The First Pentecostal Church has served the Cape Girardeau region for over 100 years. We are a Bible-based church. This simply means we seek to both believe and practice what is explicitly taught in the Bible.
Based on the Bible, we believe the following:
About the Bible
We believe the Bible is the living and inspired Word of God. It is true in all that it teaches. The Bible is without error and is the sole authority for salvation and Christian living. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25)
About God and Jesus Christ
We believe there is only one God. The One eternal and invisible God has revealed Himself to us as our Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that is, the One God manifested in and through an authentic human life. To see Jesus is to see God. He is infinite in power and holy in his nature, attributes, and purpose. (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 14:9; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 2:9; Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 3:16).
About Sin and Salvation
We believe that people are the supreme object of God’s creation and are made in the spiritual image of God. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. Sin separates us from God and causes many problems in our life. According to scripture everyone has sinned and needs salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:23-25; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9)
About the Gospel
We believe the gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. We express our belief in the gospel through our obedience to the gospel. We obey the gospel and apply it to our lives by repenting of our sins (death to sin), being baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (burial), and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (resurrection). This threefold experience is the consistent pattern of conversion in the early church. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17; Mark 1:15; Acts 15:7; Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:4, 37-39; 8:9-17; 10:1-48; 19:1-7)
About Christian Living
We believe as Christians we are to love God and love others. We are to worship God joyfully and seek to live a life that is pleasing to him both inwardly and outwardly—in our thoughts, words, and actions. We are empowered to live a life pleasing to God through the Holy Spirit. The supernatural gifts of the Spirit are for the church today and are available to Spirit-filled believers (Mark 12:28-31; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Romans 8:13-14; Galatians 5:19-26; Hebrews 12:14).
About the Future
Jesus Christ is coming again to take his church. In the end will be the final resurrection and the final judgment. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally present with Him is Heaven. (John 3:14-17; Romans 6:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelations 20:11-15).
