- Rolleston Baptist Church Constitution, adopted, 02 Nov 2014/2016.
What is the Gospel?
The gospel is the biblical truth that the eternal, holy creator of the Universe, planned before the foundation of the world a means for sinful men and women to be reconciled to Himself.
Each of us has sinned against God, breaking His law and rebelling against His rule, and fully deserving of eternal punishment in hell.
But in God’s love, he sent His Son Jesus Christ, fully God and fully Man, to live a perfect, sinless life in obedience to the Father. Jesus then submitted to the Father, and suffered a cruel death on a cross, and satisfying the divine wrath of God for the sins of the world.
Jesus then rose triumphant from the grave three days later, conquering sin and death for all those who put their faith in Him alone for their salvation. (Matt 1:21; Luke 1:68; Eph 1:7; Col 1:20). He now reigns in heaven, and offers forgiveness of sin, righteousness in Him, and hope of eternity in God’s presence for all who repent of sin and trust in Him.
Watch these two Gospel presentations.
What is a Christian?
- Someone who has received the new birth as a free gift from God (John 1:12-13; John 3:1-15; Ephesians 2:8-9).
- Someone who has confessed their sins to God seeking His forgiveness and placed their trust in Jesus Christ, and Him alone for present and future hope of salvation.
- Someone who loves Jesus and seeks to follow Him each day, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What is the Church?
In one sense it is made up of all of those who are true Christians from all time and from all over the world.
Yet, the Bible mostly speaks of the church in a local sense. The church is the body of Christ. It is a local gathering of true Christians who have covenanted themselves together in membership for the purpose of mutual edification aiding each other in their growth to the fullness of God in Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16).