We believe in simple and pure devotion to Jesus Christ, our Lord...
...In family.
Jesus called His disciples, "friends," because He shared His life and the desires of His Father's heart with them. His disciples walked together through joys and sorrows just as they had learned from Jesus. In the same way, our church is a family of people who are friends, drawn together by our relationship to our Father through Jesus Christ.
"Disciples" implies a "master-slave" or a "teacher-pupil" relationship. Jesus was recognized by many in His time as a teacher (Luke 18:18). He collected a group He called disciples and apostles.
But He shared His life with them. He shared the heart of God the Father with them (John 8:28; John 15:15). Jesus and His disciples grew intimate with one another to the point that the slaves "graduated." They became His friends, the friends of the Son of God. (John 15:15).
When we become Christians, all things become new (I Corinthians 5:17). A regular family is related and bound together by blood-relationship, by shared experiences, and by long familiarity. We still recognize the old relationships of family and friends, but we also have a new family (Eph 3:14,15). God the Father is our heavenly Father, watching over us with care (Philippians 4:19,20; John 14:23) . Jesus is His Son and our Brother (Romans 8:29). And we are adopted into this new family by the action of God the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:15,16).
As we walk together, sharing our lives with one another, the church becomes a new family for us. They are people who care for us, and for whom we care. In fact, Jesus declares that everyone will know who His disciples are, because of their love for one another. (John 13:34,35)
Luke 18:18. A ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" NASB95
John 8:28. So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. NASB95
John 15:15. No longer do I [Jesus] call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. NASB95
I Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature (literally "creation"); the old things passed away; behold new things have come. NASB95.
Ephesians 3:14,15. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name... NASB95
Philippians 4:19,20. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. NASB95
John 14:23. Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. NASB95
Romans 8:29. For those God [the Father] foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. NIV Bible
Romans 8:15,16. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God... NASB95
John 13:34,35. "A new commandment I [Jesus] give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." NASB95
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