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The Bible teaches the Scriptures are
able to make one wise unto salvation (2 Timothy
3:15), and we
learn the following from the Lord's commandments, the writings
of the apostles, and the examples of conversion in the New
Testament: One must hear the Word of God (Romans
10:17), believe
in Christ (Acts
16:31), repent
of his sins (Luke
13:3), confess
that Christ is the Son of God (Romans
10:9-10), and
be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy
Spirit for the remission of sins (Matthew
28:19, Acts 2:37-38). Once these steps are
faithfully obeyed, the Lord then adds that individual to His
Church (Acts
2:47).
WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH
Since
the Bible teaches we must have the authority of Christ for
whatever we practice or teach (Colossians 3:17), our worship
services will be conducted strictly in accordance with the
Scriptural patterns set forth in the New Testament.
Jesus said, "They that worship [God] must worship Him in
spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). To worship
God "in spirit" means to worship Him with the right attitude
and motives. In other words, the condition of the heart
must be acceptable in our worship. To worship God "in
truth" means to worship Him according to the Word of God, for
Jesus said that the Word of God was truth (John 17:17). In other words,
all that we do in worship to our God must be regulated by the
truth, which is the Word of God. Jesus said that the
truth was knowable (John 8:32), but we must be
willing to diligently study God's Word to find it (2 Timothy 2:15, Acts 17:11, Matthew
7:7-8). We must also be willing to receive
the truth with meekness (James 1:21). Indeed,
Jesus expects us to understand and follow the truth, for He
promises indignation, wrath, tribulation, anguish, a
fiery vengeance, and everlasting destruction for those who do
not obey the truth (Romans 2:8-9, 2 Thessalonians
1:8-9).
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