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What We Believe at Westshore Christian Church
About God
God is our Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally
existed in three personalities : the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
* Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalms 90:2; Mathew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2
Corinthians 13:14
About Jesus
Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He
is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and
offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by
dying on a cross. He arose. He ascended to Heaven and He will return.
* Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1
Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus
2:13; Matthew 25:31
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He
is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus
Christ. The Holy Spirit is promised to every believer when they are
baptized into God's kingdom - He lives in every Christian from the
moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living,
understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right.
* 2 Corinthians; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8, 2:38; 1 Corinthians 2:12,
3:16; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18; Galatians 5:25
About the Bible
The
Bible is God's Word to us. Human authors, under supernatural guidance of
the Holy Spirit wrote it. It is the supreme source of truth for
Christian beliefs and living. Because God inspires it, it is the truth
without any mixture of error.
* 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160;
Proverbs 30:5
About Salvation
Salvation is God's free gift to us but we must accept it. We can
never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by
trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be
saved from sin's penalty. We believe the scripture teaches that man has
a free-will and must choose to follow Christ. We also believe that man
can walk away from God if he chooses to do so.
* Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:3-7; Acts 2:38;
Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 5:1-2, 6:1-5; Romans 10:13; 1 Timothy 2:3-4;
Hebrews 6:4-6, 10:26-27,39; Galatians 5:4
About Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally
separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and
salvation. Hell is the place of eternal separation from God. Heaven is a
place of eternal union with God.
* John 3:16, 14:17; Romans 6:23, 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1
Corinthians 2:7-9
About the Lord's Supper
What is the Lord's Supper? It is a meal, a memorial, a symbol, a
proclamation (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Who should take the Lord's Supper? Those who recognize Christ as the
Savior of their life (Mark 14:22-26).
How do I prepare myself for the Lord's Supper? (1) Self-examination (1
Corinthians 11:27), (2) Confessing my sins (1 John 1:9), (3)
Recommitment (Romans 12:1), (4) Restoring relationships (Matthew
5:23-24).
The early Christians observed the Lord's Supper every time they gathered
together. That is why we celebrate it every Sunday.
About Baptism
We
believe in Baptism by immersion.
Jesus was baptized that way (Matthew 3:16).
Every baptism was by immersion (Acts 2:38-39, 8:38-39, 9:18, 10:46-48,
16:1-15, 16:25-33, 19:1-5).
Who should be baptized? Every person who has believed and has repented
of their sins and confessed Christ as Lord (Acts 2:41, 8:12-13).
At Westshore, we wait until our children are old enough to believe and
understand for themselves the true meaning of baptism before we immerse
them. |
