What We Believe About Salvation
“In its most basic sense, salvation is the saving of a life from death or harm. Scripture, particularly the New Testament, extends salvation to include deliverance from the penalty and power of sin.” Holman Bible Dictionary When pondering the meaning of salvation, most people think about the soul, heaven and eternity. Questions like, “How can I have salvation?”, “How do I get to heaven?”, “Can I really know God?” are often asked. There are many answers, but not all are correct. A wrong answer to these questions can be devastating and will lead a person down many disappointing and frustrating paths. On the other hand, finding the truth leads to a life of inner peace and lifelong purpose. Let’s look at some of the misconceptions and then look to the Bible for the truth.
COMMON MISCONCEPTION #1 - “I’m as good as the next person. I try to live a good life and let others live their lives.” THE TRUTH: You can never be good enough to earn salvation. This fact is clearly stated in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.” Grace is the gift of undeserved forgiveness, mercy, and love of God. You and I need this grace. We could never do enough to earn it, or be good enough to deserve it. In other words, we must Admit that we’ve done wrong and need a savior. Simple? Yes! Easy? No! Our pride fights us every step of the way. Admit that I’ve done wrong? Admit that I need a savior? That’s tough. Yes it is, but we’re all in the same boat. We read these words in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. . .” That’s the bad news. The good news is found in the very next verse: Romans 3:24, “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” The word redemption originally meant “to pay the required price to secure the release of a convicted criminal.” We’ve all done wrong, but Jesus loved us so much he was willing to die on a cross to secure our salvation. Now that we’ve cleared up the first misconception, let’s look at the second.
COMMON MISCONCEPTION #2 - “We are all trying to get to the same place. There are many paths to God, just pick the one that works for you.” THE TRUTH: All paths do not lead to God. In fact, Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Some see this statement as exclusive and intolerant. In reality, God wants to include everyone, yet he allows individuals the freedom to choose. We see this in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:17: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Did you notice that “God so loved the world, that whoever believes in him would not perish”? God wants everyone to know his love so he simplified things for us by giving us one path to salvation. In other words, we don’t have to become a student of world religions and then try to discern which ones give us the best shot at God. The Bible is the revealed truth of God, and as such, can be completely trusted to guide us to true salvation. While God wants everyone to be saved, some opt out by refusing to accept his free gift. In order to receive we must Believe. We read in Romans 10:9, “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
COMMON MISCONCEPTION #3 - “I was raised in church. My family have always been church people and I go when I can.” THE TRUTH: God desires a personal relationship with you! Many people think that a religious upbringing or church attendance is all that is needed for salvation. However, true salvation is based on a personal relationship with God. In order for this relationship to begin, we must Commit our lives to Christ and receive him as our personal savior. We read in John 1:12, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God . . .” In other words, God loves us, desires to save us and has a wonderful plan for our lives. However, he will not force his love on us. We must choose. Listen to these words found in Romans 10:12-13, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” All good relationships are based on trust. When we call on the name of the Lord and commit our lives to him, we are placing our trust in him. We are trusting in his love, his grace, his forgiveness, his righteousness, his faithfulness and his gift of salvation.
Let me sum things up this way. You may have noticed three words that were highlighted and underlined. Admit, Believe, Commit! We call this the A, B, C’s of salvation. Admit you need a savior. Believe that Jesus sacrificed his life for you on the cross. Commit your life to God by calling on his name and receiving all that comes from being a child of God, most importantly, SALVATION. Here’s a sample prayer. Jesus, I admit I have done wrong and I need forgiveness. I need a savior. I believe you gave your life on an old rugged cross and took the punishment for the wrong things I have done. You must love me so much and I’m thankful. I commit my life to you and ask you to come into my heart and life. With your Spirit and strength, I will live my life for you. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
May God bless you as you grow daily in your relationship with Him!
Bro. Larry
What We Believe About Baptism
What is Baptism?
As described in the Baptist Faith and Message: Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to a believer’s faith in the final resurrection of the dead. We believe baptism to be a conscious choice of the believer to follow, in obedience, the commands of Christ.
“Baptism Paints a Picture”
Our pastor, Bro. Larry McEwen, describes baptism as, “painting a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.” Baptism is an obedient, symbolic act which ascribes honor to God when fulfilled in accordance to the Holy Scriptures. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward experience. That inward experience is accepting Christ as your Savior. Baptism symbolizes Jesus’ death and burial when the candidate for baptism is immersed under the water. It symbolizes Jesus’ resurrection, and our new life, when the candidate is raised out of the water.
Who Should be Baptized?
