About Us
What to Expect about...
...our Faith
Concerning God...
We believe that God is one being with three distinct persons (Deuteronomy 6:4; Luke 3:21-22). We believe that all glory comes from and must return to the Father (John 14:13, 15:8; Romans 11:36), that Jesus is the author of our faith as well as the worker of Creation who now sits at the right hand of God, ruling His Kingdom (Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 12:1-2), and that the Holy Spirit dwells within the hearts of Christians today through the manifest truth of the Scriptures working within our hearts (Romans 8:9-17).
Further, we believe that Jesus (the Son of God, the Messiah, the Logos, our Lord) literally came down from heaven, became flesh in order to live among us and to give His life for our sins (John 1:1,2, 14).
Further, we believe that Jesus (the Son of God, the Messiah, the Logos, our Lord) literally came down from heaven, became flesh in order to live among us and to give His life for our sins (John 1:1,2, 14).
Concerning the Church...
We believe that Jesus promised He would build His Church (Matthew 16:18). This promise was realized on the day of Pentecost when the Apostles and other believers were assembled together and more than 3,000 souls were saved (Acts 2:41-47). This was the beginning of the Universal Church (Ephesians 2:19-22). While the Universal Church comprises all those who are saved and faithful, God distinguishes between the Universal Church and the church in a local sense (Romans 16:16; 2 Corinthians 8:18; Revelation 2-3).
At least 1300 different denominations are estimated to exist in the United States. Each claims to follow God's will, yet each believes, practices, and teaches something different from the other. God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), so it is impossible that all of these groups belong to Him. Simply because a group is called a "church" does not prove that it is even a religious body. The mob in Acts 19:41 is called an "assembly" - the same word used for "church" in the New Testament! We believe that the distinction between man-made churches and the Church that Christ built is important.
Concerning Salvation...
Salvation is the great gift of God to all humanity. It cannot be earned (Ephesians 2:8-9). We have all sinned and fallen short of the standard that God has set (Romans 3:23). The solution is our voluntary submission to His will. Throughout the book of Acts, we find many examples of salvation experiences. They all follow the same pattern, and every example involves one distinct part of the salvation process: the submission of the sinner to water baptism for the remission of sins!
We would love to discuss more about Jesus with you, and we encourage you to study the Scriptures to seek His will for your life.
We would love to discuss more about Jesus with you, and we encourage you to study the Scriptures to seek His will for your life.
...our Worship
At our assemblies, we try to emphasize three things:
Glory to God
Whether we are singing together in praise to God (Ephesians 5:19), reading or studying our bibles together (Acts 17:11), praying to God (Acts 2:42; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Peter 3:12), partaking of His communion on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25), or giving as we have prospered in order to provide for the work of the congregation (1 Corinthians 16:1,2; 2 Corinthians 9:7), we seek to give God glory in everything. We do not want the attention to be on us, but on Him. This means that our priority is to worship God in SPIRIT and in TRUTH (John 4:23-24). This is the only kind of worship God is pleased with.
Depth in Teaching
We do our best to share "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). There is no topic or question that is restricted with us, as long as it concerns knowing more of God and what He desires. Our teaching and preaching is based expressly and solely upon the Bible, not on the writings of men.
Love for Each Other
When we assemble together, we intend for others who visit to be able to see our love for each other on display. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16). We want God's love to be manifested in the actions and attitudes you see when we are together.
...our Work
We believe that the work of the INDIVIDUAL is distinct from the work of the COLLECTIVE body of saints.
After Ananias lied about how much he had given to the Lord, Peter said to him in Acts 5:4, "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” The money from which Ananias gave was under his own control before he gave it to God. That means that once we give to God, we can use it only in the ways He authorizes. There are many things that an individual can do that a local church as a collective cannot scripturally do.
After Ananias lied about how much he had given to the Lord, Peter said to him in Acts 5:4, "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” The money from which Ananias gave was under his own control before he gave it to God. That means that once we give to God, we can use it only in the ways He authorizes. There are many things that an individual can do that a local church as a collective cannot scripturally do.
Evangelism
Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, “...make disciples of all nations..” This is the primary mission that Jesus Himself has set before the Christian. His Apostles were the main force in the 1st Century who carried out this task, and encouraged others to do the same (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Saints today also seek to have a lifestyle centered around carrying the Word of God to all people. The Apostle Paul went so far as to say, "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). We want to have the same attitude, and seek every opportunity to impress upon others the truth about Jesus and His Kingdom.
Edification
In Romans, the Apostle Paul writes, "So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding." (14:19). Again in 15:2, "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." Paul spoke of the mutual edification (building up) among fellow Christians. This can take place in the form of singing together, encouraging each other, hospitality, and any number of things. Edifying each other is another aspect of the work of the Kingdom (1 Corinthians 3:10).
Benevolence
Every individual Christian is to help each one who is within their capacity to be helped (Galatians 6:10; Philippians 2:3-4). The Christian makes a priority for his/her fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, but also looks upon every soul with compassion and empathy. The collective congregation is benevolent only toward saints who are truly in need, especially to other churches who are physically suffering (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 8:1-2, 12-15). We are commanded by God primarily to help others on an individual level. We also recognize that when a true need arises among faithful saints, we can and must be benevolent as a congregation.
Questions?
We are not greater than our Master and Lord Jesus. We do not have all the answers, but we know that the revealed Word of God in the Bible contains all the answers we will ever need to live a fulfilled, complete life.
Truth does not fear investigation. If you find a place where we fall short of the Divine Example, you will be our friend if you correct us! If you have an idea from the Scriptures we have not considered, we want to hear it! Email us at GoldenSpringsChurch@gmail.com or message us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/goldenspringscoc). We would love to study the Scriptures with you!
Truth does not fear investigation. If you find a place where we fall short of the Divine Example, you will be our friend if you correct us! If you have an idea from the Scriptures we have not considered, we want to hear it! Email us at GoldenSpringsChurch@gmail.com or message us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/goldenspringscoc). We would love to study the Scriptures with you!