Evangelical Christian Baptism
We believe that God foresaw the fall of the first people into sin, and for this reason prepared the plan of salvation in which Christ would be the Lamb, predestined to be slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8). Christ, at the time determined by God, took upon Himself the sin of the whole world, experiencing because of this the righteous judgment of God; and having perfectly satisfied divine justice, completed full redemption and salvation (Jh 1:29; 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:21).
Salvation is accomplished by God according to grace on the basis of redemption in Jesus Christ. Man receives salvation only through personal and individual conversion to God. Therefore there is “no other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Faith
We believe that for the conversion of a sinner to God faith is necessary, which is given to a man by the work of the Holy Spirit through hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:6; Acts 4:4). Faith has three basic elements:
- understanding of God, His Word, and His will (2 Tim. 1:12)
- submission to God and His Word (Jh 10:27; James 4:7)
- receiving that which God offers (Jh 1:12; Rom. 8:15)
The Holy Spirit through faith leads a person to repentance, awakening him to turn away from dead works and turn to God (Acts 11:21; 26:18; Eph. 2:8). Personal recognition of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the confirmation of true faith, which is accompanied by the works of faith (2 Cor.4:13; Jn.20:28; Rom.10:9-19; Mt.10:32,33; Lk.12:8-9; Acts 8:37).
Repentance and Conversion
We believe that repentance is granted only by God according to His mercy and grace (Mk 1:15; Acts 2:37-38, 11:18; Rom. 2:4). Repentance and conversion consist of: sorrow for sin, acknowledgement of sin before God, leaving sin and receiving Jesus Christ as one’s personal Savior (Pr. 28:13; 2 Cor. 7:10; Acts 26:20).
Repentance is a change of mind, of the emotions, and especially the will of man (Ac.2:37-38, 9:6,20: Lk.15:20; Mt.21:29). The confirming-signs of true repentance are “deeds worthy of repentance” (Ac.26:20; Lk.19:8-9).
Regeneration
We believe that the result of conversion and receiving Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord is the new birth from the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, which is a necessary condition of adoption and entrance into the Kingdom of God (Jh 1:12-13, 3:3; James 1:18; 1 Cor. 4:15; Gal. 3:26).
We believe that through the birth from above a man receives a new nature and the Holy Spirit lives in him (1 Cor.3:16;6:19).
Regeneration is not a mere alteration of the sinful nature of man, but a resurrection of him from a condition of spiritual death, and a resurrection to new life (Jh.3:3,5-6; 1 Cor.6:19; 2 Cor.5:17; Gal.5:17; 1 Pet.2:9; 2 Pet 1:4).
The true signs of regeneration are: a fundamental change in one’s life, love for God and His Word, love of the church and of people, hatred towards sin, thirst for fellowship with God through prayer, and likeness to Christ (1 Jh 3:1, 5:1; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 2:5; Gal. 4:19, 5:13).
Those who have been born again have assurance of salvation which is based upon the Word of God (1 Jn 5:13), the testimony of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:16), and the fact of having received Jesus Christ (Jh 1:12).
Justification
We believe that man, having believed in Jesus Christ, receives justification by faith, not dependent upon the works of the law (Rom. 3:28; 2 Cor. 5:21). By means of justification, the position of the believer before God is changed, which frees him from the consciousness of guilt and fear of condemnation for sin, because Christ took all guilt upon Himself and bore the punishment for it. The righteousness of Christ is credited to the believer, just as if he had never had been guilty. The converted person receives peace with God and the right to posses a glorious inheritance with Christ (Rom. 4:5, 5:1,9, 8:1,17,30).
Adoption
We believe that through the new birth a person receives a new nature and the Holy Spirit dwells in Him (1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19). On the day that a man believes, he becomes a child of God and receives all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges of a Kingdom heir (Jh 1:12; 1 Jh 3:1-2; Gal. 4:1-7). Therefore Scripture does not require a seeking of extraordinary “signs” of salvation (Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:1; 1 Cor. 3:21-23; Eph. 1:3, 4:30; Col. 2:10; 1 Jn 5:11-13).
Having received adoption, the child of God becomes the special object of God’s love (Jn. 17:23), parental care (Lk 12:27-33) and discipline (Heb. 12:5-11), and also has the right of inheritance (1 Pet. 1:3-5; Rom. 8:17) and free access to the Heavenly Father (Eph. 3:12). Children of God are lead by the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:4; Gal. 5:18), and submit to God in everything (1 Jn 5:1-3).
Sanctification
Sanctification is separation from sin, consecration of oneself to God and transformation into the image of Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 4:7; Phil. 2:15; Col. 3:5-8; 2 Cor. 6:17-18).
Growth in Sanctification
INITIAL sanctification is received by a person on the day of his repentance, in which he becomes positionally holy in Christ, having fellowship with Holy God (1 Cor. 1:2, 6:11; Rom. 1:7; Heb. 10:10).
PROGRESSIVE sanctification begins from the day of conversion and continues throughout all of life as a process of being freed in practice from the power and authority of sin, and becoming like the Lord Jesus Christ in life and character (2 Cor.3:18; Eph.4:11-15, 5:27; Phi.3:10-15; 1 Thess.4:1; 2 Pet. 3:18; Rev.22:11).
For this, God has given gracious means:
- The Word of God—is light, spiritual food, and active power for sanctification (Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:1-2; Mt. 4:4; Jh. 13:8; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
- Prayer—through which the believer fellowships with God, praises and honors Him, confesses sins he has committed, opens his desires before God, and always and for everything gives thanks and intercedes for the repentance and salvation of other people (Mt. 26:41; Jh. 4:23-24, 16:23; 1 Jh. 1:9; 1 Thess. 5:17-18; Phi. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1-4).
- The leadership of the Holy Spirit—which consecrates the person and produces fruit in him (1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Thes. 2:13; Eph. 3:16; Gal. 5:22-23), and guides the believer in life in such a way that all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28).
- Constant abiding in Christ by faith—like the branch on a grape-vine, or a member of the body of Christ (Jh. 14:2,5,8; 1 Cor. 12:27).
PERFECTED or entire sanctification occurs at the rapture of the Church, when the resurrection of the dead in the Lord and the transformation of those children of God who are living on earth takes place, and when they receive resurrected bodies without the presence of sin, like the glorified body of the Lord (1 Thess. 3:13, 4:17, 5:23; 1 Jh. 3:2).
The saved will share with Christ in His glory eternally (Jh.17:22; 1 Pet.5:10; 1 Th.2:12; Heb.2:10; 2 Tim.2:10).
Therefore, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb.12:14).