What We Believe
SALVATION
IN CHRIST ALONE –
The Bible teaches that the human heart is by nature deeply wicked. We have all sinned against a Holy God and we are deserving of the punishment of death (Romans 3:10-18; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 1:8). Because our sin separates us from God, He sent His son Jesus to be our only Savior. Jesus lived the perfect life we could not live, died the death we deserved to die, and through faith in Him alone can we be saved from the eternal consequence of sin (Romans 3:23-24; Romans 5:6-11; Acts 4:11-12; John 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6).
BY GRACE ALONE –
This salvation that Jesus accomplished cannot be earned by anything good we do. Our sinfulness prevents us from ever being “good enough” to be forgiven by God. Forgiveness is only a gift of God’s grace which means it is completely unearned and undeserved.
We all have sinned and we all need grace (Ephesians 2:1-10).
THROUGH FAITH ALONE –
Not everyone receives this amazing grace that is accomplished through the sacrifice of Jesus. Only those who place their faith and trust in what Jesus did will receive this grace and forgiveness. (Romans 3:22; Hebrews 11:6; John 3:16; Romans 10:9).
Saving faith is a trust in the work of Jesus and it is always accompanied by repentance, the turning away from one’s sin, and the following of Jesus as both Lord and Savior.
Mission
TO GLORIFY GOD –
From the beginning, God has desired to make Himself known. We see this showing up as early as Genesis 1:27 when God made man into His own image. God’s goal for man has always been to bring Him glory. When sin entered the world, it distorted man’s reflection of God’s image, Jesus has now worked in the hearts of believers to restore that image (2 Corinthians 3:18). As we begin to look more like Jesus, we give God more and more glory and this increasing glory to God is the purpose of God’s People (Romans 15:5-7; Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 4:11).
BY MAKING DISCIPLES –
At River of Hope Baptist Church, our goal is to “Reach the Lost and Disciple the Saved.”
The best way that we can glorify God is by knowing Him and leading others to Jesus. The Bible calls this making disciples or in other words leading others to become followers of Jesus, baptizing them and teaching them all that Jesus commanded!
This is the mission to which God has called every follower of Jesus (Matthew 4:19; Matthew 28:16-20; 2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10; Colossians 2:24-29; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21).
OF ALL NATIONS –
Reaching the lost and discipling the saved is not restricted to just River of Hope Baptist Church of Carnesville, GA.
God has called all of us to carry the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth and to people who have never heard that there is forgiveness in Jesus Christ alone (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:16-20).