What we believe
As believers in God, it is crucial for us to constantly strive to deepen our understanding of His nature and how we can more effectively serve Him. We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works. At the same time, we must believe the gospel as we are commanded to repent, to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
6 ways we reveal our love for God
- We have experienced the new birth.
John 3:5 – Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (KJV) - We share the New Testament plan of salvation with everyone. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s plan for their lives. That’s why Jesus died on the cross for our sins; that’s why he gave us His plan of salvation to give us power over sin. Only by obeying the gospel can we be restored into a right relationship with God.
Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
- We anticipate and look for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Thessalonians 4:16-17 – For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (KJV)
- We live differently than unbelievers.
II Corinthians 6:17-18 – Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (KJV)
- We believe Jesus is God.
I Timothy 3:16 – And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (KJV)
- We gather together for praise and worship.
Acts 20:7 – And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them… (KJV)
Water baptism in Jesus Name
Baptism is a significant and transformative experience integral to the plan of salvation outlined in the Bible. According to John 3:5 and Mark 16:16, baptism is necessary for a person to be saved and enter God’s kingdom. In addition, it also remits your sins. Remission represents forgiveness or pardon. Therefore, water baptism is to be forgiven of your past sins.
The Greek word for baptize, baptizo, means to immerse or submerge, which is why we baptize by immersion and not by sprinkling. There are many scriptures on baptism in the Bible by immersion (John 3:5, Acts 8:38-39, Romans 6:4). There are no scriptures that reference sprinkling.
It is also important to note that the practice of being baptized in the name of Jesus, rather than the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is supported by various scriptures in the New Testament, such as Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, and Acts 4:12. While the water used in baptism does not inherently have any saving power, God has chosen to include it in His plan of salvation and has given it to believers as a gift and a blessing.
Here is an outline of the changes that occur during baptism:
- Forgiveness of sins: Baptism is an opportunity for a person to receive forgiveness for their past sins, with a new start and a clean slate.
- New life: Baptism signifies a person's decision to follow Jesus and to live a new life according to His teachings and example.
- Public declaration: Baptism is a public declaration of a person’s faith in Jesus and commitment to follow Him. It is an opportunity to share their story with others and to be a witness for Christ. It