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            A true follower of Christ must accept the entire Bible as the inspired Word of God, and that the teaching of Scripture is our guide for a life of faith and trust in the Atonement Blood of Jesus, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

            The FCG Church teaches that the individual is required by God to repent, confess, and forsake their sins—1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

            We believe and teach that God’s Truth from the Bible is the right and scriptural way to conduct our life.  It is what first-century believers heard.  When Elymas tried to turn the deputy away from the faith, the apostle Paul said Acts 13:10 “Thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”  After Elymas was struck with blindness 11-12 “The deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”

            The First Century Gospel Church has always emphasized in service messages, the vital need to depend on the divine power of God, and to trust on the merit Blood of Jesus Christ for answers to prayer and victory in all things.  That is what we teach as God’s Truth from the Bible—it’s how we live.

            We are to trust God in faith to control every person, situation, and issue we meet in the course of a day—without depending on any human power or carnal plan to control those persons, situations, or issues.  We desire to be faithful in teaching God’s Truth as the apostle did Acts 20:27 “I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

            Our life is to be committed to God without compromise and our will is to be His will.  Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

            Committing our life to God means trusting on God for physical healing—not trusting medication, drugs, pills, or prescriptions.  Jesus said many times Matthew 9:22 “Thy faith hath made thee whole.”  The apostle Peter told the people Acts 3:16, “Faith in [Jesus’] name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

            Our service messages teach the importance of trusting God for daily financial needs—both in our personal lives and for the expenses of the ministry.  The church and its members do not ask for donations, nor do they make their financial needs known to anyone or any agency.  We are not to give the slightest hint to anyone that we are in need of money.

            Philippians 4:6 “But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

            Our church teaches that we are to trust God in faith for protection from accidents, injury, theft, or loss—and not follow the world by using seat-belts, burglar alarms, hand guns, or other devices designed to protect a person from accidents or loss.  They are not used because they are false places of trust that take the place of faith in God.  Our trust is to be on God alone for protection from such incidents in the first place.  Psalm 41:2 “The LORD will protect him and preserve his life.”

            We teach our members not to purchase; not to take responsibility for, and not to sign any type of insurance policy.  We teach that renting our homes and vehicles—places the responsibility to protect that investment on the owner of the house or vehicle.  God alone is to be trusted in faith to protect us from financial loss, and to provide our needs every day.

            We believe in trusting God for the control of children and family members—without depending on worldly plans, threats, or human force to bring about change—trusting God in faith is His will from His Word.  We teach our members not to use physical punishment in training children, but to explain the right way, and to show them a correct example by the help of the Holy Spirit.  We are not to provoke them to anger, nor discourage them in any way, but to Ephesians 6:4 “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

            Our church teaches that we should be baptized by full triune immersion—as the first-century church did Acts 8:38.  Jesus taught that, and it follows through with His commission Matthew 28:19-20 to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”

            We teach the importance of commemorating the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis, as instructed by Jesus and the apostles.  Partaking of the Bread and the Cup reminds us that Jesus took our place on the cross—to forgive the sins in our life.

            Jesus Luke 22:19 “took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’  Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’”

            We believe that God will inspire our service messages, and He is to give people the desire to attend so they can learn about His Truth.  We do not depend on special services, guest speakers, holidays, or human plans to bring people to the meetings, but we depend on God through His Holy Spirit to inspire them to come.  Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

            We teach the importance of renting the building for holding services, and for members to rent their homes or land for farming.  The Bible teaches that a follower of Jesus should not own real estate on earth, nor any other treasure that could protect them financially.  Any valuable possession would be a false place of trust—replacing total trust on God.

            This trust principle is to not have any financial assets stored on earth.  Jesus was very specific—Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up stores of wealth for yourselves on earth, where the moth and wear-and-tear destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But amass wealth for yourselves in Heaven, where [they are secure].  For where your wealth is, there also will your heart be.”

            Financial security is a big concern for the world, but Jesus warned Luke 12:15 “Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”  Jesus told of a man who desired to be worldly-wise in handling his money.  His assets increased, so he built larger buildings in which to store this wealth.

            Luke 12:19-21 “I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

            The Scriptures are clear on finances.  As the first century church was beginning, the apostles had to make decisions about money and personal possessions.  Acts 4:34-35 “There were no needy persons among them.  For from time to time [as the Holy Spirit inspired them] those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.”

            This giving money to the poor is always done without anyone knowing what we are doing.  Matthew 6:3 “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”  When donating to charity, we are simply transferring our funds from the bank, to the Lord—for His safe-keeping.  This compels us to trust Him in faith.  It is an electronic transfer of eternal importance!  Luke 12:33 “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.  Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven will not be exhausted.”

            The First Century Gospel Church of Philadelphia has several hundred members—it is the only branch in this country.  Many correspond from a distance and receive Church literature on a regular basis.  There are church branches in Nigeria and Ghana in West Africa, and many other contacts—Migowi, Malawi—East Africa; Cabadbaran City, Philippines—Pakistan—to name a few.

            These overseas correspondents and church groups receive the same full-Truth messages that are given here in our Philadelphia church.  These groups and individuals are learning to trust God each day for their finances, healing, protection, guidance, and salvation by faith in the Atonement sacrifice of Christ, just as we believe and teach in our church services.

            We emphasize the importance of full obedience to the New Testament Scriptures—and the Old Testament where it supports the New.  Jesus said Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Master, Master,’ will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens, but only those who are obedient to [doing the will of] my Father who is in Heaven.”

            Jesus told us that true faith and trust on Him every day, for every life issue, was something only the Holy Spirit could inspire in our heart.  Luke 17:21 “The Kingdom of God is within you,” Jesus said and He explained that it took childlike faith in God Mark 10:14 “for of such is the kingdom of God.”

            The one requirement for eternal life is to place a believing and trusting faith on the Atonement Blood of Jesus Christ for everything.  John 3:18 “He who is believing in him is not judged, but he who is not believing hath been judged already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”  It’s how we live!