One of the trademarks of this body of believers is that we are commited to being "One Another People". That is, we strive to live out the 36 Biblical principles that deal with how we are to treat one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. The "One Another Principles" are:

God created man and woman in His own image, and they enjoyed unhindered fellowship with Him. Adam and Eve fell through disobedience to God's command. Sin spread to all and separated mankind from the all holy God. God sent His son Jesus to die for our sins and rise again. Through faith in Christ we can be forgiven and brought into right relationship with God again.

ARE YOU SAVED?

The Bible says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This means that every human being has sinned against the holy God and has thereby fallen short of the requirements for enjoying eternal life with God in heaven.

This is an awful predicament in which to be, considering that the alternative to eternal life is eternal punishment in hell. There is no in-between.

Thankfully, God has provided a way for us to be saved from this eternal punishment. So, once again, you are posed with the question, "Are you saved?"

According to the Scriptures, there is only one way to be saved, and that is through Jesus Christ. God sent His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect, sinless life and to die on the cross to bear punishment for our sin - not for His own sin, but for ours. Three days after He was crucified, Jesus rose from the dead, proving that He was indeed the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

Repentant sinners are freely invited to put their faith in Jesus Christ and to call upon Him in order to be saved. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

If you have any questions regarding the message of salvation, please talk to Pastor Marlin or another member of the church. We would be glad to help you put this question to rest once and for all.

PUT YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST TODAY!

Won't I be saved anyway if I've been a basically good person?
No. Romans 3:10-12 says, "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one." And verse 23 sums it all up by saying, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

So what you're saying is that I should work on becoming a good person; do a lot of good works and that sort of thing, right?
Wrong. Ephesians 2:9 plainly states that salvation is "not as a result of works, that no one should boast."

Well then what can I do to earn salvation?
There is nothing you can do to earn salvation. Salvation is a gift, and gifts are not earned they are received with gratitude. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

How can I receive this free gift then? I would like to have eternal life instead of judgment and death.
By receiving Jesus through faith. John 1:12 says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.

All I have to do is believe in Him?
Well, that's what He said in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

So if I believe in Jesus I can do whatever I please and still be saved?
Not exactly. Jesus Christ is Lord. If you truly believe in Him, you will want to learn how to live in a manner pleasing to your new Master. This is a life long process, but it all starts with an initial act of repentance--that is, a turning away from your sin and towards Christ in an act of faith. Jesus said in Mark 1:15, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

That makes sense. I want to receive Christ now.
If you truly believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again from the dead, just call out to Him in prayer. Ask Him for forgiveness and His salvation, and He will give it! Romans 10:9 and 13 says, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him fom the dead, you shall be saved....for whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

What should I say to Him?
Be yourself, and say what's in your heart. It doesn't need to be fancy or formal, just genuine and from the heart. Here's a sample prayer if you are still unsure where to begin:

God, I'm a sinner and have rebelled against Your holy ways.
I am truly sorry. I could never repay you for all the wrong I've done,
but I now understand that I don't have to, because Jesus, Your Son,
paid for my sins when He died on the cross.
Lord Jesus, please save me; I want to go to heaven.
I now put my complete confidence in Your death and resurrection
and ask You to be my Savior and Lord from this day forth.
Amen.

I did it! How can I be sure that I'm saved though.
That's what faith is all about! But if you still need a little reassurance, check out what 1John 5:13 says: "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that YOU MAY KNOW that you have eternal life."

This is wonderful! I've got to tell someone about what God has just done in my life!
You're right. For starters, you could email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Or tell a trusted friend that you know is a Christian who can encourage you in your new found faith. Beyond that, Jesus would like you to tell as many as possible about His saving act of love and how He has made a difference in your life. Your personal testimony can be a powerful tool in witnessing to others about Christ.

Now that I'm a Christian, what do I do? What's next?
The ultimate goal of every Christian should be to follow Christ's teaching and example as closely as possible in this life and to remain faithful to Him until He returns or we die (whichever comes first). As we've already mentioned, this is a life-long process. But here are a few pointers to get you going in the right direction:

• Talk to Him often. He is eager to hear and answer His children's prayers!
• Get in the habit of reading His Word daily. A good starting place would be one of the gospels, such as John.
• Focus first on learning how to love God and others. Love is the first duty of the Christian.
• Seek out a solid, Bible believing church (see our list of 12 essential Christian doctrines as an example) where you will be encouraged to grow in the Lord, and attend it regularly. We need each other!
• Become a worshiper of God. Praise Him in church and privately, and give thanks to Him in all things.
• Be obedient as the Holy Spirit shows you areas of your life that need change, or as He leads you to opportunities for service.
• Tell others about Jesus. People need to know the truth about salvation, and now you know it.
• Don't give up! We all experience doubts and temptations, and we all blow it from time to time. But God is forgiving. Keep coming back to Him when you stumble; let Him lift you back up and get you back on track.