FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST

Our Beliefs

God

There is one, and only one, living and true God. The eternal, triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

‍ ‍

God The Father

God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of human history according to the purposes of His grace. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

God The Son

Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and through His substitutionary death on the cross, He made provision for the redemption of humanity from sin.

God The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He exalts Christ, convicts people of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and enlightens and empowers both the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

Salvation

Salvation involves the redemption of the whole person and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense, salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification.

“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”

Ephesians 2:8-9

Baptism

A public identification with Jesus

Baptism is a symbol of Christ’s death and resurrection and the work of the Holy Spirit to unite believers to Him. When a believer is baptized, we publicly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, the primary purpose of baptism for new believers is to provide an opportunity to openly confess personal commitment to Jesus.

What is the Meaning of Baptism?

Identification with Christ: Baptism centers on identifying with Christ (Romans 6:3–4; Colossians 2:12). Throughout the book of Acts, Christians are baptized in the name of Jesus, signifying a transference of ownership to Him.
Incorporation into His Church: Being identified with Christ means being joined to His body—the church. In Acts 2:41, those who were baptized were added to the local church. Historically, baptism has served as the initiatory step into church membership.

Can I be saved without baptism?

The physical act of baptism itself does not save you. In Acts 10:44–48, Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit before being baptized, demonstrating that salvation precedes the ordinance (1 Peter 3:21). Paul also emphasizes in 1 Corinthians 1:14–17 that baptism must always be understood in light of the gospel.

While salvation does not depend on being baptized, baptism is the natural completion of faith—an essential first step of joyful obedience to Jesus’ command. Because baptism is a conscious step of personal faith and obedience, it requires that a person be of an age to understand and respond to the gospel.

The Church

A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes, where each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

Evangelism & Mission

It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. We are called to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ through verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, alongside other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.