Our Beliefs
SALVATION
IN CHRIST ALONE – The Bible teaches that the human heart is by nature deeply wicked. We have all sinned against a holy God and we are deserving of the punishment of death (Romans 3:10-18; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 1:8). Because our sin separates us from God, He sent His son Jesus to be our only savior. Jesus lived the perfect life we could not live, died the death we deserved to die, and through faith in him alone can we be saved from the eternal consequence of sin (Romans 3:23-24; Romans 5:6-11; Acts 4:11-12; John 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6).
BY GRACE ALONE – This salvation that Jesus accomplished cannot be earned by anything good we do. Our sinfulness prevents us from ever being “good enough” to be forgiven by God. Forgiveness is only a gift of God’s grace which means it is completely unearned and undeserved. We all have sinned and we all need grace (Ephesians 2:1-10).
THROUGH FAITH ALONE – Not everyone receives this amazing grace that is accomplished through the sacrifice of Jesus. Only those who place their faith and trust in what Jesus did will receive this grace and forgiveness. (Romans 3:22; Hebrews 11:6; John 3:16; Romans 10:9). Saving faith is a trust in the work of Jesus and it is always accompanied by repentance, the turning away from one’s sin, and the following of Jesus as both Lord and Savior.
DEVOTION
TO THE WORD OF GOD – We devote ourselves to the Bible in everything we do because we believe it to be more than just information about God, but rather it is revelation from God. We believe that God inspired the Scriptures to reveal who God is, who we are, how God saves us, and how we should live our lives for Him. Because of that, we base our church and our lives on the truths of the Bible. (2 Peter 1:16-21; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Ephesians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 1:1-4; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 119:9-1).
TO THE WORSHIP OF GOD – Worship is more than a song sung at a Sunday or Wednesday service. It is that of course; however, it is more than that. Worship is our response to the greatness of God and it includes obeying (John 14:23; 1 John 2:3-6), praying (Matthew 6:9-13); fasting; (Matthew 6:16-18); singing (Psalm 150:1-6; Colossians 3:16), cheerful giving (Acts 2:45; 4:34; Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:16-21; Malachi 3:8-10; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; 1 Timothy 5:17-18) and partaking in the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD – Our church, River of Life Baptist Church, is not just a building, rather it is a people who have experienced the saving love of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, He reconciled us to God but He also reconciled us to each other. The Bible uses multiple metaphors for God’s church such as the body of God the Son (1 Corinthians 12:14-26; Romans
12:4-8; Colossians 1:18) , the family of God the Father (1 John 3:1; Romans 8:15-16; Hebrews 12:7-11; Galatians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:1; John 1:11; Mark 3:31-35; 1 Timothy 5:1-2) and the temple of God the Spirit (1 Peter 2:4-5; 1 Corinthians 6:15; Ephesians 2:19-22). All of these word pictures convey unity, love, and commitment to one another. Our church members actively and meaningfully commit one to another.
MISSION