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BELONG. BECOME. BEYOND.

The following doctrinal statements represent the beliefs upon which Wellspring's ministry is founded. They are intended to summarize, but not comprehensively review, the basic doctrinal beliefs of our church. We hold the following statements true according to the Scriptures.

THE GOSPEL

The gospel is the good news of God lavishing His grace and love on fallen mankind by sending Jesus to provide a means of rescue, redemption, and new life for all who would place their faith, hope and trust in Him.  The Gospel is the meta-narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and completion by God, through the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

 

Christ’s death was the payment for our sins.  It satisfied the demands of God’s holy justice and appeased his holy wrath.  It also demonstrates his incredible love and grace towards us.  Jesus is the only mediator between God and man.  There is no other name under heaven and earth by which men may be saved.  At the center of all that takes place in our hearts and in the heart of our church is the glorious death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

SCRIPTURE

We believe God breathed out the original writings of both the Old and New Testaments to human writers by means of the Holy Spirit.  We believe that these writings were without error and are of supreme and final authority in the lives of believers in any age (2 Timothy 3:16) As God’s people hear, believe and obey the Word, they are equipped as disciples of Christ and witnesses to the gospel (Rom. 10:14-17).

GOD

We believe that there is but one true God, who eternally exists as three distinct persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who exclusively share in the work of creation, redemption and judgment (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

JESUS CHRIST

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son – who entered the human race, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin, Mary and that He is fully God and fully man. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily fulfilled the will of God by laying down His life as the atoning sacrifice for humanity’s sin. Having fully satisfied Divine justice, He achieved salvation for all who place their trust in Him. Raised from the dead by God, He ascended to heaven and is currently interceding for His own, awaiting His return to consummate God’s kingdom and redemptive plan (Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1-5; Romans 1:3-4)

HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth guidance in doing what is right. The maturing Christian seeks to live under His control daily (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; John 14:16-17).

OUR BELIEFS

HUMANITY

We believe that Man was created in the image of God, and as a result every human life is sacred. However, man was separated from God because of Adam’s sin. As a result the image of God in Man became damaged – defaced, but not erased. Therefore, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are unable to function in moral responsibility before God. We need spiritual regeneration before we can become what God meant us to be (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; 59:1-2; Romans 3:23)

SALVATION

We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We believe that Jesus died upon the cross as a sinless substitute for sinners of all ages and times, and that the Father was thus, by means of the Spirit, reconciling the world to Himself. All who receive the risen Jesus as Lord, by grace through faith, are adopted as sons and daughters into the Kingdom of God. (Romans 5:1; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26).

THE CHURCH

We believe there is one true Church universal, consisting of all who recognize Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The body of Christ finds expression as local churches where those who have been regenerated by the Spirit come together. Operating under the direction of Jesus as Lord and Head of His body and through Godly servant leadership, believers devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism and communion, fellowship, service to the body and outreach to the lost (Matthew 16:18; 28:18-20; Acts 2:42-47; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 12:7-12; Ephesians 4:7,11-13)

THE FUTURE & THE RESURRECTION

We believe in the imminent, bodily and visible return of Jesus Christ to this earth to bring to completion His redemptive and kingdom plan. All people who have died will be raised from the dead, and those who have been redeemed will participate in eternal life in the presence of the God, but those who have rejected Christ will suffer eternal separation from God (1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Matthew 25: 31, 34, 41; 1 Corinthians 15:50-56; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2, 3-4, 8; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 8-10 ; Revelation 3:5; 20:12; Revelations 21:1-5).

THE FAMILY

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment. Men and women are absolutely equal in essence, dignity and value but are distinct by divine design. As part of God’s good created order, men and women are to have different yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the home and church. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards and the means for procreation of the human race. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage (Genesis 1:26-28; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalm 78:1-8; Psalm 127; Psalm 139:13-16; Proverbs 5:15-20; 22:6; Matthew 18:2-5; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Hebrews 13:4)

BAPTISM

WHAT IS BELIEVER'S BAPTISM?

At Wellspring, we affirm that the Bible teaches that Believer’s Baptism is both a symbolic and vital step of obedience in professing our conversion and new life in Jesus Christ. We hold that Baptism, which is the ceremonial process of being dipped into water during a time of worship before the whole church body, is a beautiful sign and symbol of Christ’s own death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:4). When we are each baptized, symbolically we also are being “buried” into the water and then raised out of the water which symbolizes our “resurrection” to new life in Jesus Christ. We baptize individuals who can articulate their conversion experience.

WHY BELIEVER'S BAPTISM?

Importantly, we affirm the biblical teaching that only professed Believers, (i.e. those who are old enough to profess that they have had a conversion experience and have given their lives fully to Jesus Christ for salvation) – should be baptized. AFTER, we have received Christ as Savior, we are called to publicly identify with other Believers within the Church that Jesus has saved us (Luke 12:8). The symbolic act of baptism declares publicly that we desire to walk in obedience with Him (Matthew 28:19). Therefore, the act of Believer’s Baptism is commanded in Scripture for all believers, is a symbolic act for our spiritual resurrection and identification with Christ’s, and is a beautiful public profession that we stand with other Believers of all ages as born-again followers of Christ.

WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

Because of the Lord Jesus:

Jesus was Baptized (Matthew 3:17), demonstrating His own obedience, humility, and the filling of the Holy Spirit. (At Jesus’ baptism, the Trinity was present and God publicly blessed His Son’s example – John 3:17). Jesus Commands that all Believers should be baptized (1John 2:3, Acts 2:38). Jesus authorized His apostles to Make disciples & Baptize them: (Matthew 28:19-20)

The Importance And Meaning Of Baptism:

The Word “Baptize” means to dip, immerse, sink, or plunge. The ancient Greek Word “Baptize” cannot mean to pour-out/over or to sprinkle. The Bible nowhere uses pour/sprinkle as a mode of baptism. Baptize is always used in the New Testament as being “immersed” or dunked.

 

What Baptism Does NOT Mean:

Baptism does not (cannot) save you (Eph. 2:8-9)

Baptism plays NO role in our salvation (Eph. 2:1)

Baptism is not a ‘washing away’ of your sins (Heb. 9:22)

 

What Baptism DOES Mean:

Baptism is a symbol of death/burial/resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12)

Baptism spiritually identifies us with Jesus in a like manner of His death and resurrection.

Baptism is a public profession of Jesus as our Savior & Lord before the Church.

Are you interested in getting baptized? Click here to see our events page and sign up for the next baptism Sunday.

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