What We Believe
Mission Statement: Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church is committed to fulfilling the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19 which says, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son an of the Holy Spirit. We will accomplish this mission by loving God and others beyond the walls of the church. We will love others regardless of race, nationality, sex, gender or social status. We will REACH UP, REACH IN and REACH OUT:
REACH UP- To the Father in Worship in Spirit and in Truth.
REACH IN- To build authentic relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
REACH OUT- To make disciples and meet the needs of the community around us.
We believe that God is the creator and the ruler of the universe.
He has eternally existed in three person: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit [often referred to as the Trinity]. So three co-equal with God and are one God.
2. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
He is co-equal with the Father. He was born of a virgin and lived a perfect, sinless human life. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days, ascended into heaven, and will return again someday to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
3. We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and Son.
He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of Salvation. He provides the believer with power for living, understanding spiritual truth, wisdom and guidance for doing what is right. As Christians, we seek to live under his guidance daily.
4. We believe that the Bible is God’s Word to us.
It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, often called inspiration. It is the supreme source of truth for all Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.
5. We believe that humans are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character.
People are the supreme objects of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.
6. We believe Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it.
We can never make up for our sins by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting Jesus Christ as God’s offer for forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-willed life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
7. We believe Eternity is the soul of every human being was created to live forever.
We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through salvation and forgiveness. Hell is eternal separation from God. Heaven is eternal union with God. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. One’s eternal destination is determined by their response to Jesus Christ.
8. We believe water baptism is an ordinance Jesus asked all His followers to do as an example of their allegiance to Him.
The concept of it is often times misconstrued, as one isn’t “forgiven of sin” through baptism, but simply revealing the fact that they have found forgiveness in Christ through the repentance of their sins. In fact, the only thing needed to be “qualified” for water baptism is you’ve received forgiveness of sin through faith in Jesus.
9. We believe children are a gift from God, and that the church and parents should partner together in each child’s spiritual growth.
Instead of infant baptisms, we offer parents the opportunity to dedicate their children to the Lord: publicly stating that you are going to raise that child in the ways of God using the Bible as your only source of spiritual direction, and helping them understand who Jesus is, the radical sacrifice He made for them on the cross, and the crazy amount of joy found in serving him.
10. We believe Christians should commit to regular and consistent involvement in the local church through membership.
We believe the hope of the world is through the local church. When a local body of believers commits to live out the great commission of Jesus Christ together they can change their community. We see the next step in participating in the mission of the church, is to take ownership of the church through membership.