About Fresh Springs Worship Church

ABOUT THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is God’s Word to all of people. It was written by humans under the supernatural inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is the Christians source for authority and truth for Christian living. We believe the entire Bible to be true and without error. II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; I Peter 1:25; Psalm 19:7; Psalm 119:11,105,160; Exodus 24:4; Matthew 5:17-18

ABOUT GOD
We believe God created and sustains the universe. He has always existed in three distinct Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and are one God. He is personal, all knowing, all-powerful, always-present, and good. Genesis 1:1, 1:26-27, 3:22; Exodus 3:14; Psalm 90:2; Jeremiah 10:10; Leviticus 22:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14; Deuteronomy 6:4, 32:6

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is coequal with God and has always existed. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life. He died on the cross for our sins, and He arose from the dead after three days. He ascended to heaven; and all authority has been given to Him. Our salvation is secure in His power over death and sin. He will return again to reign forever. Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-23; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13

ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit has always existed. He is coequal with God: He is the Spirit of God, and from the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit filled every believer. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers which empowers them to serve one another. We believe that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are equally important. Christians should pursue the filling of the Holy Spirit and to yield their day to day activities to His guidance. Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; John 14:16-17,26; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12,3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18

ABOUT PEOPLE
We believe that people were created in the image of God. We were created to be in relationship with Him and to worship Him. Mankind is the pinnacle of Gods creation. However, we have a sinful nature and when we succumb to that nature it separates us from God and cause problems with other people. The final result of sin is spiritual death and eternal separation from God. Genesis 1:26-30,2:5; Isaiah 6:5; Psalm 32:1-5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:20; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; Romans 3:10-18,23; Romans 7:14-25; Romans 8:14-18; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22,3:9-11

ABOUT SALVATION
We believe the only way to receive salvation is through relationship with Jesus Christ. Because of sin that relationship was broken. However because God loves us and longs to be in fellowship with us He. Jesus Christ is the only way people can restore their broken relationship with God and receive salvation. If there were another way to obtain salvation, then Jesus Christ would not have come to earth to die on the cross. Salvation is a free gift from God; though it is free, we must accept it. We cannot earn or merit our salvation. When a person repents (turns from sin) and believes (turns to God in Jesus Christ), they convert and receive salvation and a new life. Salvation restores our relationship with God (justification), moves us to become like Christ (sanctification and finalizing of its purpose when we are made like Christ at death or His Second Coming-- glorification). Salvation is only by the grace and power of God, not by our efforts as Christians. Therefore, we can never lose the gift of salvation. Romans 3:23,5:8,6:23,10:9-10,10:13; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; Galatians 3:26; John 10:29; Hebrews 7:25,10:10-14; I Peter 1:3-5; II Timothy 1:12; Titus 3:5

ABOUT THE CHURCH
We believe that the Head of the church is Jesus Christ. The church is both universal and local. It is universal in the sense that it is composed of "positional members". Scripture is full of references to the once-and-for-all relationship we have with Christ, which happens the instant we give our life to Christ and decide to follow Him. At that moment, we become a "positional member" in the body of Christ. "Positional Membership" is eternal and unchanging. The church is local in the sense that it is composed of "participating members." The Bible urges "positional members" to continue in their spiritual growth journey before becoming "participating members" in a specific local church. During the course of a lifetime a person may be a "participating member" of several different local churches while maintaining a permanent "positional membership" in the Body of Christ. We cannot see the invisible bond of "positional membership" in the Body of Christ, but we can identify those who are the "participating members" here at the Church. Church members are to model the life of Christ. The two ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lord's Supper. The church has pastors, elders, and deacons in servant leadership roles. The leaders of the church are to model the servant leadership of Christ. We believe the local church is autonomous and independent from any external authority or control. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving Him and by making Him known to a lost world. Also, we believe the church is ancient-future, in that we are a continuation of the church which, historically, was birthed in Acts. "Positional Membership" in the church, then, links followers of Christ with believer past, present, and future. Matthew 16:15-19; Acts 2:41-47; Acts 5:11-14; Acts 14:23; Acts 14:27; Acts 15:1-30; Romans 1:7:; I Corinthian’s 1:2; I Corinthian's 3:16; I Corinthians 5:4-5; Ephesians 1:22-23; I Timothy 3:1-15; I Peter 5:1-4; Ephesians 3:8-11; John 17:20-21

ABOUT FAITH AND PRACTICE
We believe that Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of "participating members" in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord. Each Christian is ultimately responsible to God. However, we must not forget that we are responsible for each other. Romans 14