OUR BELIEFS?

 Town and Country Christian Church is an independent, non-denominational fellowship of believers who seek to follow Christ and wear only His name. Although we exist apart from any external authority or control, we do participate with other churches in many projects and programs that exalt the Lord Jesus and spread the Gospel. We are not the only Christians, but we earnestly strive to be Christians only. We are committed to maintain unity in the essentials, to allowing freedom in matters of opinion, and to demonstrating love always. Our mission is to make more Christians and make better Christians.

ABOUT THE BIBLE...

The sole basis for our belief is the 66 books of the Bible, which is uniquely God-inspired, without error in the original manuscripts, and is the final authority on all matters of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrew 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

ABOUT GOD...

We teach that there is but one true living God, (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; I Corinthians 8:4), perfect in all His attributes, one in essence eternally in three persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14) each possessing all the attributes of deity and deserving of our worship and obedience. In the beginning God created, out of nothing, the universe and all things therein, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence, He is operating throughout history to fulfill His plan of redemption.

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST...

We teach that Jesus Christ the second Person of the Trinity though being equal with God (John 10:30; Philippians 2:5-8), surrendered His prerogatives of deity and came to earth to pay the debt for man's soul. Having been born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23-25), Jesus lived a totally sinless life, and was, therefore, qualified to pay for our sins by dying on a cross as our substitute (John 10:15; Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24). He literally and physically rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He now mediates as our Advocate and High Priest (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:38-39; Acts 2:30-31; Romans 4:25; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; I John 2:1). We teach that Jesus will return to earth personally and visibly to consummate history and judge all mankind according to the eternal plan of God (John 5:22-23; Acts 1:9-11; Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Cor. 5:10).

ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT...

We teach that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, co-equal with the Father and the Son in all the divine attributes (Matthew 29:19; I Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14). He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need of a Savior, and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer, and equips them for personal growth and service to the church (John 16:7-9; Acts 2:38; I Cor. 12:13; 2 Cor. 3:18; Ephesians 2:22). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a divine guarantee which seals unto the day of redemption (Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14). Christians are endowed with spiritual gifts through the sovereign act of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are intended to strengthen the Church and glorify Christ (John 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; I Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor. 3:18).

ABOUT MAN...

The central purpose of God's revelation in scripture is to call all people into fellowship with Himself. God originally created humans to have fellowship with Him and to glorify Him (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16), but they defied God by sinfully choosing to go their won way. As a result, man suffered alienation from God and the corruption of his nature (Psalms 51:5; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-4). The salvation of mankind, therefore, is wholly a work of God's free grace, not a result in whole, or in part, of human works or goodness. This salvation is a gift, made available through faith in Jesus Christ and Him only (John 1:12; John 10:18-27; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

ABOUT THE CHURCH...

We teach that all who place their faith in, and are baptized into, Jesus Christ, are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church (I Cor. 12-12-13), the bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2), of which Christ is the head (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18). The scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of the ordinances, fellowship, service to the body, and the outreach of the world (Acts 1:8); Acts 2:38-42; Ephesians 4:12). Wherever God?s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church (acts 20:17; Galatians 1:2; Hebrews 10:25). Under the protection and oversight of elders (Acts 20:28), its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 3:21).

ABOUT THE ORDIANCES...(Baptism, and Communion)

We teach that two ordinances have been committed to the local church; baptism and the Lord's Supper. Because baptism is commanded by our Lord and His apostles (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38), we teach that all professed believers must be baptized. We teach that baptism should occur immediately upon confession of faith in Christ, as modeled for us in Acts (Acts 2:38-41; Acts 8:35-39; acts 16:31-33). Baptism, by immersion, and for the forgiveness of sins, is taught in scripture and symbolically portrays the death, burials, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the Church, which is the visible body of Christ (Acts 2:41-42). We teach that the Lord's Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes again, and should always be preceded by solemn self examination (I Cor. 11:28-32). We also teach that whereas the elements of communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, the Lord's Supper is nevertheless an actual communion with the risen Christ, who is present in an unique way, fellowshipping with His people (I Cor. 10:16). In the pattern of the early church, we offer the Lord's Supper weekly.