About Phoenix First Church

The Creator God revealed in Scripture eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We were created to worship and be in a loving relationship with the Triune God.

Jesus Christ is the Son of the Father, God's Word and Wisdom as a historical human person. All of God's promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ (God's Messiah). He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, being both fully human and fully divine. He was crucified, died, resurrected, and ascended to forgive our sins and reconcile us with God, overcoming Sin and Death so we can live holy lives.

The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit who is ever present and active in and with Christ's Church, transforming and sanctifying believers, and guiding people into the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus.

Holy Scripture is divinely inspired, the product of a divine-human parntership. We understand the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the primary source of authority for our faith and practice, and that it inerrantly reveals the will of God concerning us in all things necessary to our salvation.

We believe that Sin and Death entered the world through Adam and Eve's disobedience in Eden. We believe human nature is fallen by nature resulting from this disobedience, which causes everyone to be far from our original or ideal relationship with God. Although humans were created good, our natures are now inclined toward evil. We believe that God's grace through and love in Jesus Christ is freely given to everyone, allowing all who choose to turn from sin to be holy, trust in Jesus for forgiveness, and do good works that please God.

We believe holiness is God’s work that changes believers to be like Jesus. This happens through God's grace and the Holy Spirit in a process of spiritual growth and maturity called sanctification. Sanctification is about being fully devoted to God. It occurs through the Holy Spirit's infilling, which cleanses the heart and empowers believers. This gift comes from Jesus’ sacrifice and is received through grace and faith but also requires a conscious effort on our part. Believers grow in grace and love for God and others by participating in the Church's practices, like fellowship and sacraments.

We believe in the Church as the community that confesses Jesus Christ as Lord, united by the Holy Spirit. The Church lives in unity, worships through preaching and sacraments (Baptism and Communion), and supports one another in obedience to Christ. Baptism signifies acceptance of what Christ has done and incorporation into the Church. Communion proclaims Christ's life, death, and resurrection. It invites all who have faith in Christ to participate reverently. The Church's mission is to share in Christ's redemptive work, making disciples through evangelism, education, compassion, and justice. It exists as local congregations and a universal body, called to live under God's rule in anticipation of Christ's return.

We believe that Jesus will come again to set the world right as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus will return in glory to fully establish God's kingdom, which was initiated during his earthly life and ministry. God, who created the heavens and the earth, will renew them in a new creation where God will dwell with believers for eternity. On that day, God's purposes for the world will be complete, eliminating suffering, injustice, and death, and wiping away every tear.

We believe in Jesus' resurrection and in the resurrection of the dead at Jesus' return, where both the just and the unjust will be raised. Every person will stand before God. Glorious and everlasting life is assured for all who truly believe in and follow Jesus Christ, while those who freely reject faith in Christ will be separated from God's life-giving presence.