What We Believe
40 South Main Street
Croton, Ohio 43013
740-893-3191
crotonchurch@embarqmail.com
What We Believe

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by
International Bible Society. Used by permission.
All rights reserved worldwide.

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God given to humankind to
provide us a picture of who God is and what He wants for our lives.  The central aspect
of the Bible (and of all history) is Jesus Christ.  The Bible shows Jesus to be the Son of
God.  Because of His human mother, Mary and His divine origin from God, we
understand that Jesus is both fully human and fully Divine.  Jesus is able to totally
comprehend our human predicament because of his earthly experience.  He is also
able to handle the most serious problem of every human being:  personal sin keeping
us from the presence of a holy God.

Jesus came to earth for a variety of reasons.  He teaches us by His example
how to live life on a daily basis.  He showed compassion on the multitudes of the first
century by His teaching and physical healings (as shared in the Gospel accounts).  
Above all else, Jesus came to earth to die.  Jesus Christ suffered a terrible death on the
cross to pay the price for our sins.  His death was the ultimate sacrifice, showing us love
from God.  Jesus died for our sins.

The Bible shares the plan of salvation for every person.  One comes to a saving
relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.  There is no merit or work involved
on the part of the one coming to Christ.  Jesus Christ paid the price for us.  "8For it is
by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it
is the gift of God 9not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9
NIV).

An individual accepts the free gift of salvation by responding to the Bible¹s plan.
1. Faith or belief in Jesus Christ.  "6And without faith it is impossible to please
God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that
he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)                      
(See also Romans 10:9,10)
2. Repentance.  This is simply a Biblical word meaning "to turn."  We turn from our life
of sin sorrowful that we have lived against God's will, and turn toward the life Jesus
Christ calls us to.  "19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be
wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may
send Christ, who has been appointed for you even Jesus" (Acts 3:19,20 NIV)  
(See also Acts 2:38)
3. Publicly share your faith.  "32Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also
acknowledge him before my Father in heaven." (Jesus quoted in Matthew 10:
32 NIV)
4. Be baptized.  Our understanding of Scripture is that the repentant believer comes to
relationship in Christ at the point of baptism.  When the believer is baptized into Christ,
sins are washed away and God's Spirit comes to dwell within the individual.  Scripture
calls this the "new birth."4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism
into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the
glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:4 NIV).  "38Peter
replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38 NIV).

We meet together on Sundays and other times during the week for the purpose of
training, encouragement, to fellowship with one another and especially
for the purpose of fellowship with the Lord.  It is our practice to be involved in a very
simple, but meaningful meal every Sunday.  You may hear the terms "communion" or
"The Lord's Supper."  We follow the instructions of Christ to eat a bit of unleavened
bread or wafer and a small amount of grape juice to remember Jesus Christ - His body
and blood that were given for us. This is a special time for Christians to meditate, pray
and fellowship with the Lord.

Please let us know of questions you may have about salvation, the Bible or
the church.  We are very willing to talk with you at your convenience.  May the Lord
bless you in your efforts to accept His Word (the Bible) and His Son, Jesus Christ.

For more information read the following:


God’s Plan of Salvation


“10I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  11I
have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  12Praise be
to you, O Lord; teach me your decrees.”
Psalm 119:10-12 (NIV)


The Bible

“16All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)  Since the Bible, God’s
Word, is given to us through His inspiration, it naturally stands to reason that He is
guiding man to understand what His will is in our lives.  His Word teaches us that our
sinning (missing the mark) is not pleasing to Him and that the pay for our sin is death,
separation from God.  He also teaches us that the cost for redeeming us from our sin
has been paid by Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

“21Now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to
which the Law and the Prophets testify.  22This righteousness from God comes
through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference, 23for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by
His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  25God presented
Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood…”  Romans 3:21-25
(NIV)  In that God would give such a Supreme Sacrifice as a gift to save man, easily
tells us His will is that no man be lost to sin.  God also inspired the apostle Paul to write “
23The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NIV)  The scriptures many, many times over, tells us of God’s
love for us and that Jesus was God in the flesh coming to save us from punishment
eternally for our shortcomings.

Certainly, one of the most well known of these is John 3:16 as the apostle John heard
Jesus explain to Nicodemus (a Jewish ruler). “16For God so loved the world that He
gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but
have everlasting life.  17For God did not send His Son into the world to
condemn the world but to save the world through Him.  18Whoever believes in
Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned
already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”  
John 3:16-18 (NIV)  In that God would love and sacrifice so much for man He would
undoubtedly place in His written Word to us His necessary plan of how man may be
saved from the wages of his sin.  Let us now look at God’s plan that man may be saved.

Faith

The Bible tells us about faith and how totally vital it is in God’s close relationship to us.
“1Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Faith then is believing and trusting God when there is no proof
except His promise in His word. The Bible is filled from front to back with examples of
people who walked forward with nothing more than a promise from God that He would
pave the way if they would only trust and obey.  Hebrews, the eleventh chapter, names
many of the great people of faith who trusted God.

