• We believe that Jesus is Lord. This “faith” involves believing that Jesus is the unique Son of God through whom salvation is offered and surrendering control of our life to Him.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household” (Acts 16.31)

• We repent of our sins. Repentance is more than feeling sorry for our sins — it is a turning away from sin toward God and His will.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3.19)

• We confess Jesus before men. There can be no secret discipleship. We declare openly that we are followers of Jesus.

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10.9)           

• We are baptized. Our water immersion is an open demonstration and declaration to the world of our acceptance of Jesus as Lord. In baptism, we “die,” are “buried,” and are “raised” with Jesus.

“This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God” (1 Peter 3.21)

The Bible promises that this surrender leads to God’s forgiveness of our sins and the gift of His Holy Spirit. He promises that our sins will not be held against us because they are wiped clean, and He promises that His Holy Spirit will live inside us to guide us and seal us as God’s children.

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2.38)

These formal steps are only the beginning. Our surrender must continue through our living a Christian life.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12.1)

• We believe baptism is necessary whenever someone decides to commit his or her life to Christ.

• We believe that the Bible teaches baptism, by immersion in water, to those who are old enough to make their own decision for Jesus is part of the formal process of becoming a Christian.

• We believe that the actual water doesn't necessarily do anything special - it is that God's grace is what saves us, but Jesus commands it.

• We believe baptism symbolizes the washing away of sins and the "old self" being buried with the "new self" raised with Christ.

Contact our Associate Minister, Ben Webb, at [email protected].