Doctrinal Statement

The ministry of First Things First is dedicated to the work of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.  It is our hope that God would use the teaching of Andrea Phillips and the resources of this ministry so that people in the world would hear of and believe in Jesus Christ, that Christians would love and serve God whole-heartedly, and that the universal church would be strengthened and challenged to be His glory and His tool in this world.
(Ephesians 4:11-16, Colossians 1:28-29)

This following statements explain simply the core Biblical beliefs of First Things First and Andrea Phillips.  


Scripture    All scripture -- Old Testament and New Testament -- is inspired by God, is infallible and is inerrant in its original manuscript form.  Scripture is God’s primary way of communicating His character and His will to mankind today, and it is the authority by which all other information about God and godliness is to be validated.  (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Romans 1:1-4, Acts 17:11)

Character of God    God eternally exists in three persons:  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  These three persons are unique in personality and role, although they are one God.  (Dueteronomy 6:4, Matthew 3:16-17, John 1:1-4, John 16:13-15, John 20:26-29)

God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, knowing the future perfectly, and directing the wills of people and the courses of mankind according to His plans.  God’s plans for those who love Him are altogether good.  (Exodus 9:12-19, Jeremiah 1:1-10, 29:10-14, Psalm 116, Psalm 139, Matthew 9:3-5

Character of Jesus    Jesus, the eternal Son of God, was born of the virgin Mary and lived a life without sin, in obedience to God.  Jesus is true God and true man.  (Luke 1:30-35, John 1:14-18, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 4:15)

Character of Man    Man was created by God in His image and given the purpose of representing God in the created world.  The original man and woman sinned when they disobeyed the command of God.  The result of this sin is the universal corruption of creation -- including the nature of mankind -- and the separation of God from man.  People, in their sinful state, are incapable of pleasing God or reconciling themselves to God.  (Genesis 3, Romans 1, Romans 3:23, 8:6-8, 20-21)

God’s Work of Salvation    God, desiring to restore His relationship with mankind and restore His created order, sent His Son Jesus, according to prophecy, to fulfill the requirements of the Law in the flesh, and to die on the cross as a substitutionary atonement for sin.  Jesus was raised from the dead in bodily form and ascended into heaven before a multitude of witnesses.  Jesus’ atoning work for mankind was completed with his death and resurrection.  Although the forgiveness of sins through the atonement of Christ is available to all, it is effective only for those who believe in earnest.  (John 3:16-17, Romans 1:1-6, 5:8-11, 6:23, 10:8-14, 1 Corinthians 15:1-14, Colossians 1:21-22, 2:13-14)

People are saved through faith alone in Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross, by which they receive forgiveness for their sins, past, present and future.  (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8:1, Galatians 2:16)

Work of the Holy Spirit    The Holy Spirit indwells every believer at once when he or she places faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins.  The indwelling Spirit unites all believers in Christ and empowers believers for acceptable worship, obedience and service.  (John  14:16-17, 14:26, Romans 8:9-17, 8:26-27, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 12)

Practice of the Christian Life    Although works are not required to complete God’s forgiveness for sin, sincere faith in Christ will be evidenced by actions and attitudes that are motivated by belief in Him and obedience to Him.  While no one is able to attain complete perfection on earth because of the sinful nature of the flesh, Christians are responsible to strive for perfection and complete obedience to God through the Spirit who empowers us.  No matter the failure, no person can be eternally condemned by God if he or she has sincerely trusted Christ for forgiveness.  However, the way a believer responds to failure before God can impede that individual’s relationship with God on earth and impact their rewards in heaven.  (Psalm 51, Matthew 4:18-20, John 14:20-24, Romans 6 - 8, 11:29, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 5:22-25, James 2:14-18, 1 Peter 1:14-16, 1 John 1:9)