Our Faith

Salvation is the total work of God in bringing men from a state of sin to a state of glory through Jesus Christ. Salvation is wholly of God and is received as a gift through faith alone, without works. “The total work of salvation involves faith, justification, and sanctification.”

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) · “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith… not by works so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Steps to Salvation

• Repentance — turning from sin toward God
• Confession — confessing our sins
• Forgiveness — receiving the forgiveness God offers
• Accepting Jesus Christ in the heart

The A-B-C Plan

• A — Accept the fact that I am a sinner and need to be saved (Romans 3:23)
• B — Believe that Jesus died to save me from sin (Acts 16:31)
• C — Confess my sin(s) and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 10:9-10)

What is sin? Sin is disobedience, ungodly behavior, and unrighteous living. It is both an act and a principle. Sin broke the fellowship man had with God and caused a separation between God and man. God sent His Son Jesus to pay the price for our sin (Isaiah 53:4-5; Hebrews 9:22).

Justification is the act of declaration by God whereby He declares righteous the one who believes on Christ — the reversal of God’s attitude toward the sinner because of the sinner’s new relationship to Christ. God did condemn, and now He acquits (Romans 5:1).

What is involved in Justification? The removal of the penalty of death (spiritual, physical, and eternal death); the separation from God removed through Christ; the sinner’s acquired penalty satisfied (paid); the righteousness of Christ imputed (credited) to the believer; reconciliation; and the sinner regarded and judged as righteous.

Sanctification is the separation to God — an imputation of Christ’s righteousness as our holiness, purification from moral evil, and conforming to the image of Christ. Four steps help us be sanctified: we are separated from defilement and worldly thoughts, actions, speech; we are clothed in the holiness of Christ; we are pure from moral evil; and we are conformed to the image of Christ — a process extending throughout life.

Prayer is an honest conversation with God — “communication between God and man.” Through Jesus, our mediator and high priest, we have direct access to God.

Why pray? Prayer is worship, creates fellowship with God, preserves from evil, brings forgiveness, and provides guidance. What should prayer include? Praise and adoration, thanksgiving, communion, confession of sins, petitions (plea for personal help), intercession (prayer for others), and submission. Prayer should be humble, bold, simple, sincere, and in accordance with God’s will.

The difference between reading and study is often a pen. Study the Bible with prayer, reverence, expectancy, and a willing mind. Key steps:

• Designate a special time for study (mornings early is better for many)
• Plan a specific place
• Make an appointment with God, then keep it
• Be sure you have a pen or pencil
• Meditate
• Commit certain key verses to memory
• Trust God to teach you
• Read with an attitude of prayer
• Evaluate how the Word applies to your life
• Close with prayer of thanksgiving, commitment, and surrender

Required tools: two translations of the Bible, a topical Bible, a concordance, and a Bible dictionary.

We believe the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired of God; it has God for its author, redemption for its end, and truth without any mixture of errors for its content. It is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. The Bible contains 66 books — 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.

There is one, and only one, living and true God. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of glorifying God. God is holy, omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (everywhere), immutable (unchanging), and eternal.

“God is one yet exists as three distinct persons.”

Baptism is a Christian sacrament signifying spiritual rebirth and admitting the recipient to the Christian community through the ritual use of water. It is a command from Jesus (Matthew 28:19), follows salvation (Acts 10:44-48), and is a symbol of the believer’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3; Colossians 2:12). Scripture references baptism represent immersion — “going down into the water… and coming up out of the water.” Before water baptism must come instruction, repentance, and faith.

Communion is a Christian sacrament in which bread and wine are partaken of as a commemoration of the death of Christ. In practicing communion, our hearts should be right with God. It is a memorial to Christ, a pledge of the new covenant, a proclamation of Christ’s death, and a fellowship with Christ and His own.

Every Christian should tithe because it is biblical. According to Scripture, a tithe is ten percent of income, brought to support the work of God on earth (Genesis 14:20; Numbers 18:26; Hebrews 7:4). Giving should be generous and cheerful, whether it is time, talent, or resources (1 Corinthians 16:2). God promises blessing for obedience and warns about robbing Him in tithes and offerings (Malachi 3). To sign up for Text2Give, text Register to 302-308-7207.

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; and to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the spread of the gospel throughout all nations. We engage to maintain family and secret devotion, to religiously educate our children, to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances, to walk circumspectly in the world, and to watch over one another in brotherly love — remembering each other in prayer, aiding each other in sickness and distress, and being slow to take offense but always ready for reconciliation.