Our Beliefs
The Gospel: The Power of God for Salvation
God has the power to save men from their own depravity, and He placed that power in the gospel.
Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”
There are four essential parts of the gospel that should be understood: Our sin, Christ and the salvation He bought for us, and receiving that salvation through faith.
Sin
We are sinful and therefore estranged from God and deserving of His wrath.
Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christ
Because of God’s love for us, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to bear on the cross the penalty for our sin. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day defeating the power of sin and death, and He will return one day to receive His followers and judge the unrepentant.
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation* for our sins.
(*Propitiation means a sacrifice that bears God’s wrath.)
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are
being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Salvation
Through salvation in Christ, God forgives our sins, dwells within us, and will receive us in heaven when we die.
Ephesians 1:7 In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,
Ephesians 1:13-14 In [Christ] you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.
John 14:3 [Jesus said] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Faith
In order to receive Christ’s gift of salvation, we must believe His message, turn from our sin and self reliance, and trust in Him to save us.
Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Acts 20:21 …testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 24:46-47 [Jesus] told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Repentance is not a work. We are not saved by our good works. Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ. It literally means to turn. It is a turning of the heart away from sin and self and toward Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
As you read about the sinfulness of man, do you feel the Spirit convicting you of your sin?
As you read about the promises of God for salvation, do you feel your heart being drawn to Christ?
This is the Holy Spirit calling you to receive Christ. Turn from your sin and trust Christ’s death and resurrection for your salvation. Receive through faith this great salvation He purchased for you with His blood.
Receiving Christ through faith is the first step in a life of being a disciple of Jesus. As His disciples, Christ commands that we receive baptism and join with a local church.