What We Believe   

We believe the words of Jesus found in John 14:6 – “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

The Bible teaches that sin is a transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4). All people who know the difference between right and wrong have sinned (Romans 3:23). Our sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). The punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). This is the second death which is the lake that burns with fire (Revelation 21:8). 

 God loves us. He does not want us to be punished for our sins. Therefore, He has provided a way for us to be forgiven (John 3:16). God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins.

(1 John 4:10). Jesus suffered the punishment which we should have received for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-6). He did not die for His own sins, for He had none (2 Corinthians 5:21). He suffered for our sins on the cross so that we can be forgiven (Romans 5:6-8; 1 Peter 2:24). In order for us to be forgiven of our sins, and therefore receive eternal life, we must accept the salvation which Christ has made possible. There are five steps which we must take to receive this salvation. 

HEAR 

First, we must hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17, KJV). One is not a Christian because his parents are. Faith cannot be inherited (Ezekiel 18:20). Each person must believe in Jesus Christ for himself. Christianity is a religion of teaching (Matthew 28:19-20). Unless one has heard the Gospel and learned that Jesus Christ died for his sins, was buried, and arose from the dead, he cannot be saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The apostle Paul wrote: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14) One must first hear the Gospel before he can believe it. 

BELIEVE 

Second, one must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus said: ...except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins (John 8:24). The jailor at Philippi asked Paul and Silas, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They told him to Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house (Acts 16:30-31). Jesus also said: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:16). One comes to believe in Jesus Christ when he hears the Gospel taught. Faith comes only by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). This is the reason it is so important that the Gospel be preached to the whole world (Mark 16:15). 

REPENT 

Third, one must repent of his sins in order to be saved (Acts 17:30-31). Jesus commanded that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:47). Repentance is a result of being sorry for one’s sins (2 Corinthians 7:10). When the Jews on Pentecost Day learned from Peter that they had crucified the Son of God, they were cut to the heart (Acts 2:37). They wanted to be forgiven of their sins, so they asked, What shall we do? They were told Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins...(Acts 2:37-38). When one repents, he turns away from his sins (1 Thessalonians 1:9). He shows he has repented by doing good works (Matthew 3:8). 

CONFESS 

Fourth, one must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). This great truth is the very foundation upon which the church of Christ is built (Matthew 16:18; Acts 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 3:11). Jesus said that we must be willing to confess Him before men if we want Him to confess us before the Father (Matthew 10:32-33). The apostle Paul wrote: The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:8-10). When Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, the eunuch asked, what doth hinder me to be baptized? Philip told him he could be baptized if he believed. The eunuch then confessed, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:35-38). We must make this important, yet simple confession also in order to be saved. 

BE BAPTIZED 

Fifth, one must be baptized in order to be saved. Jesus said: He that believes and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16). Please note that baptism follows belief. One who does not believe the Gospel cannot be truly baptized. Therefore, babies cannot be baptized for they are too young to (1) have sin, (2) hear the Gospel, (3) repent of sins, and (4) confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Baptism also follows repentance. On Pentecost Day, Peter told those who asked what to do to be saved to Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you... (Acts 2:38). One cannot be truly baptized who has not truly repented. 

 Baptism is a burial in water (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12). Therefore, sprinkling and pouring are not proper baptism. Baptism is in order to be saved (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21). One is not saved before he is baptized! Baptism is unto the remission [forgiveness] of sins (Acts 2:38). Just as Jesus shed His blood for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28), so we are baptized in order to receive the remission of sins. In baptism, the sinner’s sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus (Acts 22:16). 

 When one completes these steps, they are added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:41, 47). They are born again (John 3:3-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17). They are in Christ where all spiritual blessings are to be found. (Ephesians 1:3; Galatians 3:26-27). In short, They are a Christian (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). 

 Are you saved from your sins? Have you taken these simple steps to salvation? If not, why not do so today? 

BE FAITHFUL 

After becoming a Christian, one must strive to live a life faithful to God. We can be confident in our salvation, but we reject the doctrine of “once saved, always saved”. 2 Peter 2:20-22, If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud."

 Please reach out by phone or text to 870-215-1665 for more information.