About the Church in the Word of God
NWCC is truly a non-denominational Bible church. We decry the human creeds that divide Christianity and seek to follow the Bible only as God’s only source of revelation for a knowledgeable faith--objective truth. The following statements are meant not as a “creed,” per se, but as a means to reassure people that we strive to be “simply Christians.” That is, we seek to be the Church Christ died to establish and that existed in the first century in its most pristine form—the Kingdom of God on earth! Thus, we call ourselves by one of several biblical names that honor that Lord Jesus Christ, including the Christian Church. (See Acts 2 through 11, especially, for the first 30+ years of the Church.) Our church is locally "governed" and served by elders/shepherds, with ministry leaders, including some "ordained," as well as other biblically qualified servant/leaders. (1 Timothy 3:1-12; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Corinthians 9:13-17, etc.)
In summary, we believe the Bible to be the only inspired and authoritative Word of God. Where the Bible speaks, we speak. Where the Bible is silent, we strive to remain silent and open to other views. In matters related to the stated scriptural Truth we are committed to biblical authority over human doctrines; where there are matters of opinion that do not compromise scripture we allow great latitude; and in all matters we strive to love the Lord and others. (Matthew 22:37-40; 2 Timothy 2:15, 16; Hebrews 1:1, 2; 2 Peter 3:16-18, etc.) Therefore...
About God
The Word of God teaches that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all things, upholds all things, and governs all. However, the Bible teaches that humankind is "fallen" and tends toward sin if left to our own devices. God gives us "free will" and permits us the freedom to make choices, good and bad. (John 1; Ephesians 1; Galatians 5:13-15, etc.)
About Humankind
The Word of God teaches that humankind was created by God to exist forever. (Genesis 1-3; John 3-4, Isaiah 40:8, etc.) We will either exist eternally in union with God through his love and redemptive grace in Christ, or be separated from God by our sin. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. To be eternally separated from God is hell. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence. (Luke 12; Revelation 21, 22, etc.)
About Jesus Christ
The Word of God teaches that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God who was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18-25, etc.), lived a sinless life (Hebrews 2:18, 4:15, etc.), died on a cross, and was raised from the grave (Luke 24:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, etc.). He will return one day as our victorious Lord. (Matthew 24:30, 31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, etc.) We accept the Bible's assertion that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and that there is salvation in no one else. (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9-11, etc.)
About the Holy Spirit
The Word of God teaches that the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as one God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also comes to live within every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, help in understanding spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Word of God, and the Christian seeks to live under His control daily. (John 14:25, 26; Acts 2:38; Galatians 5:22-25, etc.)
About Salvation
The Word of God teaches that for the salvation of lost and sinful humankind, regeneration (to be “born again”) by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. That salvation cannot be gained by human effort, but only through responding to God's grace in the redemption He provided through Jesus Christ. Redemption comes by faith and leads to a life devoted to obeying God. (John 3:3-17; Romans 5:8, etc.)
About Baptism
The Word of God teaches that repentant believers must confess faith in Christ before witnesses and be baptized in water (biblically, only by immersion, depicting the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ) in obedience to his command. Our members are baptized into Christ, not into the church. (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 10:8-10; Acts 2:36-42; Romans 6:1-14; 1 Peter 3:18-22, etc.)
About Communion
The Word of God teaches that by observing the Lord's Supper at least every Sunday (the “first day of the week,” and “Lord’s Day”, Acts 20:7, etc.), we participate in the practice of the early church. In this time of “communion” with God and one another we are remembering the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. During communion, we take time to examine ourselves because we are proclaiming His death until he comes again. (Matthew 26:25-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32, etc.)
About Love
We believe the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ's unconditional (agape) love, which is greater than any differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim to be Christians. (John 3:16, 17; 13:34, 35; 1 Peter 4:8, etc.)
We believe that, because all believers are spiritually united in the Lord Jesus Christ, we should cooperate in all possible ways in God's desire for his Church to “to seek and to save the lost” with our fellow believers, both those among us and elsewhere, loving and being patient with one another in our differences. (Matthew 28:18-20; John 17; Acts 2:47, etc.)
About Worship
The worship of God must be a spiritual act (from the mind and the heart); therefore, we rely upon the leading of the Holy Spirit through study and prayer in the planning and implementation of our worship services. (John 4:21-26; 1 Corinthians 14:26, 40, etc.)
The worship of God should include time for praise; therefore, we give emphasis to the music in our worship. (Psalm 100; Ephesians 5:19, 20; Colossians 3:16, 17, etc.)
We believe that the worship of God should be in truth; therefore, our services are designed with great emphasis upon the teaching the Word of God. We emphasize the Word of God in order for its message to be applied to a person's life, leading to greater maturity in Christ. (John 4:21-26; John 8:31; John 14:6; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:14-17, etc.)
In Summary
We believe that the Church should follow the design laid out in the New Testament with dependency on the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us, under Jesus Christ as the "Head" of the Church. Every part of the "body of Christ" is "gifted" by God and has an important part in the church's growth and development, including the growth of individual Christians to assume places of Christ-like "servant-leadership." (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-16, etc.) Like the Church of the New Testament, the local church is to encourage men to aspire to the place of ultimate leadership in the Church: Elders and various kinds of pastoral leadership. (Acts 20:13-26; 1 Corinthians 3:1-8; 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 5:17-19; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:7, 17, etc.)
We pray that the above information is helpful. We encourage you to call or email our offices with any questions. Even better, we encourage you to visit us on a Sunday!