Christian

People become Christians and experience God’s salvation when they take two simple, yet powerful, steps:

The Bible, comprising the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, it is God’s Word to all. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. The scriptures are inspired by God and they are infallible in the original  manuscripts. They contain the blueprint for the Christian life, and they are the unique and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. There are no other writings similarly inspired by God. 

Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We recognize that you cannot bind the conscience of individuals in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, everyone is to be led in those areas by the Holy Spirit, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, to whom every believer is ultimately responsible.

I believe in two sacraments: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper), which were both practiced by Jesus. The sacraments are to be celebrated within the gathered Church. Holy Baptism and Holy Communion are both signs and means of God’s grace, meaning that they help us to remember and to experience the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ.

Holy Baptism is the sacrament that a believer receives once during his or her life. While Baptism only occurs once in your life, it is good to periodically renew your Baptismal Vows. By renewing  your vows, you publicly recommit yourself to living in imitation of Christ, walking in his Light and Wisdom, and rejecting Satan and his evil ways at all costs. Renewing our Baptismal vows will strengthen your resolve, reaffirm who we are as members of Christ, and put everything into perspective. In a sense, it will help to reorder your hearts, minds, and souls. Baptism connects us with God’s mighty acts of salvation and His Church. We are not “saved” at the moment of Baptism; rather salvation happens when we invite Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Savior. Once we make that commitment, scripture calls us to publicly profess our faith through Baptism. Though we still sin after Baptism, we renew our faith by confessing our sins to God, we turn away from that sin, and we reaffirm our faith in Christ alone.

Holy Communion reminds us of the Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples in the Upper Room as He prepared them for His death on the cross. The bread and the wine (grape juice) are symbols of Jesus’ body and blood, which were broken and shed for our sin. Communion is not only a time to remember Christ’s death, but it’s also an anticipation of Christ’s second coming, a time when we will sit at His table and enjoy fellowship with Christ and His Church in the Kingdom of Heaven. Holy communion is open to anyone, regardless of age or church membership.