“6Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to
Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek
him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)  His plan is very clear.  We must have faith that God exists
and this often becomes clear by being exposed to His Word.  Exposure is most
frequently made by hearing the Word by discussion and preaching of the Good News of
Jesus being the only Savior of the world. “14How, then, can they call on the One
they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the One of whom they
have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them.”
Romans 10:14 (NIV) The early Christians followed Jesus’ plan of salvation and
preached of importance, the fact that Jesus came from Heaven, (John 3:13), preached
of his Kingdom, the church, (John 3:2), died on the cross for our sins, (Romans 5:8),
rose from the grave victorious over death, (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Everyone who
comes to Christ for salvation trusts that Jesus came into the world to save us and this
was accomplished on the crucifixion cross at Calvary.  “25He (Jesus) was delivered
over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Romans
4:25. “6Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the
Father except through Me.”  John 14:6 (NIV) Acquiring true faith in Jesus Christ is
the most important gain you will ever obtain in this life for it is the first step to eternal life
in the paradise of unending Heaven.  Other scripture to help in understanding and
building faith in Jesus are, Romans 1:16; Acts 2:36-38; Acts 16:30, 31, 34; Romans 10:
17; John 20:24-31; 1 John 5:3-5 (NIV)

Repentance

After hearing God’s Word and coming to faith that you are separated from God and lost
in sin, the natural response would be “I want the salvation offered through Jesus Christ
to regain that relationship with the Heavenly Father.” To repent is to change a mind,
purpose, to turn your direction in life for the better and to do it for the rest of your life
while on earth.  If life was a road and as we travel that road we come to a “Y” in that
road, one way leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ and the other the road of sin
separating us from God;  sadly, we have all taken that road of sin as we have seen in
Romans 3:23 (NIV) “23All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.” Jesus
tells us we have a need to “repent” turn around and come back to him; otherwise we will
perish on this road of destruction of our eternal soul. “3& 5I tell you, no! But unless
you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:3& 5 (NIV)

Hearing the Word of God causes us to repent as it did on Pentecost fifty days after
Jesus’ resurrection and the first Christian sermon was preached to many who had
called for Jesus’ crucifixion.  Realizing that they were guilty of their wrong doing, they
repented and called out “what shall we do?” “36Therefore let all Israel be assured of
this:  God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.  
37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and
the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Acts 2:36-37 (NIV)  
Repentance is more than being sorry for sin or sorry for getting caught in sin.
Repentance is Godly sorrow for the sin and turning around with truly heartfelt deep
regret with resolve to do your best to not get involved in that sin again.

Peter is an example of one who truly repented after denying knowing Jesus three times
the night He would be led away to be crucified.  After realizing what he had done, Godly
sorrow brought bitter tears to this rugged fisherman. “62He went outside and wept
bitterly.” Luke 22:62 (NIV) There is never another record of Peter ever denying Jesus
again.  As we walk in this world, we have a tendency to compare ourselves to others
and we can always find one who seems worse than ourselves.  But sin, any sin,
separates us from God, thus we need to repent.  Sins such as jealousy, gossip, self
gratification all lead us from God’s will (see Galatians 5:13-21 for a list of many sins
common to man’s indulging sinful nature).

When we fail in any sin, we are guilty of breaking all of the law that God would have us
keep. “10Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point are
guilty of breaking all of it.”  James 2:10 (NIV) Only you alone can decide to repent
of your own sin.  Without true repentance in your heart for your sin, you can not be
saved from that sin.  Other scriptures to help you on your return to the Lord are:  Acts
17:30; Psalm 14:1-3. Take time to read the touching story called “The Lost Son” in
Luke 15:11-32.  See the lost son as yourself and the father as the Heavenly Father.
Look for love, failure, regret, concern, trust, forgiveness, rejoicing, faith and repentance.


Confession

Another step in God’s plan of salvation is the “Good Confession”.  This step is certainly
not to be taken lightly as it is so personal and important to the new and continued life in
Christ Jesus.  As we will see after making the initial confession publicly before being
baptized into Christ, you will want to, and are expected to continue to confess to others
that Jesus is your personal Savior.  There is only one confession in the New Testament
“16…You are the Christ (Anointed One) the Son of the Living God.” Matthew 16:
16  (NIV)

Man has abused this truth in so many ways such as confessing sins to a clergy,
confessing sins before the church, and teaching that the church was built on Peter and
not the fact that Jesus is the Messiah.  People have added many other religious
sounding lines when a new soul comes to confess they want Jesus to be their personal
Savior.  There is no place in scripture that such additions are found nor approved by
Jesus or the apostles.  The first confession of who Jesus is, was at His baptism as God’
s voice said “17…This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:17 (NIV)    Again, God spoke at Jesus’ transfiguration. He said “5…This is
My Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” Matthew 17:5
(NIV)  Though missing in a few early manuscripts and found in some margins, the
Ethiopian eunuch confessed “37...I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”  
Acts 8:37 (NIV) Jesus said “32Whoever acknowledges Me before men; I will also
acknowledge him before my Father in Heaven.” Matthew 10:32 (NIV) This verse
calls for a public confession of faith in Jesus, God’s Son and Savior.  It also implies that
we are to confess and keep on confessing this faith.

