Gateway Church of Christ is
an independent, nondenominational fellowship. We maintain no creed but Christ
and the Scriptures. We stand in obedience where the Scripture speaks and mature
freedom where they are silent. The Christian church seeks to emulate the
Apostolic church of the New Testament. Our sacraments are baptism by immersion
and the partaking of the Lord's Supper every Lord's Day as it was done from the
beginning.
The Christian Churches/Churches of Christ are composed of about 5,500 churches
across the United States & around the world with a total membership of over
two million. National conventions meet annually for the purposes of fellowship
and counsel but have no authority over each independent congregation. The
churches develop leadership through 59 Bible colleges and seminaries in which
over 9,000 students are enrolled.
The church also ministers through over 1,000 other para-church agencies such as
evangelistic associations, church camps, benevolence groups, children's homes,
nursing homes, publishing houses, and more. We have a number of publications
(all independent); the most notable is the Christian Standard that was formed
in 1866. Churches and individuals support these programs on a voluntary
basis.
For the most part, churches in our brotherhood use either the name Christian
Church or Church of Christ. There are a variety of other names also in use. We
desire the unity of Christ's disciples (as Jesus prayed), but we do not seek
unity for unity's sake. Unity must come from the truth.
We hold to the position that the New Testament, and the New Testament alone,
needs to be our rallying point for union. For nearly two hundred years, we have
identified ourselves with the following:
This is what we believe and teach:
God is the one and only Sovereign Creator. God is a
spiritual being. He is holy (without sin), all knowing, all powerful,
everywhere present, and eternally existent. Ex. 3:14-15,1.Tim. 6:15-16,
Isa. 40:13-14, Jn. 4:24, Ps. 90:1-6)
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are
distinct personalities with distinct roles, but one God. (Mt. 28:19, Jn. 1:1-2;10:30; 14:7-10, 25-26, Col. 1:15-19,
Heb 1:1-4)
Jesus became "God in the flesh". He existed in the
beginning with God, and was God. He then was born a man through the miracle of
the virgin birth by the power of the Holy Spirit. Despite temptation, He lived
a sinless life. (Mt.
1:18-25, Lk. 1:26-45, Jn. 1:1-2; 14, Heb. 4:14-15)
Jesus was crucified and died a physical death as an
atonement for the sins of mankind. he experienced a physical resurrection from
the grave. (Lk.23:23-24,
53, 1 Cor 15:3-8, 1 Jn. 2:2)
Jesus came in the flesh as our Savior; He will return in
the future in bodily form as the victorious Lord of the universe. At that time,
He will gather together His followers and will pass judgment upon those who
have rejected Him. (Mk.
13:32-37; Acts 1:9-11; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 9:27-28)
The Holy Spirit lives within those who believe in Jesus
Christ. He is our Comforter, our Advocate, and He helps us to become more like
Jesus in thought, word, deed and character. (Gal.
2:20-21, Jn. 13:15-17; 16:5-15)
| Mankind, Sin, and Salvation |
Men and women were created in the image of God, but are
now separated from God by sin. (Isa.
64:6-7; Rom. 3:23, 5:12-21, 6:23; 1 Jn. 1:8)
Faith (belief and trust) in Jesus - based on His
sacrifice on the cross - is the only way for men and women to be reconciled
with God. (Jn.
14:6, Acts 4:8-12; Rom. 3:25-26)
Salvation, offered through Jesus is based upon grace,
not merit. Salvation therefore can not be earned; it is a gift from God. What
we could not do for ourselves (reconcile our relationship with God), Jesus did
for us through His death on the cross. (Eph.
2:8-9)
God lovingly offers salvation to every person; every
person has the freedom to accept or reject this gift from God at any time. (Jn.
3:16-18; 1 Tim. 2:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:9)
Faith (belief and trust) in Jesus requires repentance
(conforming our lifestyle to that of Christ). Faith in Jesus results in
obedience. Baptism, by immersion, demonstrates our response to God's offer of
salvation as a pledge of willingness to live for Him. (Acts
3:19; 2:38; 8:26-38; Rom. 6:1-4; 1 Pet. 3:21)
We believe the Bible is inspired by God and is therefore
without error or contradiction, and is the sole authority for faith and
practice. All our beliefs come from the Bible. (2
Tim. 3:15-16; 2 Pet. 3:15-16; Jn. 17:17)
The Church of Jesus Christ is not limited to any one
institution or denomination; it consists of all who have placed their trust in
Jesus Christ to provide redemption for their sins. Gateway Church of Christ
therefore is but one part of the total Church. (1
Cor 12:12-17; Eph 4:4-6)
Membership at GCofC is extended to all people who are
members of Christ's Church. This means they have established a trusting faith
in Jesus to provide redemption from their sins, according to this simple Bible
formula:
1. Acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
2. Repent of your sins
3. Confess Jesus as Lord
4. Be baptized by immersion (Acts
2:36-41; 16:29-34, Rom. 10:8-10)