| Church of the Open Bible PO Box 88 105 S. Main Street Athens, Maine 04912 207-654-2344 |
The purpose of this church is to glorify God in the salvation of souls, the
edification of Christians through the teachings of God’s Word, the world wide
proclamation of God’s saving grace expressed in the shed blood and finished
work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, the promotion of godly worship, the
defense of the "faith once delivered," and cooperation with Christian activity
functioning in harmony with God’s Holy Word, the Bible, until He comes.
edification of Christians through the teachings of God’s Word, the world wide
proclamation of God’s saving grace expressed in the shed blood and finished
work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, the promotion of godly worship, the
defense of the "faith once delivered," and cooperation with Christian activity
functioning in harmony with God’s Holy Word, the Bible, until He comes.
| It is important to know the identity of a church. We trust that as you read our Statement of Faith that you will come to know us in a better way. |
| THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION |
What does it mean to be a Christian?
If you have a few moments to spend I would like to help you answer that question. Since it is such an important question
please be prepared to read from the Bible and to think honestly about what God is saying.
The word Christian is used three times in the Bible:
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled
themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
1 Pet 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
A Christian is one who has trusted Christ as his or her Savior, is committed to Christ, a follower of Christ and one whose daily
life and behavior reflects Christ. Being a Christian is not just a title that we put on ourselves but a lifestyle that is consistent
with what God expects and requires of one called by the name of His Son.
There are many terms that mean the same as the name Christian such as: believer, child of God, saved, born again, saint,
disciple, servant of Christ and others. In every instance the most significant issue is that it is God who has made a change in
the person’s life. Let me share with you some very important truths that will help you understand what a Christian is and how
you can know Jesus as your Savior and Lord.
1. You have a spiritual need
Some people have the false idea that God will take everyone to heaven as long as they are not too bad. It is so very wrong to
think this way. The Bible says that no one is good enough.
Romans 3:10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;
Romans 3:11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
Romans 3:12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."
Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
God cannot take just anyone to heaven because no one can be good enough. We all have a spiritual need to depend on God to
supply the answer.
2. God has a plan for salvation
God’s plan of salvation centers on Jesus Christ not us.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we are all sinners and cannot please God there is penalty for sin.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is Jesus, and Jesus only, that can pay the penalty for sin because it was Jesus who died for our sin. The wage of sin is death
so the only one who could pay that price is one who has not sinned and that was Jesus. He was our sinless substitutionary
sacrifice that paid for our sin by shedding His blood and dying on the cross.
Hebrews 9:22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of
blood there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to
God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Jesus suffered God’s penalty
of death in your place.
Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been
reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
3. Salvation is by God's grace not our works
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 2:7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ
Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Ephesians 2:9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we
should walk in them.
4. You must ask God and trust God to save you
You cannot save yourself but when you realize this and trust God to save you then God will do His saving work.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
By asking God to save you, you are confessing and repenting of your sin, asking God to forgive you of your sin. When God
forgives you He then justifies you or sees you as believing in what Jesus has done for you.
Romans 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
To be justified means that God has declared us to be a Christian, one who is in Christ. He declares that Jesus paid for your sin
and that your sins are forgiven.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
5. Justification brings a change in your life
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things
have come.
Being a Christian means that you now belong to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God,
and that you are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
The Holy Spirit is God’s way of helping you live the Christian life. The Holy Spirit lives within you.
John 14:16 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to
your remembrance all that I said to you.
As one who now belongs to Jesus you have the responsibility to represent the Lord Jesus Christ in the way that you live your
life.
John 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and
abide in His love.
6. God’s plan of salvation is based in His love
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish,
but have eternal life.
1 John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through
him.
1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:16 And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides
in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
How will you respond to God’s love? Will you agree with God that you are a sinner and need salvation as provided in Jesus?
Will you tell God that you are sorry for your sin and in repentance ask Him to forgive you? Will you trust in His grace that He will
justify you and declare you to be a Christian?
If you have answered “YES” to these questions then take time right now to pray and ask God to save you. Ask Him to be your
Lord and Savior.
If you have trusted Jesus to be your Savior I would appreciate hearing for you. Please take time to e-mail us and tell us what
God has done for you.
May God bless you as you have taken this time to read about salvation.
Pastor Haynie
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Constitution is under review