Formed Through Fire Ministry Doctrine Statement

The following Statement of Faith reflects the core biblical doctrines that guide Formed Through Fire Ministry. These beliefs shape our teaching, discipleship, leadership, ministry practices, and commitment to spiritual formation in Christ. We affirm the authority of Scripture, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the call for believers to walk in truth, holiness, love, and obedience. While not every secondary doctrine is addressed in full detail, this statement establishes the foundational convictions that govern our ministry and keep us rooted in biblical truth.

The Bible

We believe the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. Scripture alone serves as the final authority for doctrine, faith, correction, instruction, and Christian practice. It reveals the nature and will of God, testifies to Jesus Christ, exposes sin, forms disciples, and equips believers to walk in truth, holiness, and obedience. (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25–26; Hebrews 4:12)

The Holy Trinity

We believe there is one true, living, eternal God, Creator of all things visible and invisible. He is self-existent, sovereign, holy, and perfect in all His ways. God has eternally existed in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are one God, equal in deity, united in nature, distinct in personhood, and perfectly harmonious in will, work, and glory. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 1:16–17)

God the Father

We believe God the Father is the eternal, sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things. He is holy, righteous, merciful, faithful, and perfect in wisdom, love, and authority. Through His will and purpose, all things were created, and through His grace He draws people to Himself through Jesus Christ. He lovingly fathers His children, disciplines them for their good, provides for their needs, and works all things according to His will and glory. (Genesis 1:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:3–6; John 6:44; Matthew 6:9–13; Hebrews 12:5–11; James 1:17)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, proclaimed the kingdom of God, died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, and shed His blood for the redemption of mankind. He was buried, rose bodily from the dead on the third day, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory. (John 1:1, 14; Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; 1 Timothy 3:16; Philippians 2:5–11; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Acts 1:9–11)

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God, coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son. He convicts the world of sin, regenerates the believer, indwells every follower of Christ, bears witness to the truth, empowers believers for holy living, distributes spiritual gifts, and equips the Church for witness, service, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission. The work of the Holy Spirit will always agree with and uphold the truth of Scripture. (John 14:16–17; John 16:7–14; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9–11; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; Galatians 5:16–25)

Humanity, Sin, and Redemption

We believe humanity was created by God in His image and for relationship with Him. Through sin and disobedience, mankind fell, bringing separation from God, spiritual death, and the corruption of creation. Apart from Christ, every person is in need of redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God. Our only hope of salvation is found in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to redeem sinners and restore what sin had broken. (Genesis 1:26–31; Genesis 3:1–7; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12–21; Ephesians 2:1–5; Colossians 1:13–14)

Regeneration and Salvation

We believe salvation is the gift of God, received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Because humanity is spiritually dead in sin, no person can save themselves by good works, religious effort, or human merit. The Holy Spirit awakens, convicts, and regenerates the heart, bringing the believer from spiritual death to new life in Christ. Salvation is made possible through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, whose shed blood is fully sufficient to atone for sin, cleanse the sinner, and reconcile us to God. Salvation is received through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (John 3:3–8; John 6:44; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 10:9–10; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Hebrews 9:22; 1 John 1:7; Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:9)

Sanctification

We believe sanctification is the lifelong work of God’s will, carried out by the power of the Holy Spirit, by which believers are set apart, formed into the likeness of Christ, and empowered to live holy lives. Through the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit, the believer learns to crucify the flesh, renew the mind, walk in obedience, bear spiritual fruit, and grow in maturity. This process continues throughout the believer’s life and will not be fully completed until Christ returns or we are glorified in His presence. Sanctification is not earned by human striving, but is the evidence of a life yielded to Christ and continually transformed by His grace. (1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:29; Romans 12:1–2; Galatians 5:16–25; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 3:2; Hebrews 2:11)

Spiritual Warfare
We believe spiritual warfare is a biblical reality in the life of the believer and the Church. Scripture teaches that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness that oppose God through oppression, deceit, accusation, and temptation, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy. We believe Jesus Christ has triumphed over every power of darkness through His death and resurrection, and believers are called to stand firm in His victory. Our authority in spiritual warfare is found only in submission to Jesus Christ, dependence on the Holy Spirit, the truth of God’s Word, and the finished work of the cross. We resist the enemy through Scripture, prayer, faith, discernment, righteousness, obedience, and the power of God. (John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5; Ephesians 6:10–18; Colossians 2:13–15; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8–9; Revelation 12:10–11)

Christ Within Us
We believe Jesus Christ lives within every true believer by faith through the Holy Spirit. Those who belong to Christ are united with Him in His death and resurrection, made new by His grace, and adopted as children of God. As believers abide in Christ, His life works in them and through them, producing spiritual fruit, strengthening obedience, and forming them for the glory of God. (John 1:12; John 14:17, 23; John 15:4–5; Romans 6:4–11; Romans 8:9–11; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:16–17; Colossians 1:27)

Resurrection
We believe Jesus Christ was physically raised from the dead in a glorified body on the third day after His crucifixion. His resurrection confirms His victory over sin, death, and the grave and is the foundation of the believer’s hope. We believe the same resurrection power lives within believers now through the Holy Spirit, giving life, strength, and hope as we walk in Christ. We believe all people will be resurrected: those who are in Christ to eternal life, and those who reject Christ to judgment. Believers will be raised and glorified with Christ, receiving imperishable bodies and dwelling with Him forever. (Luke 24:36–39; John 2:19–21; John 20:26–28; Acts 24:15; Romans 6:4–5; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, 42–44; Philippians 3:20–21)

