Salvation
Home History Salvation Vision Ministry Visit Us End Notes

 

II. OUR SALVATION

         As one reads through the book of Acts in the New Testament, it becomes clear that the early church was comprised of various people who had undergone a radical transformation. As the apostle Paul says in his second letter to the Corinthian church, "When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same any more. A new life has begun!" (2)

        As the good news of Jesus Christ continued to spread throughout the world of that time, the bearers of this message were eventually called "Christians," meaning "followers of Christ."(3) This is an important point, because in our society today, the word "Christian" can have different meanings to different people. For example, one person might think that a Christian is someone who is a good person. Someone else might think that being raised in a church makes one a Christian. At Durham Covenant Life Church we want you to clearly understand what the Bible says a Christian is.

        Briefly then, let us examine what the Bible says is required of a person who wants to become a follower of Christ:

  1. YOU MUST BELIEVE - The first step is to "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ."(4) Such belief is not merely the accepting of certain facts about Christ intellectually but following the biblical example, a believer is someone who has a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Such a believer is also someone who has "received Christ Jesus as Lord."(5)
  2. YOU MUST REPENT - The person who believes in Jesus Christ must turn from his or her sins in order to know God. Such a view means that "a radical change in mind or purpose" must occur in the life of a believer, "resulting in a change in action or lifestyle." (6) On the Day of Pentecost, Peter's first directive to those who wanted to know more was, "Repent..."(7)

         As a result of making a commitment to become a follower of Jesus Christ, it is our firm conviction at Durham Covenant Life Church that every person should:

  1. BE BAPTIZED IN WATER -  After Peter told the people who were listening to him to repent, he said, "and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins."(8) This is why we believe that water baptism is not an option for the believer, it is a commandment from the Lord! water baptism must always follow a confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
  2. ASK TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - Every believer requires the power of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life. This is why the Scriptures make it clear that receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is a baptism (or immersion) in the Spirit's presence and power. Through such a baptism, every believer can enter into the fullness of his or her salvation with all its wonderful promises and blessings.

         It is important for every person to understand that in order to fully participate in the life of our church community, every believer is expected to repent, be baptized in water, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Our conviction is that these essential requirements constitute the basis of normal Christian living as revealed in the New Testament.