First United Methodist Church Tarpon Springs FL

Here is what we believe as essential beliefs as the church. There is nothing new or revolutionary about them. As you read through them, you’ll see that they are right in line with historical evangelical Christian theology. The word evangelical shows that the primary, authoritative source of our beliefs is the Holy Bible. With the Bible as our source, these essential or core beliefs are non-negotiable, unwavering commitments. As a church, we focus on the essential beliefs—those with clear, biblical support.

GOD

We believe in the triune God who exists in three separate persons; God the Father as Creator, God’s only Son, Jesus Christ as Redeemer and Savior of the world, and the Holy Spirit as the Counselor and Sustainer of life. All three are distinct, but inseparable, forming a perfect and eternal relationship of love. This relationship models love and community for us as followers of Jesus Christ. God showed power, wisdom, and creativity when God made everything that is seen and unseen. God shows sovereign might today by sustaining everything and continuing to fulfill the divine plan of redeeming all of creation through His love and grace.

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus is the eternal second member of the Trinity. He was both fully God and fully human and lived a perfect life, always loving perfectly. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary. Through His voluntary death on the cross Jesus paid in full the debt of our sin, and bridges the gap between God and people for everyone who believes in Him. After three days, He rose from the dead and now serves as the mediator between God and people, continually interceding for those who belong to Him. It is through faith in Jesus and choosing to follow Him that we receive salvation. The Bible promises He will return one day to fulfill God’s plan of complete restoration of God’s perfect design for all of creation including the general resurrection of the dead.

HUMAN DESTINY

God’s desire is to be in a permanent love relationship with every person. Because God gives us a free will, it is possible for us to reject having a relationship with God and be forever separated from God’s light and love, a reality the Bible names hell. We believe that when Jesus returns a general resurrection of the dead will occur where those who accept God’s offer of never-ending life will live with God on earth with creation restored to God’s original intention.

BAPTISM AND HOLY COMMUNION

In the sacrament of baptism, we are initiated in the universal body of Christ, forgiven of our sins, and given new birth through water and the Spirit. When we receive Holy Communion, bread, and juice symbolizing the body and blood of Jesus, it is a means of God’s grace, and represents our desire to live together in community. The sacrament of Holy Communion is open to any person who seeks to turn toward Jesus and experience His grace.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit, the third member of the Trinity, is in the world reminding us of our need for God, nudging us to a relationship with God through Jesus, and empowering us to live God’s way. The Holy Spirit is constantly present to us providing comfort, strength, and encouragement. The Holy Spirit also enables the understanding and application of the Bible and gives unique, individual

spiritual gifts to build up the church and facilitate ministry in the world. As we choose to yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading and shaping influence, the result is authentic fruit—character and behavior aligned with God’s design.

SALVATION

The Good News of the Bible is God’s unmistakable pursuit of all people, urging them to enter into a new-life relationship made possible through Jesus Christ. Originally created to live in perfect harmony with God, we chose to go our own way and became separated from God. All of us have suffered the same fate of turning from God, experiencing separation, and being unable to restore that relationship by ourselves. Therefore, salvation is an act wholly initiated by God that is not added to or improved by any act of human goodness or kindness. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in God’s Son, Jesus.

THE CHURCH

Once we begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, we become members of Christ’s body—the Church. The Church universal is comprised of all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Bible paints vivid pictures of what believers are to do when we gather: worship, pray, encourage, teach the Bible, serve and love each other through our creative giftedness, share communion and baptism (the two sacraments of the church), and reach out to the world. When this happens the church functions as a healthy organism. The Church is called to be not a fortress, where people hide away from the world, but a powerful, Spirit-driven force God can use to change the world. As such, all are welcome.

 

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