The Purpose of God During Our Age
As the CityChurch of Forest City, we believe that the Church is at the center of God’s eternal purposes and that God’s wisdom will be displayed to the entire universe through the Church to the praise of His glory and for the joy of the nations (Ephesians 3:1-13).
We believe that Christ’s central purpose is building His Church, and nothing can stand in His way, not even Satan and his forces (Matthew 16:13-20).
We believe that the Church is the pillar and support of the truth and that this truth has been delivered once and for all through the Apostles, and that deposit of truth ought to be preserved in all churches (1 Timothy 3:14-16; 2 Timothy 1:13-14, 3:10-11,15; 1 Thessalonians 3:15; 2 Peter 3:1-2; Jude 3,17).
We believe that Christ’s strategy for building His Church can be clearly identified in the book of Acts as a multiplication of churches—communities of Christians committed to maturing in Christ and to furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:8, 13:1-4, 14:19-23, 20:28-32; 1 Timothy 3:14-16; Titus 1:5-9).
The Gospel Proclaimed
As the CityChurch of Forest City, we believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel was proclaimed by the Apostles after Christ’s ascension into heaven, and can be summarized as follows:
1. This gospel was prophesied beforehand in the Scriptures, as part of God’s unfolding plan to bless the families of the earth through the seed of David, in the form of a New Covenant, in which there would be forgiveness of sin and a placing of God’s Spirit within man.
2. This gospel was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the seed of David, the King of Kings, born of the Holy Spirit, who came in the flesh, lived a sinless life, died, was buried and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
3. This Jesus will come again to judge the earth and set up the kingdom of God for all time, and after having abolished all rule and authority, He will reign forever and ever.
4. Those who hear this message, repent of their sins, and believe will receive forgiveness of sins and be given the Spirit of God as a pledge of their inheritance, as they eagerly await the Savior who will return for them (Galatians 1:1-5, 3:1-18; 1 Corinthians 15; Romans 1:1-7, 4:24-25; Ephesians 1:1-3:21; Colossians 1:9-10; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:1-5).
We believe that there is only one gospel of Jesus Christ and that each individual who repents of their sins and places his faith in the person and work of Christ alone for forgiveness of his sins is at that moment forgiven of his sins once and for all time and is permanently a child of God and part of Christ’s church (Ephesians 1:1-14,2:1-10; Colossians 1:9-14; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Romans 5 and 8).
We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ is made up of those who have accepted the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that those who have responded to the gospel of Jesus Christ need to be baptized, signifying their identification with Jesus and with His believing community, His church (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 10:44-48; Romans 6:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
We believe that once one has identified with Christ and His Church through baptism, special care should be exercised to see that the baptized believer becomes a vital, functioning member of a body of Christ, a local church (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 10:44-48; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31).
We believe that each believer should celebrate the Lord’s Supper regularly with the church as a way of remembering his identity with Christ, as one whose sins are forgiven and in a covenant relationship, and as a way of remembering his identity with Christ body—the church, as one who is to live in fellowship with the church (1 Corinthians 11:17-34).
The Teaching of Jesus Christ
As the CityChurch of Forest City, we believe that God revealed His plan for the churches in the epistles and that the Apostles expected the churches to follow their instructions. This teaching can be summarized as follows:
1. Each believer is instructed to lay aside his old life, renew His mind in the teaching, and conform his new life to the will of God (Ephesians 4:22-24; Romans 12:1-2).
2. A set of virtues, only possible through God’s grace, are to characterize each believer (Galatians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:12; 2 Peter 1:1-11).
3. Individual households must be ordered properly, consistent with God’s created design for man and for the Church (Ephesians 5:22-6:9; Colossians 3:18-4:1; 1 Peter 3:1-7).
4. God’s household, the church—the pillar and support of the truth—must be properly ordered according to sound doctrine received from the Apostles, especially Paul (1 Timothy 3:14-16; Titus 1:5-2:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 3:6; Ephesians 3:1-13; Colossians 1:24-29).
5. Each believer must be committed to do his part, both generally in one-another ministry and specifically in the use of his gifts, in the building up of the church (Romans 12:3-16; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
6. A pattern of relationships within the church must be observed—characterized by love, brotherhood, mutual acceptance, and respect—in which each is to diligently pursue unity in the bond of peace (Romans 12:9-15; 14:1-7; Philippians 1:27-2:4; Ephesians 4:1-6).
7. A pattern of relationships in the world must be observed—characterized by respect for government, employees, other authorities, and love and good deeds towards neighbors and those in need (Romans 13:1-7; Titus 2:14, 3:1, 14).
8. Individuals must lead responsible and sober lives—working hard, providing for their own, making the most of their time (because the days are evil), and keeping on the alert for Satan and his strategies in their lives (Ephesians 5:1-22, 6:10-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Peter 5:6-11).
We believe that all matters concerning the life and beliefs of the churches are to be settled by the Word of God; and though the churches are to be guarded and protected by elders and men gifted as pastors and teachers, all are subject to the authority of the biblical text.
