Our Beliefs
We recognize ourselves as a local body of evangelical Christian believers, united in purpose and love, committed to following Jesus Christ, governed in doctrine and practice by the Bible, meeting regularly for worship, discipleship and fellowship and desirous to incorporate others into a meaningful relationship with God and with ourselves through evangelism. We recognize that we are only one (1) part of the larger body of evangelical Christian believers in our community, our country and around the world and we will seek to honour, respect and encourage them by focusing on our commonness in Christ. We recognize that we live in a free country, Canada, and we will abide by it's laws, foster good citizenship as conscience and Scripture permits.
Our Name
The name of this congregation shall be “Riverside Community Baptist Church” (hereafter referred to as Riverside); a non-profit congregation and its duration shall be perpetual.
Our Purpose
Riverside exists to:
A) celebrate God's presence through Worship
B) educate God's people through Discipleship
C) incorporate God's people through Fellowship
D) communicate God's word through Evangelism
Our Values
Riverside values relationships: The greatest relationship we can have is a relationship with God and the greatest benefit we can be is to share our God and ourselves with others.
Riverside values people: People matter to God and people matter to Riverside, therefore we will help people grow and excel individually and relationally with God and with others.
Riverside values character: Good character honors God and inspires people therefore Riverside will pursue constant character growth, excellence in all we do and apply grace to others in this process.
Riverside values purpose: Worship, Discipleship, Fellowship and Evangelism are our 4 corporate guiding purposes to which we will apply our time, finances and talents.
Riverside values methods: Celebratory Worship and Cell Groups will be our main methods to enhance relationships with God and others, to show our value of people, to help develop character and to fulfill our 4 purposes. We will be contemporary in our methods and apply the Bible in a life relevant way.
Our Statement of Faith
Section 1 General Statement
In the essentials of the faith we will have unity, in the non-essentials of the faith we will have liberty and in all our beliefs we will show charity.
Section 2 The Essentials of our Faith
A) About God
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. God has eternally existed in three (3) personalities: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three (3) are co-equal and are one (1) God.
B) About Jesus
Christ Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three (3) days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven and will return again someday as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
C) About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son and is present in the world to make people aware of their need to believe in Jesus Christ. The Spirit also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation and provides the Christian with power for living, understanding spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right. The Holy Spirit gives to every believer at salvation spiritual gift/s. The Christian is to live daily under the Holy Spirit's control.
D) About the Bible
The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit and it is the supreme source of truth for Christians in beliefs and practice. Because all 66 books of the Bible were inspired of God it is 'The Truth' without any mixture of error in the original writings.
E) About Human Beings
People are made in the image of God and are the supreme object of God's creation and affection. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all people are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called 'sin'. This attitude separates people from God and is the cause of all of life's problems.
F) About Salvation
Salvation is God's gift to us but people must accept this gift by faith. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting and believing in God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus Christ in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment a person receives Jesus Christ into their life.
G) About Security
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace of God and not by self-effort. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us security.
H) About the Church
The local church is God's appointed institution to carry out His purposes on earth and is comprised of true Christian believers. God has given each local church everything it needs for existence and purpose and has given gifted persons to provide leadership who are to be called Elders. Jesus Christ has directed His church to observe two (2) ordinances; these being communion and believers baptism.
I) About Eternity
People are created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is 'Hell' and to be eternally in union with God is eternal life – 'Heaven'. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence.
J) About Marriage … about marriage and sexuality
We believe that marriage was instituted by God as a man and a woman united in sacred marriage. Sex outside of this specific marriage arrangement is fornication and is condemned by God as sin. People living outside of this specific marriage arrangement and are actively involved in sexual activity are excluded from holding office, ministering in any way, or holding membership within this church. We love all people and welcome all people to attend this church.
God instituted the first marriage.
Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.
God repeats that marriage is honourable, all other sexual activity is immoral.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.