What We Believe
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 1:14; 3:16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
…knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. Romans 5:12-15
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. John 10:28-30
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. Romans 6:3-10
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. Hebrews 10:19-26
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:13-17
Plan of Salvation
Five seconds after eternity begins, what will you be thinking?
The most important question that you can answer is, “Where will you spend eternity?” If you think or hope it might be Heaven, but you’re not sure, the Bible has some good news and some bad news for you…
First, the bad news…
You can’t get to God or to Heaven on your own. The Bible teaches that all people are sinners (Romans 3:23), and even one sin separates us from a holy God and dooms us to hell. It says that a death penalty must be paid for sin (Romans 6:23). A lot of people have a false idea of how to get to Heaven. They reason that if you’re basically good, you go to Heaven. And if you’re bad, you go to hell. They measure themselves against other people. That’s not what the Bible teaches. Someone who’s 7-feet tall may be a giant compared to someone who’s 4-feet tall. But compared to Mount Everest, both are short. From God’s perspective all people fall short. Our standard is not other people. It’s God. And He is perfect. None comes close to reaching Heaven on their own (Romans 3:10). That’s bad news for us, but thankfully, that’s not the end of the story…
Now for the good news!…
The Gospel literally means “good news!” The good news is this: God loves us so much He made a plan for us to be with Him in Heaven even though we’ve sinned. God became a man in the person of Jesus Christ, came to earth and lived a sinless life. He died on the cross, paying the death penalty that holy God requires of sin (Romans 5:8). Then he conquered death, rising again, so that through Him–and through Him alone–we can get to God and Heaven. We can’t earn and don’t deserve Heaven. But Jesus purchased a place in Heaven for you which He offers as a free gift. But a gift is not yours until you receive it personally (read on for how to receive it). You must trust Jesus to do what you cannot do–pay for your sin so that in God’s eyes, you are as sinless as Jesus Himself. Now that’s good news!
Make headlines in Heaven
The good news won’t do you any good until you receive it personally (Romans 10:9-10). Here’s how. Pray (talk to God) and tell Him…
- I agree with You, God, that I am a sinner. I’ll never be good enough to save myself. I admit it. I am getting out of the Savior business.
- I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay my death penalty for sin. I believe that He arose victorious over death to give me eternal life in Heaven. I accept it. Receive it. I trust, rely, depend, put my faith, rest in Him as my personal Savior.
- I commit my life to Jesus. I make Him my master, my Lord. I put Him in the driver’s seat of my life. I put my sin behind me. I recognize that because I’m trusting Him for eternal life, I can surely trust Him with my life while here on Earth. I know He wants what’s best for me. Thank you for saving me.
Now tell someone else the good news–what Jesus has done for you. Start with a friend or family member. Then go to a Bible-teaching church and tell them what you’ve done. Read God’s Word each day; start in the book of John. Also pray to God daily. These steps will help you to grow closer to God. And they’ll help make the good news better and better each day!
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior for the first time, that’s the best news ever. Please contact us and let us know. We would like to send you some more information.
Questions About Baptism
Baptism pictures the… Death…Burial…Resurrection… of our Lord Jesus Christ. We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
Why be baptized?
1. Because you want to follow Christ’s example.
It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Mark 1:9
2. Because Christ commanded it.
Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
3. Because it shows you are a believer.
Many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. Acts 18:8
4. Because obeying Christ’s command shows you know Him.
We know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 1 John 2:3
What is the meaning of baptism?
1. It is a symbol of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
- Christ died for our sins…He was buried, and… He rose again. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
- You were…buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. Colossians 2:11-12
2. It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian.
- If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
- We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
- Baptism does not make you a believer, it shows that you already are one! Baptism does not “save” you, only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring; it’s the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart.
- For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
How are we to be baptized?
1. Like Jesus was baptized by being immersed in water.
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water. Matthew 3:16
2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water.
Both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water… Acts 8:38-39
3. The word “baptize” literally means “to dip under water.”
The Greek word “baptizo” means “to immerse or dip under water.”
Who should be baptized?
Every person who has made the decision to believe in Christ.
- Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. Acts 2:41
- But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Acts 8:12
- Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip. Acts 8:13
- The one requirement for baptism is belief in Christ. We do not baptize children until they are old enough to understand and believe.
When are we to be baptized?
As soon as you have believed! You shouldn’t delay.
- Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. Acts 2:41
- Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Acts 8:35-38
- There is no reason to delay. As soon as a person decided to believe in Christ, he can and should be baptized.
What about being baptized twice?
Our church recommends that you be baptized again if you have not been baptized by immersion since you became a believer or if you were baptized by a church in another denomination which holds a different view of salvation, eternal security, or baptism. Every Idlewild member has been baptized by immersion as Jesus demonstrated and commanded us to follow.
Can my family be baptized together?
Yes! If each family member understands fully the meaning of baptism, and each one has personally placed his/her trust in Christ for salvation, we encourage families to be baptized at the same time. It is a wonderful expression of commitment.
What will the baptism experience be like?
We make every effort to make your baptism a memorable and comfortable spiritual experience for you. When the appointment for your baptism is made, trained counselors will explain what you need to bring and answer your questions. At the time of your baptism, you’ll receive complete instructions on what to do. Counselors will also be available to assist you. There will be private robing areas and the water will be warm and comfortable. We want your baptism to be a special time for you and your family.
Will I have to say anything?
No. At the beginning of the baptism service, the minister will briefly explain the meaning of baptism. You will wait at the edge of the water for your turn to be baptized. The minister will introduce you, briefly lower you just under the water, and then you will leave the water, dry off, and watch with the others.