on Matters of Faith and Conduct
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of 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 mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of First Priority’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Directors is First Priority of America, Inc. final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of First Priority and to provide a Biblical role model to the First Priority members and the community, it is imperative that all persons representing First Priority in any capacity, agree to and abide by this Statement of Faith.
