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Stony Point's
Bicentennial
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What We Believe:
- What is the "Christian church"? The Christian
church is an independent, non-denominational body of believers
built upon the foundation of Jesus as the Son of God. In A.D.
30 (fifty days after His resurrection), Christ built His church
when 3,000 became Christians and were added to it (Acts
2:38-47), and we try to pattern our worship after that of the
first church. We are neither Catholic nor Protestant, and we
are not controlled by a super organization or church hierarchy.
Following the plan of organization found in the New Testament,
the Christian church is autonomous, that is, it is
self-governing. There is no central headquarters of the church
and no organization superior to the elders of each local
congregation. Jesus Christ is the only head of the church
(Colossians 1:16).
- What does the Christian church believe about the
Bible? The Bible is our sole authority. The 66 books
which make up the Bible are considered to have been divinely
inspired, by which it is meant that they are infallible and
authoritative. A pronouncement from the scriptures is
considered the final word. The basis for all preaching is the
Bible. There is no other manual or discipline to which members
of the Christian church give their allegiance.
- Do members of the Christian church believe in the
virgin birth? Yes. The statement in Isaiah 7; 14,
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call
his name Immanuel," is taken as a prophecy of the virgin
birth of Christ. New Testament passages such as Matthew 1:20
and 25 are accepted at face value as declarations of the virgin
birth. Christ is accepted as the only begotten Son of God.
- Do members of the Christian church believe in the
resurrection? Without a doubt. Our faith stands or
falls on what we believe about the resurrection. It is our only
hope. The apostle Paul says in I Corinthians 15:14, "And if
Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith
is also vain."
- How often is the Lord's Supper served? We
observe the Lord's Supper every Lord's Day, as this was the
practice of the early church. "And upon the first day of the
week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul
preached unto them. . . ." (Acts 20:7)
- What does the Christian church teach concerning
missions? Giving to missions is a vital part of our
church program. We give liberally to foreign and home missions
alike. When we give to missions, we are obeying Jesus' command
to go to all the world. (Matthew 28:19 20)
- How does one become a member of the Christian church?
In the salvation of man's soul there are two necessary
parts: God's part and man's part. God's part is the big part,"For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any one should boast."
(Ephesians 2:8) The love which God had for man led him to send
Christ into the world to redeem man. The life and teaching of
Jesus, the sacrifice on the cross and the proclaiming of the
gospel to men constitute God's part in salvation. But man must
comply with the conditions of pardon which are set forth in
God's Word, namely:
- Hear the Gospel. "How then shall they call on
him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they
believe in whim whom they have not heard? and how shall they
hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14)
- Believe. "But without faith it is impossible
to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he
is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him." (Hebrews 11:6)
- Repent of past sins. "And the times of this
ignorance God winded at; but now comandeth all men
everywhere to repent." (Acts 17:30)
- Confess Jesus as Lord. "And as they went on
their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch
said, 'See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be
baptized?' And Philip said, 'If thou believeth with all
thine heart, thou mayest.' And he answered, 'I believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'" (Acts 6:36-37)
- Be baptized for the remission of sins.
"Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost'." (Acts 2:38)
- Live a Christian life.
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light." (I Peter 2:9)
". . . be thou faithful unto
death,
and I will give thee a crown of life."
(Revelation 2:10) |
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