About Us Southwest Freewill Baptist Church 1542 Greenleaf Rd WE BELIEVE: The Bible The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are our infallible rule of faith and practice. God There is one living and true God, revealed in nature as the Creator, Preserver, and Righteous Govenor of the universe; and in the Scriptures as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; yet as one God, infinitely wise and good, whom all intelligent creatures are supremely to love, adore, and obey Christ Christ is God manifest in the flesh; in His divine nature truly God, in His human nature truly man. The mediator between God and man, once crucified, he is now risen and glorified, and is our ever present Savior and Lord. The Holy Spirit The Scriptures assign to the Holy Spirit all the attributes of God. The Government of God God exercises a wise and benevolent providence over all beings and all things by maintaining the constitution and laws of nature. He also peforms special acts, not otherwise provided for, as the highest welfare of men requires. The Sinfulness of Man Man was created innocent, but by disobedience fell into a state of sin and comdemnation. His posterity, therefore inherit a fallen nature of such tendencies that all who come to years of accountability, sin and become guilty before God. The Work of Christ The Son of God by His incarnation, life, sufferings, death, and resurrection effected for all a redemption from sin that is full and free, and is the ground of salvation by faith. The Term of Salvation The conditions of salvation are: 1)Repentance or sincere sorrow for sin and hearty renunciation of it. 2) Faith or the unreserved committal of one's self to Christ as Savior and Lord with purpose to love and obey Him in all things. In the exercise of saving faith, the soul is renewed by the Holy Spirit, freed from the dominion of sin, and becomes a child of God. 3) Continuance of faith and obedience unto death. Election God determines from the beginning to save all who would comply with the conditions of salvation. Hence by faith in Christ men become His elect. Freedom of the Will The human will is free and self-controlled, having power to yield to the influences of the truth and the Spirit, or to resist them and perish. Salvation Free God desires the salvation of all, the Gospel invites all, the Holy Spirit strives with all, and whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely. Perseverance All believers in Christ, who through grace persevere in holiness to the end of life, have promise of eternal salvation. Gospel Ordinances Baptism, or the immersion of believers in water and the Lord's Supper, are ordinances to be perpetuated under the Gospel. Feet Washing, an ordinance teaching humility, is of universal obligation, and is to be ministered to all believers. Tithing God commanded tithes and offerings in the Old Testament; Jesus Christ endorsed it in the Gospel, Matthew 23:23 and the Apostle Paul said, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." 1 Corinthians 16:2a The Christian Sabbath The divine law requires that one day in seven be set apart from secular employments and amusements, for rest, for worship, holy works, and activities, and for personal communion with God. Resurrection, Judgement, and Final Retribution The Scriptures teach the resurrection of all men at the last day. Those who have done good will come forth to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil unto the ressurection of damnation; then the wicked will "go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." | HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN
Recognize ourselves as sinners, we need to confess our sins, and to believe that Jesus Christ is faithful to forgive us. This is confirmed in John 3:16:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
(KJV)
This passage tells of God's love for the whole of creation, and that He doesn't want us to perish in our sins, but to have everlasting life in and through Jesus Christ, His Son. Thus, we each need to recognize that without Jesus Christ in our lives, we are unsaved, and that we each need Him as our personal Lord and Savior. John 3:17-18:
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(KJV)
Romans 3:23:
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
(KJV)
Even if we think we are living a "good" life, the Bible is confirming to us that when compared to the righteousness of God, we are all sinners, and thus, we are in need of salvation, which God will freely give us if we seek Him, for without the Lord's salvation we will die in our sins, as confirmed in Romans 6:23:
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
(KJV)
So what do we do?
Each of us must recognize that we cannot save ourselves. Thus, as individuals, we must:
a) Repent (turn away from) our sins. Luke 13:3: "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (KJV)
b) Believe and trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Acts 16:30-31: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (KJV)
c) Confess Jesus Christ before others. Romans 10:9-10:
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(KJV)
Matthew 10:32-33, as Jesus tells us:
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
(KJV)
John 20:31:
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
(KJV)
If you have done this, then believe in your heart that you are saved, for the Lord is faithful to accomplish it.
We cannot work our way into heaven. We are saved by grace alone, but once saved we are to do the good works that God desires us to do, because we desire to do them. Ephesians 2:8-10:
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
(KJV) PRAYER OF SALVATION
I acknowledge that I am a sinner and need to be saved. By faith, I trust in Jesus Christ as the Divine Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, and I believe that He paid my sin debt upon the cross of Calvary, where He was crucified. Because He bled and died, was buried, and rose again, according to the Scriptures, I too have the promise through Christ of eternal life. Therefore, I ask Christ to come into my heart and save my soul, forgive me of my sins, and give me Eternal Life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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