WHAT WE BELIEVE

AND WHY WE BELIEVE IT

 

 

The St. Louis Church of Christ…

  • believes the Bible originated with God and was inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20f; Acts 1:16; I Corinthians 2:9-16), is the inerrant word of God that furnishes us completely with all truth on every spiritual subject  (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
  • believes that Jesus has all authority (Matthew 28:18) but He sent the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles into all truth (John 16:13).  
  • believes the Bible is our authority for all we do in word and deed (Colossians 3:17) we must know how to use it in order to know what to practice.  
  • believes that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8).  Grace is what God did in providing us a plan.  Faith is what causes us to obey the plan.  The Bible teaches there are five things on must do to become a Christian.  (1)  One must hear the Word of God.  Hearing is a must because that is the way one gets faith.  (Romans 10:17) (2)  One must believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  (Acts 2:37; Jn. 8:24) Believing is more than just knowing there was a historical man named Jesus who walked upon the earth.  One must believe who He is (John 3:16) and that He was raised from the dead.  (I Corinthians 15:14)  (3)  One must repent of his sins.  (Acts 17:30; 2:38)  Repentance is overcoming self, a determination to try to live above sin and allowing Christ to come first in all things.  (Matthew 6:33)  (4)  One must confess his faith in Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 8:37).  Confession may be making your faith public (I Timothy 6:12).  Think of it as pledging your allegiance to Christ.  (5)  One must be baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3) for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16) in the name of Christ.  Baptism changes our relationship with Christ.  Before baptism, one is on the outside, after baptism, one is on the inside where all the blessings of a spiritual nature are present.  (Ephesians 1:3)
  • believes that the Christian is to let His light shine (Matthew 5:16) and influence others for Jesus.  Each needs to be careful not only to do what is right, but also to never put a stumbling block in the way of others (Romans 14:13). 
  • believes that in His wisdom of God has chosen to work through the local church.  (Acts 13:1; Romans 16:16; Acts 14:23; 20:28; I Peter 5:2; I Timothy 3:5).
  • strives to preach the gospel everywhere (I Thessalonians 1:8), to support as many preachers to do so as it can (2 Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:15-17).  And to train preachers, song leaders, personal workers, teachers, etc.  (2 Timothy 2:2; Ephesians 4:11-16).
  • believes God authorized each local church to care for its own (Acts 2:46; I Timothy 5:16) and send to needy churches unable to care for their own (I Corinthians 16:1-3; 2 Corinthians 8, 9, Acts 11:27-30).  The individual Christian ought to help neighbors (Luke 10) or any he can help.  Christians are to be kind hearted and loving people. (I John. 3:17)