Becoming A Christian
The Bible teaches that you and I are sinners by birth. Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
The Bible further teaches that there is a penalty for being a sinner - namely, death in Hell. Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." I don't like that, but that's why I'm telling you how to be saved. I don't want anyone to go to Hell, and you don't have to go to Hell.
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, paid your penalty of Hell for you. Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Because we are sinners by birth, we have no perfect sacrifice to make for our sin. Even our best efforts are stained by sin, so that no matter how good we try to live or how hard we try to make up for our sins, we fall short of what a holy God requires. But, Jesus Christ is perfect, and His death on the cross was a perfect sacrifice for all of our sin, and God will allow Jesus' sacrifice to pay for all our sin.
The Bible teaches that we must receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour by faith. John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Much like a bride and groom receive each other when they exchange vows, you and I must receive Jesus Christ, trusting Him to forgive us of our sins and trusting Him alone to take our souls to Heaven when we die.
Salvation is not found in a church or a good deed or in baptism or any religious act. Salvation is found in a Person, and that Person is Jesus Christ. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6
I. THE HOLY SCRIPTURE
The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 12:6,7; Prov. 30:5,6)
II. TRINITY
The Bible teaches that there is one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of the heavens and earth. The Bible teaches that there is one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.(Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:10,26; Exodus 20:2,3; I Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11; I John 5:7).
III. GOD THE FATHER:
The Bible teaches that God the Father is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. The Bible teaches that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Luke 10:21,22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; I Timothy 1:1,2; 2:5,6; I Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6
IV. JESUS CHRIST:
The Bible teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin. He is both the Son of God and God the Son. (Gen. 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2,4,14; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8)
The Bible teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross and through His precious atoning blood and that he literally rose again on the third day. (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5).
V. THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, encourage righteousness, to regenerate, to sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guider in the Life of the believer. John 14:16,17,26; 15:26,27; John 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26.
VI. SALVATION
The Bible teaches that salvation is the gift of God given to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; I Pet. 1:18-19).
The Bible teaches that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Pet. 1:4-5).
VII. THE CHURCH:
The establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control.
The Bible teaches that there are two ordinances given to the church to administer 1) Baptism 2) The Lord’s Supper. However, neither are sacraments or give any sort of saving grace. They are simply acts of obedience designed to point to Christ’s death and resurrection. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).(Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; I Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; I Peter 5:1-4).
