Explore Christianity

Whether you're a new Christian or still exploring what Christianity even is, we want to come alongside you wherever you are. Below you'll find our beliefs as well as information regarding baptism. If you have any questions along the way, contact Pastor Adam Hamerlinck at ahamerlinck@firstdecatur.org or call/text 217.875.3350.

Our Beliefs

Here at First Christian Church, everything we do overflows from what we believe. Below you'll discover the mission and values God has led our church to embrace. These are rooted in the Bible's foundational truths.

MISSION STATEMENT

It is the mission of First Christian Church to develop devoted followers of Jesus Christ by growing and serving together.

OUR CORE VALUES

We respond to God's Word.

We build community.

We encounter the Holy Spirit.

We embrace change.

Statement of Faith

We believe the Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches.

[Download a printer-friendly version here.]

The Bible

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, complete as the revelation of God’s will for salvation, and supreme and final authority in faith and life. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God and that it was given through the pens of chosen men. Therefore, scripture both speaks with the authority of God and reflects the background, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 | 2 Peter 1:19-21

The Trinity

We believe in one God, creator and sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of Whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality.

Genesis 1:26 | Deuteronomy 6:4 | Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19

God the Father

We believe in God the Father, an infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, justice, power and love. We believe He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of humanity, hears and answers prayer, and saves from death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

John 16:23-27 | Galatians 4:4-6 | Ephesians 1:3, 17-23

Jesus Christ the Son

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son. He is true God and true human, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe that He lived a sinless life on earth and died a substitutionary death on the cross, that His sacrifice for the sins of all people satisfied God’s justice, and that all who believe in Him are freed from the penalty of sin and made acceptable before God on the grounds of His sin-payment. We believe in His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, His current ministry of prayer on behalf of His people, and His visible return from heaven.

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit. He is fully God, sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply the saving work of Christ to humanity. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need of a Savior, and brings rebirth and renewal to them. At the point of salvation He permanently indwells every believer, and subsequently uniquely endows each believer with gifts for building the church.

Humanity

We believe God created people, male and female, in the image of God and free from sin. We believe that all persons are sinners because of the fall and because of their own choices in life; and are therefore spiritually separated from God. We also believe that those who repent and trust Christ for salvation are born again spiritually by the Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7-9, 19 | Romans 3:23; 5:12-21; 6:23

Salvation

We believe the central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call all people into relationship with Himself. We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that salvation is based upon the sovereign grace of God, was paid for by Christ on the cross, is received by faith, and cannot be earned through good works or rituals. We also believe that salvation produces a desire to become more like Christ in character and purpose. We believe that sanctification initially occurs at salvation and is not only a declaration that the believer is holy, but also a lifelong process of separating from evil as the believer continues to draw closer to God and become more Christ-like.

1 Timothy 2:4-6 | John 1:12; 3:3-7; 5:24 | Titus 3:5 | Ephesians 2:8-10 | Romans 13:8-10

The Church

We believe that the Church is a spiritual body, with Jesus Christ as its head. We believe the Church is made up of all those who have trusted Christ as their Savior and Lord. We believe that Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of believers’ baptism and communion as the ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. We also believe in the interdependence of local churches and mutual submission of believers to each other and their spiritual leaders.

Faith & Practice

We believe that Scripture is the final authority in faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to Whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible. We believe that every Christian’s purpose in life is to glorify God, grow in Christ, and help believers and unbelievers to grow towards Christ. We also believe that Scripture teaches faithful management of our resources.

Last Things

We believe there will be a resurrection of the body for all people, and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be eternally separated from God and believers will be received into eternal communion with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life.

Baptism

We know you may have a lot of questions regarding baptism so check out our Baptism page here.