The letter to the Romans was written to Christians who had already confessed Christ as
shown above but were now encouraged to continue that confession.  “9If 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.  10For it is with your heart that you
believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are
saved.”  Romans 10:9,10 (NIV) Other scriptures to help and encourage your
confession that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of God” are:  Philippians 2:10, 11; Isaiah 45:
23-25; 1 John 4:15; Romans 14:11-12, 1 Timothy 6:11-16.

Baptism

Baptism is God’s final step in becoming a Christian and being added to His church.  
This act of obedience is a beautiful experience and one cherished through life as a
reminder that you truly belong to Jesus Christ and that your sins are forgiven because
of His blood being shed on the cross of Calvary.
Scripture teaches that at baptism, you experience a death to sin, a burial of those sins
and a resurrection to a new life beginning in Jesus Christ.  “1What shall we say,
then?  Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  2By no means!  We
died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don’t you know that all of us
who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  4We were
therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as
Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may
live a new life.”  Romans 6:1-4 (NIV)
In baptism, we walk down into the water with all of our past sins.  We are immersed
under the water burying our past life along with its sins.  And then we rise from the
water forgiven of our sins to live a new life with Jesus our Savior.
This event has over the years been changed in its administration by men, not Jesus or
His inspired apostles and writers of the New Testament.  A brief look at the word from
the original Greek language and practice of the early church will show how it was
performed.

We get our word “baptism” from the Greek word “baptisma” – the process of immersion,
submersion, and emergence. “Bapto” or “baptizo” – to dip.  Some have included the
word to plunge under. The word is never translated to “pour” or “sprinkle”.

The Greek does have words to describe this practice.  “Cheo” – meaning to pour
“7…she poured on His head...” Matthew 26:7 (NIV) “Rhantizo” - to sprinkle “13…the
ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those…” Hebrews 9:13 (NIV)

Baptism is an immersion under water as seen in Romans 6:1-4. In the conversion of the
Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-40), we find that after Philip the Christian “35…told him the Good
News about Jesus” Acts 8:35 (NIV), he immersed him in a pool of water along the
road. “38He gave orders to stop the chariot.  Then both Philip and the eunuch
went down into the water and Philip baptized (immersed) him. 39When they
came up out of the water…”  Acts 8:38-39 (NIV) Note: the two went down into the
water and came up out of the water and while they were in the water, he immersed him
into Jesus Christ.

The scripture is very clear and leaves no question regarding the necessity of immersion
in God’s Plan of Salvation.  The first Christian immersions took place in Acts 2, as Peter
responded to the question “37…what shall we do?”  “38 …Repent and be baptized,
(immersed) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness
of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:37-38 (NIV)

Every conversion in the Book of Acts includes baptism. Pentecost (Acts 2:38-41); Philip
and the Ethiopian (Acts 8:37-38); Saul of Tarsus/Paul (Acts 9:18 & Acts 22:16);
Cornelius (Acts 10:47-48); Lydia (Acts 16:15); Philippian jailer (Acts 16:33); Corinthians
(Acts 18:8); and Disciples of John at Ephesus (Acts 19:5).

We should note that the only people baptized for salvation were those mature enough
to understand they were sinners and could make a decision of faith, repenting,
confession and desired to be baptized into Christ for forgiveness.

Other scriptures to help you in understanding baptism and the added blessings upon
obeying this ordinance of God: Matthew 3:13-16; Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15, 16;
John 3:5; John 3:23; Galatians 3:26-27, Colossians 2:12.

Conclusion

When you come to a faith that you want Jesus Christ to forgive your sins that is the time
to follow “HIS PLAN OF SALVATION”.  May God bless you as you consider what He
would have you do. “47b…the Lord added to their number daily those who were
being saved.” Acts 2:47b (NIV)
“2…I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of Salvation.”  2
Corinthians 6:2 (NIV)


Steps in God’s Plan of Salvation

Step 1 – Hearing God’s Word Preached.

“18The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,  but to
us who are being saved it is the Power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
21b…God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save
those who believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:21b (NIV)

Step 2 – Faith

“6Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to
Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek
Him.” Hebrews 11:6  (NIV)

Step 3 – Repentance

“3, 5Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:3, 5  (NIV)

Step 4 – Confession

“32Whoever acknowledges (confesses) Me before men, I will also acknowledge
him before my Father in Heaven.” Matthew 10:32. “16…You are the Christ, the
Son of the living God.”  Matthew 16:16  (NIV)

Step 5 – Baptism

“16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not
believe will be condemned.”  Mark 16:16 (NIV)

Step 6 - Life in Christ

“13He who stands firm to the end will be saved.”  Matthew 24:13 (NIV)

We would love to assist you with:

Questions
Baptism
Daily walk with The Lord
Any other needs you have.
Sunday  School &
Children's Church
9:00 & 10:30 a.m.
Morning Worship  
9:00 & 10:30 a.m.
Evening Bible Study
6:30 PM