WHAT WE BELIEVE

We are Baptist by denomination, but understand that denominations were developed by man, not God. They did not exist in Bible times, nor do they exist in heaven. Our guide is the Bible, God’s Word.

The following are the core beliefs of City United Church based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

We believe the Bible to be without error. The Bible reveals God, the spiritual separation of man from God, the way of salvation, and how to have a personal relationship with God. (2 Timothy 3:15-16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. (1 John 5:7, James 1:17)

God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy Scriptures, and through all of creation itself. He was born of the virgin Mary, and he lived a life without sin and is our example. (1 Peter 2:21-25) 

Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin and appointed as caretakers of the rest of God's creations. (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:16)

When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time.

Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers us a free gift eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.
(Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7) 

The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is returning one day to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth. (1 Thessalonian 4:16-17)

Baptism is an outward reflection of an inward connection! Baptism is both an act of obedience and a public declaration of faith. The Bible teaches that you should follow Jesus' example of baptism by immersion soon after you make the decision to commit your life to Him.

Every person who has believed in Christ.

As soon as you have believed!

At City United, we wait until kids are old enough to fully understand and make the decision to follow Jesus on their own before baptizing them.

Some churches practice a “baptism of confirmation” for children. This ceremony is intended to be a covenant between the parents and God on the behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his own personal confession of Christ. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed.

This is different from the baptism talked about in the Bible which was only for those old enough to believe. The purpose is to publicly confess your personal commitment to Christ. 

We believe in baptism by immersion because Jesus was baptized that way.
"As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water ..." (Matthew 3:16)

Plus, every baptism in the Bible was by immersion.
"…then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…" (Acts 8:38-39)

The word baptize means "to dip under water."

The Greek word baptize means "to immerse or dip under water."

It best symbolizes the burial and resurrection!