Fairlawn exists to glorify God, by equipping believers to know and advance the gospel.
Core Values
God
We believe God is the eternal, all-wise, and all powerful One who is everywhere present and unchanging. We believe in the triune God; that He is one, but exists in three persons- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We also believe that God is the Creator of all things visible and invisible.
Scripture:Deuteronomy 33:27; Joshua 4:24; Psalm 139; 1 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; Matthew 28:19; Colossians 1:15, 16
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was conceived by a miracle of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary. As the Son of God and the Son of Man, Jesus was both fully God and fully man. As the God-man, He has and will accomplish the complete reconciliation of those who trust in Him and bring to pass the universal restoration of all things. He has secured these things by 1. His sinless life, 2. the shedding of His blood and death on the cross for the sins of the world, 3. His bodily resurrection from the dead, 4. His ascension to the right hand of God, 5. His ministry of intercession, and 6. through His second coming.
Scripture: Matthew 1:16-25; Luke 1:26-33, 2:1-7; Philippians 2:8; II Corinthians 5:17-20; 1 Peter 2:22; John 19:28-37; I Peter 2:24; Hebrews 9:13, 14, 22; I Corinthians 15:1-26; Hebrews 1:3-14, 7:25:11-21
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Spirit was sent by God. He came upon the disciples at Pentecost. Not only did He come to the disciples, but He comes and indwells all those who repent of their sins through faith in Jesus Christ. The Spirit then cleanses, leads, gives gifts, and enables the believer to live and witness to the glory of God.
Scripture: Acts 2:1-4, 38, 39; I Corinthians 12:1-3; John 14:16-18, 16:13, 14; I Corinthians 12:4-11
The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the revelation of God. It was written by the hands of man but was also inspired by the Holy Spirit. Because the biblical authors were inspired by the Spirit, we believe that the original manuscripts were inerrant. As such, they were authentic in their records, authoritative in their decrees, universal and timeless in their message, and the standard by which all men will be judged. We believe that the original manuscripts were accurately copied and handed down to us. Therefore we trust and revere the Bible we have today the way we would the original manuscripts.
Scripture: Galatians 6:11; II Timothy 3:14-17; II Peter 1:19-21; John 17:17; Matthew 5:17, 18; Psalm 119:89
Satan
We believe that Satan exists as the author of sin. He is the arch-enemy of God and all that is good. He seeks to deceive all men and bring them to eternal ruin.
Scripture: Genesis 3:1-5; Job 1:6-20
Man
We believe that man was created good and innocent by God. However, Satan came and deceived man and believing Satan rather than God, man chose to rebel against his Maker. It was through man’s disobedience that sin came into the world. Because of sin, all men are separated from God and need the grace which He offers in Jesus Christ.
Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-24; Romans 5:12, 3:23
Salvation
We believe that Salvation is a free gift from God which was secured by Jesus (see Jesus Christ). Those who receive God’s free gift of salvation by grace through faith become children of God and as such are justified before Him.
Scripture: Romans 6:23; John 1:12; Romans 5:12-21
The Christian Life
We believe that the Christian life is characterized by total commitment to the Lordship of Christ. As such, Christians should conduct themselves in a manner that is worthy of the call of the gospel in which they strive to live a holy life. They should also be a good steward of the gospel that has been entrusted to them. We believe that Christians should love their enemies and do good to those who persecute them and be committed to the pursuit of peace in all areas of life.
Scripture: Philippians 1:27; Colossians 3:17; Matthew 28:16-20; Romans 12:17, 18
The Church
We believe that the church was established by Jesus who is the Head. The church is comprised of only those who have truly repented of their sin and believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The church is a covenant of believers, members of the body of Christ who have gifts to use in ministering, so that the body of Christ will grow in maturity.
Scripture: I Corinthians 6:9-11, 12:1-31; Ephesians 4:11-13
The Sacraments
We believe that believer’s baptism was commanded by Jesus. Those who have faith in Christ ought to be baptized which symbolizes their death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. This act symbolizes God’s clearing of the believer’s guilty conscience and the new life of the believer which has been surrendered to God.
Scripture: Acts 2:37, 38, 41; Matthew 28:19, 20; Romans 6:3-5; I Peter 3:21; Romans 6:1-14
We believe that the Lord’s Supper should be taken by those who have new life in Christ. The bread symbolizes the broken body of Christ. The fruit of the vine symbolizes the shed blood of Jesus as an atonement for sin.
Scripture: I Corinthians 11:23, 24, 11:25, 26
Marriage
We believe that God instituted and blessed the marriage covenant only between a man and a woman. This covenant is unconditional and lifelong. Breaking this covenant by divorce and remarriage are contrary to the will of God. In order to honor God and preserve unity in the home, Christians should only seek to be married to other Christians. Within the home the man is the spiritual leader. He should provide for his family, not provoke his children to anger, and love his wife as Christ loved the church. Also, the woman should respect and honor her husband through her willing submission to him.
Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24; II Corinthians 6:14; Mark 10:1-12; Matthew 5:31, 32, 19:1-9; II Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 6:4, 5:23; I Timothy 5:8; Ephesians 5:25, 28, 6:4, 5:22, 24, 33
Last Things
We believe that there will be a literal return of Jesus Christ for His Bride, the Church. When Christ returns Christians will be raised from the dead and those still living will take on an immortal body and together they will meet Jesus in the air. There will be a final judgment of believers as to their faithfulness and unbelievers to their unfaithfulness, each will receive their just sentence. Satan and all those who refused to repent will be cast into the lake of fire, where they will suffer eternal punishment. Likewise, those who, by the grace of God, have trusted in Christ Jesus will forever dwell in the new heaven and earth with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Scripture: Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15, 20:7-10, 21:8, 21:1-7; II Peter 3:13, 14