What We Believe
Making Fully Devoted Followers
Broadway Christian Church desires to contribute to the unity of believers rather than be a part of the divisions. We are an independent Christian church and considered non-denominational. Our members have come from a wide variety of backgrounds and doctrinal persuasions but we have found a unity in Christ that does not allow these differences to divide us.
BCC does not require that members subscribe to a formal creed. In a very real sense, “we have no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible.” The twin bases of our unity are our faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and our adherence to the Bible as the inspired text for our teaching.
We seek unity of understanding in the essentials of our faith, yet we do not suggest that we must agree on all things pertaining to our walk in Christ. On many issues we have the freedom to disagree. We do ask, however, that all who accept membership or hold a leadership or teaching position in Christ’s Church respect the following guidelines and resist any temptation to use their position as a forum from which to teach other views.
Win the lost.
Equip the saved.
Make fully devoted followers of Christ.
God is Creator of the universe. He has eternally existed and is the Sustainer and Lord of our lives. “In the beginning God created the heavens and 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 1:1,27 “From everlasting to everlasting You are God.” Psalm 90:2
Jesus Christ is the one and only living Son of God. He is co-equal with God. He is God in human flesh. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and He arose from the dead. Through Him, God opened the way to abundant and eternal life through His death, burial and resurrection. “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:1,14 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 1:3-4
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He is given to the believer as a gift at the time of salvation. He provides the Christian with guidance and power for living. He gives spiritual gifts to Christians. “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit …You have not lied to men but to God.” Acts 5:3,4 “When the Counselor comes… the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about Me… when He comes He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin…” John 15:26;16:8 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 “…if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:13-14 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23
The Bible is the inspired written Word of God. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the authoritative rule of faith and practice for Christians and the Church. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21
The Lord’s Supper is to be observed every Sunday as a memorial and an expression of fellowship with the Lord and with one another. As a memorial, we are reminded of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins. As an expression of fellowship, we are reminded of the unity of believers in Christ. The Lord’s Supper is not limited to our members, but is open to all who belong to Him. “For I received from the Lord what I passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper, He took the cup, saying ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’” 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Baptism refers to the total immersion in water of a believer who has repented of sin and confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior. It is an expression of faith and obedience, is an act of submission to the authority to Christ and is an identification with Christ.
To follow the examples of Jesus.
“At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.” Mark 1:9
Because Christ commanded it.
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
To put on Christ.
“As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:27
For the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Spirit.
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
To be united with Christ in His death and resurrection.
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into 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. If we have been united with Him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.” Romans 6:4-5
As a pledge of a good conscience toward God.
“And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.” 1 Peter 3:21
Because Jesus was baptized that way.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.” Matthew 3:16
The word “baptize” means “to immerse or dip under water.”
“… then both Philip and the man went down in to the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…” Acts 8:38-39
It best symbolizes a death, burial, and resurrection.
“If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.” Romans 6:5
Denominational leaders agree.
“I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imports and the mystery signifies.” Martin Luther (Lutheran)
“The word ‘baptize’ signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church.” John Calvin (Presbyterian)
“Buried with Him, alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.” Wesley (Methodist)
“For thirteen hundred years, baptism was an immersion of the person under water.” Brenner (Catholic)
Every believer who has repented of sin and confessed Christ as Lord and Savior.
At BCC, we wait until our children are old enough to believe and understand the meaning of repentance and confession before we baptize them.
Some churches practice infant baptism by sprinkling. The 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 decision. At that time, the child is confirmed. This custom began several hundred years after the Bible was completed.
As soon as you believe and repent, make plans for baptism.
“Those who believed … were baptized … that day.” Acts 2:41
“They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.” Acts 16:31-33
As a believer, when you received Christ, the next step is water baptism.