What We Believe
- The Bible is true, authoritative, and sufficient.
- There is one true God who exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- All humanity is sinful and the penalty for that sin is death. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and was crucified on the cross as a substitution for our sin.
- Jesus rose from the grave, ascended into heaven, and will one day return.
- Only through faith in Jesus Christ and repentance from sin can one experience salvation.
What We Practice
Bible As Our Sole Authority
“The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us to do what is right.”
† 2 Tim. 3:15
Since God’s word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, we accept the Bible as our manual for living. Our first question when faced with a decision is “What does the Bible say?” We practice daily Bible reading, Bible study, and Bible memorization. The Bible is the basis for all we believe. Every believer has direct access to God through prayer and Bible reading.
Autonomy Of Each Local Church
“Christ is the head of His Body, the church. He is the source of the Body’s life.”
† Col. 1:18
Christ is the recognized head of our church, not any person, group, or religious organization. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians, we believe every local church should be self-governing and independent from any denominational control. In relating to our “daughter churches” that we sponsor, we encourage each congregation to determine its own strategy, structure, and style.
Priesthood Of Every Believer
“Christ loves us and by His death, He has freed us from our sins and made us a kingdom of priests to serve God...”
† Rev. 1:6
“You are ...the King’s priests... God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God.”
† 1 Pet. 2:9
The Bible teaches that every Christian to serve God in their daily lives. Each person is given talents and gifts from God that they can use to advance His Kingdom. We practice the truth that every believer is a minister by encouraging every member to find a place of service and ministry.
Tithing
“A tithe of everything you produce belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.”
† Lev. 26:30
At Open Bible, we practice tithing for the support of Christ’s body—the Church—as God commands. We encourage our members to give whatever they can with a joyful heart, instead of demanding a specific amount. God sees their individual lives and rewards their faithfulness in tithing.
Immersion
“For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism, you were also raised with Christ…”
† Col. 2:12
Baptism represents dying to the sinful flesh and being born again in Christ. It is a public acknowledgment that a person has repented of their sins, accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and dedicated the rest of their life to serving Him. We practice baptism by immersion under water—the way Jesus was baptized, and the way the Bible commands.
Spirit-Led Living
(Jesus said), “I am the Vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, but apart from me you can do nothing.”
† John 15:5
We believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God’s power within us. So we work to practice a daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable us to do what is right. (Phil. 2:13, Eph. 5:18)