What We Believe

SALVATION

IN CHRIST ALONE – The Bible teaches that the human heart is by nature deeply wicked. We have all sinned against a holy God and we are deserving of the punishment of death (Romans 3:10-18; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 1:8). Because our sin separates us from God, He sent His son Jesus to be our only savior. Jesus lived the perfect life we could not live, died the death we deserved to die, and through faith in him alone can we be saved from the eternal consequence of sin (Romans 3:23-24; Romans 5:6-11; Acts 4:11-12; John 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

BY GRACE ALONE – This salvation that Jesus accomplished cannot be earned by anything good we do. Our sinfulness prevents us from ever being “good enough” to be forgiven by God. Forgiveness is only a gift of God’s grace which means it is completely unearned and undeserved. We all have sinned and we all need grace (Ephesians 2:1-10).

THROUGH FAITH ALONE – Not everyone receives this amazing grace that is accomplished through the sacrifice of Jesus. Only those who place their faith and trust in what Jesus did will receive this grace and forgiveness. (Romans 3:22; Hebrews 11:6; John 3:16; Romans 10:9). Saving faith is a trust in the work of Jesus and it is always accompanied by repentance, the turning away from one’s sin, and the following of Jesus as both Lord and Savior.

DEVOTION

TO THE WORD OF GOD – We devote ourselves to the Bible in everything we do because we believe it to be more than just information about God, but rather it is revelation from God. We believe that God inspired the Scriptures to reveal who God is, who we are, how God saves us, and how we should live our lives for Him. Because of that, we base our church and our lives on the truths of the Bible. (2 Peter 1:16-21; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Ephesians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 1:1-4; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 119:9-1)

TO THE WORSHIP OF GOD – Worship is more than a song sung at a Sunday or Wednesday service. It is that of course; however, it is more than that. Worship is our response to the greatness of God and it includes obeying (John 14:23; 1 John 2:3-6), praying (Matthew 6:9-13); fasting; (Matthew 6:16-18); singing (Psalm 150:1-6; Colossians 3:16), cheerful giving (Acts 2:45; 4:34; Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:16-21; Malachi 3:8-10; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; 1 Timothy 5:17-18) and partaking in the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD – Our church, River of Life Baptist Church, is not just a building, rather it is a people who have experienced the saving love of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, He reconciled us to God but He also reconciled us to each other. The Bible uses multiple metaphors for God’s church such as the body of God the Son (1 Corinthians 12:14-26; Romans 12:4-8; Colossians 1:18) , the family of God the Father (1 John 3:1; Romans 8:15-16; Hebrews 12:7-11; Galatians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:1; John 1:11; Mark 3:31-35; 1 Timothy 5:1-2) and the temple of God the Spirit (1 Peter 2:4-5; 1 Corinthians 6:15; Ephesians 2:19-22). All of these word pictures convey unity, love, and commitment to one another. Our church members actively and meaningfully commit one to another.

MISSION

TO GLORIFY GOD – From the beginning, God has desired to make himself known. We see this showing up as early as Genesis 1:27 when God made man into His own image. God’s goal for man has always been to bring Him glory. When sin entered the world, it distorted man’s reflection of God’s image, Jesus has now worked in the hearts of believers to restore that image (2 Corinthians 3:18). As we begin to look more like Jesus, we give God more and more glory and this increasing glory to God is the purpose of God’s People (Romans 15:5-7; Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 4:11).

BY MAKING DISCIPLES – At River of Life Baptist Church, our goal is to “Know Him, and make Him known.” The best way that we can glorify God is by knowing Him and leading others to saving faith in Jesus. The Bible calls this making disciples or in other words leading others to become followers of Jesus, baptizing them and teaching them all that Jesus commanded. This is the mission to which God has called every follower of Jesus (Matthew 4:19; Matthew 28:16-20; 2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10; Colossians 2:24-29; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

OF ALL NATIONS – Knowing Him, and making Him known is not restricted to just River of Life Baptist Church, St. Marys, GA. God has called all of us to carry the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth and to people groups who have never heard that there is forgiveness in Jesus alone (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:16-20). In everything we do at River of Life Baptist Church, we are committed to the mission of glorifying God by knowing Him and making Him known.