Salvation
We believe that repentance from sin and belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is the only way to salvation.
Conversion is our willing response to the Gospel, in which we sincerely repent of sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation.
- True conversion starts with an act of God. Before one is converted, God acts and imparts spiritual life into us, bringing us from spiritual death to spiritual life. The Bible calls this “regeneration” or “being born again” (taken from John 3:3-8). Scripture is abundant in its teaching of regeneration: Ez 36:26-27; John 1:13. Scripture also teaches that this act of God comes before we respond to God in saving faith (John 3:5; John 6:44; John 6:65; Acts 16:14; Eph 2:4-5; Col 2:13).
- Faith (Ro 10:9; Eph 2:8-9), and Repentance (Acts 3:19; Acts17:30, Ro 2:4), then must come together: Biblical repentance is a heartfelt regret for sin and a sincere commitment to turn from it and walk in obedience to Christ. It involves an intellectual understanding of Christ and his mission, an emotional approval of the teachings of Scripture regarding sin (a regret for one’s sin and a personal hatred of it), and a personal decision to turn from it (Acts 20:21; 2 Cor 7:9-10; Heb 6:1).
- Once genuine salvation has occurred, a believer can be assured of their salvation and can never lose their salvation (John 6:38-40; John 10:27-29; Ro 8:1; Eph 1:13-14; 1 John 5:11-13).
- Three questions to ask that can give a believer genuine assurance of their salvation: (Col 1:23)
- Do I have a personal trust in Christ alone for my salvation? (Acts 4:12)
- Is their evidence of a regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in my life? (Ro 8:14-16; Gal 5:22-23; Matt 7:16-20)
- Do I see a long term pattern of growth in my Christian life? (2 Pe 1:5-10)