Our Doctrine
Bible
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the final authority in our understanding of God and life and our supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. It was written by human authors, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
Salvation
We need salvation because we have sinned. Sin separates us from God who desires relationship with us. It is impossible for any person to restore that broken relationship with God by any amount of personal goodness, religious deeds, or by belonging to a church. We cannot earn, merit, or achieve a right relationship with God by our own efforts. The death of Jesus was not an accident. It was God’s plan from the beginning to save us from our sins through the death of Jesus Christ. The Bible calls God’s act of love, grace. His grace is His free gift to us.
God’s gift of salvation is available to any who put their trust in Christ as Savior. It is received through faith by repenting (deciding to turn away from life of sin), confessing Jesus as God’s Son, and being baptized. As we confess Christ as our Lord and are buried through baptism into His death, God forgives our sins and raises us to walk a new life empowered by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 1:16-17; 3:23-24; 5:1; 6:3-8; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 2:37-41; Matthew 28:19-20)
Baptism is an immersion of the consenting believer (one who is old enough to understand right from wrong and the need for forgiveness) in water to wash away their sins and receive the gift (indwelling presence) of the Holy Spirit. This places the believer into the body of Christ.
Those who have already been baptized as described above before coming to Painter Creek do not need to be baptized again. For those who are not, we would consider it a privilege to be a part of this important step.
Transformation
Beyond saving us, God wants to transform us into the image of His Son. Transformation is enabled by God’s grace and grows as we continually align our will more closely with His will. (Philippians 2:12; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18)
Church
The church is the body of Christ on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit to reach those separated from God and to mature the saved and help them become fully devoted followers of Christ. When we respond to the grace of God in faith, He adds us to His church, the body of Christ. (Acts 2:41-47; Ephesians 4:1-16; 5:29-30)
One day Christ will return, final judgment will occur, the image of Goe will be completely restored within us and we will be with Christ forever in heaven. Those who reject Him will be eternally separated from Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 John 3:2; Acts 1:11)
He is Changing Lives Daily!!