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Core Beliefs

Bloomsburg Christian Church is a "non-denominational" church.  This means we identify ourselves as 'Christians only' while recognizing we are not the only Christians.  Our desire is to follow the Great Commandment-to love God and love each other. (Matthew 22:34-40), and to engage in the Great Commission-to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around us. (Matthew 28:18-20).  We use the New Testament model of church leadership, led by leaders nominated and elected from within our own church body.  We believe every Christian is on a journey that continues throughout their physical lives to find the fullness and freedom of life that we each desire that can only be found through God.  We continuously desire to be more like Christ.  We believe that the Holy Bible is the only book that is essential to understanding and living a Christian life.

We believe there are foundational understandings an individual must have to allow them to engage in this journey and guide them as they continue on it.
The Bible
  We believe that God inspired both the Bible's composition and content.  The Bible was given to show us who God is, where we came from, and why we are here, what our relationship to God and the world is meant to look like, and where we go when our physical life ends.  We believe the Bible is accurate and reliable, can be read by anyone, and is the final authority for all matters of faith and Christian living.  (2Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:19-21)

God
   We believe that there is one God, the creator of the universe including the Earth and all it's creatures.  He continues to exercise His supreme power and to sustain His creation.  We believe that God loves us and wants what is best for us and that He eternally exists in three distinct personalities: God the Father, God the Son-Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, John 14:26, 1Peter 1:2)


Jesus
   We believe that Jesus is 'God the Son'.  At God's appointed time, Jesus entered the realm of humanity being born of a virgin both fully human and fully divine.  He lived a sinless life, voluntarily died on the cross for our sins, was physically raised from the dead and ascended into heaven.  Jesus is the only means through which our sins can be forgiven enabling us to be declared acceptable to God.

The Holy Spirit
   We believe the Holy Spirit lives within every Christian and provides power to overcome sin, insight into scripture, and personal direction in life.  Through the Holy Spirit's presence, all Christians are able to become more and more Christ-like in their actions, words, and deeds as they continue on their Christian journey.  Through the Holy Spirit, every person in the body of Christ is also given talents and abilities to use for the purpose of building up God's kingdom. (Luke 11:13; John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:11)

Salvation
   God's grace is given to us through the blood of Jesus Christ. Thus, our journey to be reunited with God now and forever begins when we believe that Jesus is God's Son, Lord of our life.  This journey of grace continues when we show a willingness to publicly proclaim Christ as our Lord and Savior-to confess; to acknowledge and turn from our sin- to repent; and to be immersed in water-to be baptized (see section below).  As we continue on this journey, we do not continue to do good works to be saved, but, rather, do good works because we are saved. (John 3:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9; 1John 1:19; James 2 )

Baptism
   We believe that the book of Acts  makes it clear that baptism is a part of the Christian journey that is taken by an individual after they have personally acknowledged Jesus Christ as the Son of God and their Lord and Savior.  We believe that examination of the definition of the word 'baptize' and the practice of baptism by the early Christians makes it clear that the mode of baptism is immersion.  Thus, when someone is baptized, their body is submerged in water. (Acts 2:41, 8:12, 10:47-48)

Human Destiny
   All men sin by choosing to act independent from God and the way He has shown us to live through the Bible.  Satan encourages this and works to convince us that living a life differently than God tells us to, brings freedom and fulfillment.  Doing so, however, puts us in bondage.  Unless we come to recognize this deception and re-establish a relationship with God, we will experience condemnation under God's judgment and spend eternity separated from God in hell.  There is nothing we can do on our own to re-establish our relationship with God.  Christ re-establishes that relationship for those who accept Him. 

The Church
   The Church is not a facility but a living body comprised of many parts with Jesus as the head.  To remain healthy, the body must work together. Each part contributes to the growth and maturity of the body.  God works through the church, for this reason it is important for followers of Christ to regularly gather together in order to be equipped, built up, and encouraged through teaching, fellowship, prayer, and communion.