As Baptists, we at Northshore practice “Believer’s Baptism.”
A “believer” is one who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. According to Acts 2:38, only those who had repented of their sins should be baptized. Though infant baptism is predominate in many religions, we do not perform infant baptism.
Why be Baptized?
To follow the example set by Jesus . . . Mark 1:9
Because Christ Commands it . . . Matthew 28:19-20
It demonstrates a belief in the Lord . . . Acts 18:8
Why be Baptized by Immersion?
Because Jesus was baptized that way . . . Matthew 3:16
Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion . . . Acts 8:38-39
Additional Biblical References:
Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20
Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26
Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20
John 3:23
Acts 2:41; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7
Romans 6:3-5
1 Corinthians 10:16, 21; 11:23-29
Colossians 2:12
Understanding Purpose
Our Mission: Northshore Church exists to change worship, people and the world!
The Northshore Process
We encourage people to:
1. Come to Worship - Worship is a lifestyle rooted in a relationship with God. Worship can involve singing, praising and prayer, but true worship is a lifestyle that extends beyond corporate worship on Sunday mornings.
2. Connect to a Small Group - God calls the church a “family” and gives us specific instructions on how we are to love, support and encourage on another. The Bible states that Christians will be known by the way they love one another (John 13:33,34).
3. Commit to Spiritual Growth - Each Christian is to grow more and more like Jesus. Jesus is the perfect example of love, character, attitude, spiritual discipline and service. As a disciple (follower or student) of Jesus a Christian should strive daily to follow his example.
4. Contribute to Missions - God wants Christians to serve out of love for Him. There are many needs in the world and when we actively meet these needs with the love of Jesus, this is ministry. Each Christian is called and uniquely equipped to do ministry.All Christians have had their lives changed by embracing God’s love and the graceful forgiveness found in Jesus. When Christians share this “good news” with others this is called evangelism.
Questions and Answers
What denomination is NSC?
Northshore Church is a voluntary member of the Southern Baptist Convention. We support the SBC Cooperative Program and are active in our local and state associational levels (more info at www.sbc.net). More importantly, our SBC affiliation gives our church accountability.
What is the Cooperative Program?
The CP is an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention in which individuals,churches, state conventions, and SBC entities cooperate to achieve a common goal: The Great Commission. The CP supports a variety of missions: evangelism efforts, children’s homes, volunteer missions, colleges and universities, camps, foreign and home missions, and much more. Northshore’s contribution to the Cooperative Program is 10% of the tithes received from Covenant Members and other gifts.
How can I get involved in ministry at NSC?
While you do not have to be Covenant Member to be involved in ministry at Northshore, all Leadership Team Members, lead teachers, and Ministry Team leaders must be Covenant Members. If you feel called to serve, JOIN! Sign up for Harbor 101, a class in which you will be given the opportunity to join NSC. There are no “bench warmers” at Northshore. A call to join is a call to serve! Where you serve is determined by your Spiritual Gifts. Harbor 301 will help you determine your Spiritual Gifts and will connect you to a Ministry Team Leader so that you can find out what opportunities are available!
Who makes the decisions at NSC?
God is our ultimate guide. We follow His leadership in order to determine the path set forth by Him for Northshore Church. Decisions are made by the Covenant Membership of Northshore Church. The Covenant Membership is guided by the Staff and a Leadership Team. The Membership empowers the Staff, Leadership Team, and Ministry Teams to make decisions in certain areas.
What kind of missions activities is NSC involved in?
We financially support the Cooperative Program by sending 10% of our tithes every month, and we financially support our Associational Missions by sending 2% of our tithes every month. We also support one new church plant per year. In addition, Northshore Church participates in foreign mission trips to places such as Haiti and Guatemala each year. Locally, we are involved in various communities missions such as playground repair for in-need apartment complexes.How are the ministries supported and the bills paid at NSC?
Northshore Church operates solely from the tithes and offerings of its Covenant Members as well as gifts received from other individuals. What are tithes and offerings? Why do we give tithes and offerings? A “tithe” is recognized as 10% of an individuals income which is offered to God as an act of gratitude for all that He has given us. An “offering” is anything above and beyond a tithe. We give tithes and offerings in obedience to God’s Word. The Bible teaches that everything we have comes from God. We simply offer part of what God has given us back to Him to be used in His ministry. God doesn’t need or want our money, He simply wants our obedience.
What if I have more questions?
We don’t want to leave any question unanswered, so here are ways that you can learn even more about Northshore Church!
Set up a visit with the Pastor or another Staff member by filling out a commuication card and placing it in the offering basket or by contacting us via phone or email
