THE ORDINANCES
We believe that Christian baptism is to be exclusively by the immersion of a believer completely in water and is the only acceptable mode of Scriptural baptism. Through baptism the believer identifies with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection and demonstrates his desire to be dead to sin and to walk in newness of life. Baptism shows forth in a solemn and beautiful way our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior and pictures our placement into the body of Christ which took place at the moment of salvation by the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is a prerequisite for church membership.
We emphatically reject the damnable heresy commonly known as "infant baptism" as having some sacramental value or part in one's salvation. There is no biblical foundation for such a doctrine. We are not saved by baptism but by faith in Jesus Christ. His blood cleanses us from all sin.
Baptism is the outward symbol of what has already transpired in the one who has trusted Christ for full salvation.
We also believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial that celebrates the death of Christ until He comes and should be partaken of only after solemn and close self-examination. It pictures the relationship and fellowship between believers who are living in unity and love with one another in the local church; and the relationship and fellowship between each believer and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; 1 Cor. 11:23-31)
We believe that Christian baptism is to be exclusively by the immersion of a believer completely in water and is the only acceptable mode of Scriptural baptism. Through baptism the believer identifies with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection and demonstrates his desire to be dead to sin and to walk in newness of life. Baptism shows forth in a solemn and beautiful way our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior and pictures our placement into the body of Christ which took place at the moment of salvation by the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is a prerequisite for church membership.
We emphatically reject the damnable heresy commonly known as "infant baptism" as having some sacramental value or part in one's salvation. There is no biblical foundation for such a doctrine. We are not saved by baptism but by faith in Jesus Christ. His blood cleanses us from all sin.
Baptism is the outward symbol of what has already transpired in the one who has trusted Christ for full salvation.
We also believe that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial that celebrates the death of Christ until He comes and should be partaken of only after solemn and close self-examination. It pictures the relationship and fellowship between believers who are living in unity and love with one another in the local church; and the relationship and fellowship between each believer and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; 1 Cor. 11:23-31)
