Loving God, Loving People
God loves you, and His invitation to come to Him is good news. Whatever your past, you can learn what Jesus has done for you and how to respond to Him.
The gospel begins with Jesus: He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Our hope rests in Him. Salvation is God’s gracious gift, received through faith, not something we earn by being good enough. The same passage that teaches salvation by grace also teaches that God calls His people to a life of good works. (1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Ephesians 2:1–10)
At Silsbee Church of Christ, we understand the following as the New Testament’s teaching about coming to Christ. These points belong together as a response of trusting, obedient faith. They are not achievements that put God in our debt.
Begin by learning who Jesus is and what He has done. Paul explains that people must hear the message before they can believe. Open the Bible, listen carefully, and ask questions. Faith has a foundation in God’s message, rather than in rumor or guesswork. (Romans 10:14–17)
Put your trust in Jesus as Lord and in God who raised Him from the dead. The gospel calls for a heartfelt response to the risen Savior. We depend on Him for forgiveness and accept His authority over our lives. (Romans 10:9–13)
Repentance means turning away from sin and turning toward God. It involves an honest change of heart that leads to a changed direction. When Peter’s hearers recognized their need, he told them to repent. We come to God ready to leave sin behind and learn His way. (Acts 2:36–38; Acts 3:19)
Be willing to acknowledge your faith in Jesus. Paul connects belief in the heart with confessing Jesus as Lord. This confession expresses whom we trust and whom we intend to follow. (Romans 10:9–10)
We teach that a penitent believer should be baptized, immersed in water, into Christ for the forgiveness of sins. In Acts 2, Peter calls his hearers to repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name, and those who receive the message are baptized. Paul describes baptism as burial with Christ and rising to a new life. He also connects it with faith in God’s working. Our confidence is in what God does through Christ, not in our own merit. (Acts 2:38–41; Romans 6:3–4; Colossians 2:11–13)
Coming to Christ begins a new life of discipleship. The first Christians continued in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. We likewise keep learning, worshiping, serving, and encouraging one another. Faithfulness means continuing to trust and follow Jesus. It does not mean pretending that we never struggle or sin. Scripture calls Christians to walk in the light, confess their sins, and rely on Jesus for cleansing and forgiveness. (Acts 2:42; 1 John 1:5–2:2)
You do not need to know every answer before you ask a question. If you would like to study salvation, talk about baptism, or better understand a passage, please contact us through the form on our home page or speak with us when you visit.
We want to help you know Jesus and follow Him.