Our Beliefs

Gateway Baptist Church is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention, which has prepared a statement of generally held convictions called the Baptist Faith and Message. The topics here provide only a brief, partial summary.

The Scriptures

We believe the Bible is the inerrant, inspired, and infallible Word of God. God's Word is the final authority for faith and life.

God

We believe there is only one God. He has chosen to reveal Himself in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Sin

We believe men and women are created in the image of God. The sin of Adam marred that image, creating an eternal divide between God and humanity. Every person is born in sin and in need of forgiveness. We believe God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess, repent of their sins, and seek God's mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We believe every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity.

Salvation

We believe the only way a person can have a true, forgiven relationship with God is through Jesus Christ. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and conceived by the Holy Spirit. Jesus be came a man without ceasing to be God. He was tempted in every way, as we are, and remained without sin. Jesus made the sacrifice for our sins on the cross. He died, was buried, and rose to life again on the third day. Our right standing with God is made sure because of His literal and physical resurrection.

We believe God offers eternal life as a free gift. It must be received by faith alone through God's grace alone. The life that comes from this gift is a permanent possession of the one receiving it.

Jesus' Return

We believe in the literal and physical return of Jesus Christ to judge the living and the dead.

The Church

We believe the church is a local body of believers on a mission to enlarge God's Kingdom. The local church is autonomous, free of any external authority or control.

Baptism & Communion

We believe baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances of the church.

the gospel

First, realize that God loves you.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son. So, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Second, realize that everyone is a sinner.

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

Third, realize sin has a price that must be paid.

For the wages of sin is death; but, the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Fourth, realize Jesus died to pay your price.

But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Finally, trust Christ alone for salvation.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:9 & 13

baptism

Baptism is a very important part of following Jesus. Public baptism is a declaration that you are a part of Team Jesus. When Jesus was on earth, He himself was baptized in the Jordan River, and He encouraged those around Him to be baptized also to show that they were his followers.

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water, 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. At Gateway Church, we believe that every follower of Jesus should be baptized by full immersion in water.

If you have any more questions or would like to be baptized please let us know!