Jesus’ Return
We believe Jesus Christ will physically, visibly, and gloriously return to the earth in power and authority. His return will fulfill the promises of Scripture, complete the hope of His people, judge evil, and establish the fullness of His Kingdom. The exact day and hour of His return have not been revealed, so believers are called to live watchfully, faithfully, and ready, continuing in obedience, holiness, and gospel witness until He comes. (Matthew 24:30, 36; Matthew 26:63–64; Acts 1:9–11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15–17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 22:12)

Baptism of the Holy Spirit
We believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the promised gift of the Father, given through Jesus Christ to empower believers for witness, ministry, boldness, and Spirit-led service. Through this work of the Holy Spirit, the Church is strengthened to proclaim the gospel, walk in spiritual authority, and carry out the Great Commission in the power of God rather than human strength. (Joel 2:28–29; Matthew 3:11; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5, 8; Acts 2:1–4, 17, 38–39; Acts 10:44–47; Acts 19:1–6)

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers according to His will for the building up of the Church, the strengthening of the body of Christ, the demonstration of God’s power, and the advancement of the gospel. Believers are called to earnestly desire spiritual gifts and to use them in love, humility, order, and submission to Scripture. The gifts of the Spirit must always glorify Christ, serve the Church, and remain consistent with the character and truth of God’s Word. (Romans 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12:1–31; 1 Corinthians 14:1–40; Ephesians 4:11–16; 1 Peter 4:10–11; Hebrews 2:4)

The Fruit of the Spirit
We believe the fruit of the Spirit is the evidence of a life yielded to God and being transformed by the Holy Spirit. As believers abide in Christ and walk by the Spirit, He forms the character of Christ within them, producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The fruit of the Spirit is not produced by human striving, but by ongoing dependence on God, obedience to His Word, and submission to the work of the Holy Spirit. (John 15:4–5; Galatians 5:16–25; Romans 8:5–14; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 1:10)

Healing of the Sick
We believe healing is revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and continues as part of God’s compassion, power, and work among His people. Scripture calls believers to pray for the sick, anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord, trust God’s power, and seek His will with faith, humility, and submission. We believe God is able to heal supernaturally, through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, through medical care, through endurance and sustaining grace, or through the believer’s final healing in His presence. Healing may not always look the way we expect, but it is always held in the wisdom, will, and goodness of God. (Psalm 103:2–3; Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:16–17; Mark 16:17–18; James 5:14–16; 1 Corinthians 12:9, 28; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 1:21–23; Romans 11:29)

Heaven and Hell
We believe heaven is the eternal dwelling place of God and the promised inheritance of all who belong to Jesus Christ. Those who are saved by grace through faith will dwell forever with the Lord in His presence, joy, and glory. We believe hell is the place of final judgment and eternal separation from God for Satan, fallen angels, and all who reject Jesus Christ and refuse His atoning sacrifice. Scripture teaches that every person will stand before God, and eternal life is found only through Jesus Christ. (Matthew 25:34, 41; John 3:16–18; John 14:2–3; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 9:27; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 20:11–15; Revelation 21:1–8)

The Church
We believe the Church is the Body of Christ, made up of all true believers who have been born again by the Spirit of God. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, and every believer is called to function as part of His body in unity, love, service, discipleship, and obedience. We believe every believer is called to ministry through faithful service, witness, prayer, discipleship, and the use of their God-given gifts, while Christ also gives specific equipping gifts to the Church — apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers — for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of ministry and building up the Body of Christ. The Church exists to worship God, proclaim the gospel, make disciples, equip believers, demonstrate the love of Christ, and carry out the Great Commission until He returns. (Matthew 28:18–20; John 17:20–23; Romans 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20; Ephesians 1:22–23; Ephesians 2:19–22; Ephesians 4:11–16; 1 Peter 4:10–11; Hebrews 12:23)

Women in Ministry and Discipleship
We believe women are created in the image of God, redeemed through Jesus Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, and called to faithfully serve, disciple, exhort, teach, pray, lead, and minister according to the gifts and calling God has given them. Scripture shows women participating in the work of God’s Kingdom through worship, prayer, discipleship, teaching, prophecy, service, evangelism, leadership, and faithful witness. Formed Through Fire Ministry exists to disciple, equip, and encourage women to grow in biblical truth, spiritual maturity, Christlike character, and Spirit-led obedience for the glory of God and the building up of the Body of Christ. We affirm the valuable and necessary ministry of women while also recognizing the biblical pattern of pastoral/elder oversight within the local church. (Genesis 1:27; Joel 2:28–29; Luke 8:1–3; John 4:28–30, 39; Acts 2:17–18; Acts 18:26; Acts 21:9; Romans 16:1–7; Titus 2:3–5; 1 Corinthians 11:5; Galatians 3:28; 1 Peter 4:10–11; 1 Timothy 2:11–15; 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9)

Sacraments / Ordinances
We believe Jesus Christ established sacred practices for the Church that visibly testify to the gospel and the believer’s faith in Him. Water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are not means of earning salvation, but outward expressions of faith, obedience, remembrance, and identification with the finished work of Christ.

Water Baptism
We believe water baptism is an outward act of obedience and public identification with Jesus Christ. Through baptism, believers testify that they have been united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection and have been raised to walk in newness of life. Baptism does not save, but it is a biblical response of faith and obedience for those who have received salvation through Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9–10; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36–38; Romans 6:3–5; Colossians 2:12)

The Lord’s Supper
We believe the Lord’s Supper is a sacred time of remembrance, worship, reflection, and communion with God. Through the bread and the cup, believers remember the body and blood of Jesus Christ, proclaim His death, examine their hearts before the Lord, and give thanks for His sacrifice until He returns. (Matthew 26:26–29; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26)