What we believe
Welcome to Westwood!
We are glad you looked us up. Our passion at Westwood is to introduce people to Jesus Christ because He has provided the only means of salvation from sin and hope for eternal life with God. If you are already a Christian, we want to help you grow in your understanding of the Christian life and in amazement with our great God! Westwood is an independent Christian community of Baptist tradition. If you have any questions about Christianity or our church and its expression of faith, we would be glad to speak with you. We look forward to meeting you in person (Romans 1:11-12)!
STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe that there is only one true, living, and eternal God and that the Godhead is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
One true and eternal God: Deut 6:4; Jer 10:10; Mark 12:29; 1 Cor 8:4-6
The Godhead:
God the Father. Gen 1:1; Matt 6:9; Eph 4:6
God the Son. Isa 9:6; Jn 1:1; Jn 3:16; I Cor 15:28; Matt 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38
God the Holy Spirit. John 14:16, 26; Acts 1:5,8; Acts 2:1-4.
We believe that the Holy Scriptures are the Old and New Testaments, the inspired and infallible Word of God, and therein is found the only reliable guide of Christian faith and conduct.
The inspired revelation: Lk. 24:44-46; II Tim. 3:15-17; II Pet.1:20-21
The infallible Word: Isa. 40:8; Jn. 17:17; I Peter 1:25
The reliable guide: Deut. 6:6-9; Rom. 10:14-15, 15:4.
We believe that God created man in His own image to bring Him honor through obedience, and that when man disobeyed, he became a fallen and sinful creature, unable to save himself.
Man’s origin: Gen. 1:26-27, 2:7
Man’s purpose: Gen. 1:28-31, 2:15-25
Man’s sin: Gen. 3:1-24; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 1:18-3:23, 5:12-21
Man’s accountability: Rom. 4:15, 5:13, 6:16.
We believe that salvation (regeneration, justification, sanctification, glorification, redemption) has been provided for all mankind through the redemptive work (life, death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession) of Jesus Christ and that this salvation can be received only through repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of the magnitude of salvation and the giver of salvation, our redemption is sure.
Salvation: I Thes. 5:9; Heb. 7:25
Regeneration: Jn. 3:3-8; Eph. 2:1-10; II Cor. 5:17
Justification: Rom. 5:1-2, 18; I Cor. 6:11; Rom 8:28-39
Sanctification: I Cor. 1:30; Heb. 10:9-10; I Pet. 1:2
Glorification: Rom. 8:17, 30; I Cor. 15:42-44, 51-52
Redemption: Isa 53:6; Col. 1:14; I Pet. 1:18-19
Christ’s redemptive work: Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12
Life and death: Heb. 9:12-15; Jn. 10:11
Resurrection: Rom. 4:25; I Pet. 1:3; I Cor. 15:14, 17
Ascension: Heb. 4:14-16, 6:19-20; 9:24
Intercession: Rom. 8:34; Isa. 53:12; I Tim. 2:5
Repentance: Isa. 55:6-7; Lk. 24:47; Acts 2:38
Faith: Jn. 3:16-18; Heb. 11:1, 6.
We believe that Christians should live faithfully by serving in and through the local church, praying diligently, witnessing earnestly, practicing tolerance, showing loving kindness, giving as God prospers, and conducting themselves in such a way as to bring glory to God.
Faithful service: I Chron. 16:11; Matt. 28:18-20; Jn. 15:7-14; I Cor. 13
Prayer: II Cor. 7:14; Matt. 6:1-13
Witnessing: Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8
Tolerance: Matt. 18:15-17; Gal. 5:22-23
Loving kindness: Jn. 13:35
Financial stewardship: Matt. 23:23; I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 9:6-7.
We believe that the Church Universal is the Body of Christ, the fellowship of all believers, and that its members have been called out from the world to come under the dominion and authority of Christ, its head. We believe that a local church is a fellowship of Christians, a part of the Body of Christ, voluntarily banded together for worship, service, and nurture.
The Church Universal: Matt. 16:18; I Cor. 3:16, 12:12-24 and 27; Eph. 1:22-23
The local church: Matt. 18:17; Acts 2:38-47, 11:19-30; Rev. 1:4, 3:22
Worship and service: I Cor. 14:12; Heb. 10:25; Jas. 1:26-27
Nurture: Eph. 4.
We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances instituted by Christ to be observed by Christians only. We also believe that the Lord’s Supper should be open to all Christians.
Baptism:
Instituted & Purpose of: Matt. 28:16-20
Subjects: Acts 2:41, 8:12
Believer’s baptism: Matt. 3:11-15; Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2-12: I Pet.3:21
Communion:
Instituted: Matt. 26:26-29; I Cor. 11:23-25
Subjects: I Cor. 11: 27-29
Purpose: I Cor. 11:26.
We believe in the sanctity of the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, and that this day ought to be observed by worshiping God, witnessing for Christ, and ministering to the needs of humanity. We believe that secular work on Sunday would be limited to cases of necessity or mercy.
Sanctity: Ex. 20:8; Isa. 58:13-14
Observance: Mk. 2:27-28; Lk. 4:16, 14:1-6; Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:2; Rev. 1:10.
We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ, and in the bodily resurrection of the dead. We believe that God will judge all mankind by Jesus Christ, that He will reward the righteous with eternal life in heaven, and that He will banish the unrighteous to everlasting punishment in hell.
Return: Matt. 24, 25; Jn. 14:13; Acts 1:11; I Jn. 3:2; Rev. 1:7
Resurrection: Jn. 5:25, 28-29; I Cor. 15; I Thes. 4:16-17
Judgment and reward: Matt. 25:21; Acts 17:31; II Cor. 5:1, 10; Rev. 14:13, 20:10-15, 22:12.