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Statement of Faith
 
SECTION A: THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
We believe the Holy Scripture of the Old and new Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (II Tim. 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:20-21; Matt. 5:18).
SECTION B: INTERPRETATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
We believe that the Word of God, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, shall be interpreted literally, grammatically, historically, and dispensationally (I Cor. 2:12-13; John 16:12-15).
SECTION C: THE GODHEAD
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Col. 2:6; John 16:14-15; Deut. 6:4; Acts 1:16).
SECTION D: THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1,2,14; Luke 1:35).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, (vicarious) substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Rom. 3:24,25; I Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts. 1:9,10; Hebrews 7:25, 9:24; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1,2).
SECTION E: THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, in the present age indwells all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, baptizes them at the new birth into the body of Christ, seals them unto the day of redemption, and that every believer is commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He is the divine Teacher Who guides believers into all truth (I Cor. 3:16,17; I John 16:13).
SECTION F: TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the whole human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved, and of himself utterly unable to redeem his lost condition (Gen. 1:26,27; Rom. 3:22,23, 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3,12).
SECTION G: SALVATION
We believe salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (Eph. 2:8-10; John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; I Peter 1:18,19).
SECTION H: ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF THE BELIEVER
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38,39; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Peter 1:5).
We believe that it is the privilege of the believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word; which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom. 13:13,14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).
SECTION I: SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that spiritual gifts are God-given abilities to born again believers for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. The distribution of these gifts is at the point of salvation by the Holy Spirit. The purpose of these gifts is to glorify God and edify the local church. It is essential that each member develops and employs his spiritual gift(s) for the church to accomplish its task. (Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:4-11,27-31, 14:1-40; Eph. 4:8-13; I Tim. 4:14; II Tim. 1:6; I Peter 4:10-11). Since these gifts are bestowed by the Lord in order to fulfill specific purposes in God's program, we believe that when the purpose of any gift is fulfilled, that particular gift is terminated (I Cor. 12:11, 13:8-10, 14:21-22; I Tim. 4:20; with Acts 19:11-12; Heb. 2:3-4).
SECTION J: THE CHURCH
We believe that the church, which is the body and bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made u of all born again persons in this age irrespective of their affiliation with Christian organizations. It is for the church that Christ now makes intercession, and for whom He will come again (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 11:2).
We believe that establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27, 20:17, 28:32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
SECTION K: THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin, and the cause of the Fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Job 1:6,7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11, 25:41; Rev. 20:10).
SECTION L: THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
We believe in that "blessed hope", the personal, imminent, perambulation, and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to the earth with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom (I Thess. 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16, 20:1-6; I Thess 1:10, 5:9; Rev. 3:10).
SECTION M: THE ETERNAL STATE
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matt. 15:46; John 5:28,29, 11:25,26; Rev. 20: 5,6,12,13).
Membership
Olalla Bible Church is more interested in making disciples of Jesus Christ than in making church members. Membership, however, can be a helpful step of growth, commitment, and participation in what God is doing here. Joining a church allows an individual believer to better fulfill the corporate dimension of discipleship.
What membership means:
Membership means an individual is committed to other members of the body, agrees with the church's fundamental beliefs and goals, desires to participate in the work of the church, is accountable with others in the church, and is willing to accept the leadership of the church leaders. At Olalla Bible Church, only the members are permitted to vote on congregational decisions of hold certain leadership and ministry positions.
Requirements For Membership
Potential members at Olalla Bible Church (OBC) must:
- Be born again through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
- Agree to the church's Statement of Faith
- Make a commitment to Christian living and the church body
Membership Process
Candidates for membership must:
- Complete OBC's membership class
- Be approved by the Elders and the members of the church
Orientation and interviews are generally held in February, May and October.
Baptism
We are therefore buried with him through death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. -Romans 6:4
What is baptism?
Baptism is the biblical way to demonstrate your personal faith in Christ. By being immersed in water, you illustrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:4). This shows that you have died to sin and intend to walk in obedience to Christ.
Who gets baptized?
The people baptized in the early church had all put their faith in Christ for their salvation, and therefore were considered believers. (Acts 2:4, 8:12, 8:35-39, 16:14-15, 16:30-33). At Olalla Bible Church we ask each baptismal candidate to share how he or she becomes a believer.
Why get baptized?
At Olalla Bible Church, candidates are asked, "Why do you want to be baptized?" Good reasons include obedience to the command of Jesus (Matthew 28:19), adherence to the example of Jesus (Mark 1:9,10), clear expression of repentance and belief in Jesus (Acts 8:12), and identification with Christ as a member of his body (1Cor. 12:13; Gal 3:27). In addition, OBC requires baptism for a church membership. A person should not get baptized thinking that baptism will make him or her a Christian. Nor should anyone get baptized just to satisfy friends or family.
When to be baptized?
Some have called baptism the "first step of obedience" for a new believer. In the Bible, people who were baptized soon after believing the gospel (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 8:35-38; 16:14-15). A person must clearly understand and put faith in Jesus before being baptized, but doesn't have to wait until he or she attains any special standard of spiritual achievement or maturity. Young children who profess faith in Christ may be encouraged to wait until spiritual achievement or maturity. Young children who profess faith in Christ may be encouraged to wait until it is clear that they firmly understand their commitment and are old enough so that they will remember their baptism.
The general E-mail form unfortunately had to be removed due to spammers.
If you wish to E-mail the church, please copy the following address into the
"to" field, removing the spaces: obc @ wavecable . com - thank you!
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