Who We Are at Forest Grove Baptist
Forest Grove Baptist in Pleasant Hill: a church committed to preaching the gospel of Christ which changes lives. We hold the Bible in highest regard and are careful not to impose our thoughts, ideas, or philosophies into the scripture.
We are committed to making disciples who will abide in Christ, be established in his Word, love one another and bear much fruit. Our long-term goal, by God’s grace, is to become a mission supporting and sending church that transforms our countryside and world with the gospel. We believe that Christ has come into our lives not just to save us from the destruction of Hell, but to live out a life of glory to God through us.
We want to live in a way that is pleasing to Christ, that others outside of Forest Grove Baptist may see the change that he has made in us. This is not done by rules and regulations, but by allowing Him to live through us – in Pleasant Hill and beyond.
In consideration of the above, we fully believe that every saint at Forest Grove Baptist can have a part in God’s great mission and can use his/her gifts to edify and serve the body of Christ. We believe that we are to pour our lives into others. We are to take what we have been taught and systematically teach others also.
Additionally, Forest Grove Baptist believes that the ministry of the Lord should be spiritually rejuvenating as we rest in the Lord and are refreshed by his presence. Thus our capacity to minister to others comes not from our abilities, but from a place of overflow as we spend time with the Lord.
What We Believe at Forest Grove Baptist
Trinity
We believe in one true God who is manifest in three eternal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 1 John 5:7, Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God and the current, earthly manifestation of God through his indwelling of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:16, John 16:7) and that he seals the believer and baptizes (immerses) him into the Body of Christ at the moment of salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13) with the goal of teaching God’s Word and conforming the believer to the very image of Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14, 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). We believe all spiritual blessings are received at the time of salvation (Ephesians 1:3) and that the Spirit gives gifts to every believer as he wills so the believer might effectively communicate the love of Christ (1 Corinthians 12-13, Ephesians 4:11-16).
Scripture
We believe all Scripture was given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16) and God has promised to preserve every jot and tittle of what He inspired (Matthew 5:18). We hold to the Authorized Version (King James Bible) as the inerrant standard for English speaking people and believe we find within it the certainty of the words of truth (Proverbs 22:20- 21).
Adam & Eve
We believe the Genesis account of creation is historical, not allegorical or figurative. We believe Adam was a historical person, created by the direct act of God and in his image (Genesis 1-2). Adam chose to sin against God through the free will God gave him and reaped the wages of death. As the originator of the human race, Adam passed his sinful nature to all mankind (Romans 5:12). All men are sinners by birth and become sinners in experience (Romans 3) for which the wages are death (Romans 6:23).
Satan
We believe Satan is a real, historical being, a fallen cherub who was lifted up in pride and rebelled against God, leading an army of angelic beings with him (Isaiah 14:12-17). His defeat was sealed by the work of Christ on the cross (Hebrews 2:14). His final destiny is the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
Salvation
We believe salvation is by God’s grace alone on the basis of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and in His resurrection, appropriated by the faith of anyone who will recognize that his sin separates him from God, turn from his sin to God by personally believing in his heart that Jesus is risen, and confess with his mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord (Ephesians 2:8,9; Rom 10:9,10). We believe the act of salvation is just as definite and decisive as physical birth (John 3:1-7). We believe this salvation cannot be reversed or lost and believers are kept by the power of God (John 10:28,29; 1 John 2:19; Romans 8:35-39, 1 Peter 1:5).
The Church
We believe the local assembly of believers (church) is God’s instrument in the age. While all genuine, born-again believers in Christ share an organic, family relationship, the overwhelming number of references of the word “church” in the bible applies to a local, visible assembly of believers (Acts 14:23, Ephesians 1:22, 23; 4:11-16, 1Tim 3:1-13). At the Second Coming of Christ, all genuine believers from the time of Christ’s ascension will be united together as the Body of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 19:7,8; 21:2). Until then, it is the responsibility of each local church to continue in evangelism, discipleship, and missions both independently and interdependently (Matthew 28:18-20).
We believe each local assembly should be as self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propagating as possible, practicing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Table and operating under the leadership of those who hold the office of pastor (also known as “bishop” or “elder”) and assisted by those who hold the office of deacon (Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-34, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Hebrews 13:17). We believe every member of the local church has the responsibility to minister the Word of God and support the ministry through prayer, holy living, tithes, and offerings 1 Corinthians 16:2, Malachi 3:10, Acts 2:41-47; 4:34-37; 13:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8:7).
The Return of Christ
We believe in the literal, physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth in power and great glory to judge the world and reign (Acts 1:11, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). We believe shortly before Christ’s Second Coming, all genuine believers will be raptured out to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52) followed by a seven year period of tribulation on earth during which time God will judge His people Israel and all without Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 24). That period of tribulation will be ended by Christ’s personal return to rule for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-6, Matthew 25:31-46).
Judgment
We believe all men will spend eternity either with Christ or eternally separated from Him. We believe the lost who die wait in a literal Hell for the day of final judgment where they will be punished in a literal lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). We believe those who have accepted Christ as Savior will experience a bodily resurrection to everlasting life (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58).
