How We Function

The New Testament makes it clear that local churches were left in the care of elders (also called bishops, overseers, shepherds or pastors) (Acts 20:17, 28-29; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5). These men were to be spiritually mature and were given a “shepherd’s heart” by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28). Today, as then, it is their responsibility to tend the “flock of God” concerning spiritual care and counsel, leadership, teaching, restoration and discipline. The elders meet regularly and are available for immediate needs. New elders are added as their spiritual calling and function become apparent to the assembly of Christians.

What We Believe

  • The Bible is the Divinely inspired, completely inerrant Word of God, that reveals His mind and will to man; thus providing our infallible, all-sufficient guide for salvation and for the Christian life (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

  • There is one God, the creator of all, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

  • We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ that He is true God and true man begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and that He has a perfect and sinless humanity (John 1:1; Philippians 2:6; Matthew 1:23-25; 1 John 3:5).

  • All men inherit a depraved nature and are lost sinners in need of salvation (Romans 3:9-19, Ephesians 2:1-3).

  • There will be a bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, with everlasting blessedness for the saved (1 Thessalonians 4:17) and everlasting conscious punishment for the unsaved (Revelation 20:11-15).

  • God has provided salvation through offering His Son on the cross of Calvary, and allowing His blood to be shed to atone for our sins (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:22).

  • Christ rose bodily from the dead and ascended unto God the Father having completed His work of redemption (I Corinthians 15:4; Hebrews 1:3).

  • We are saved and justified when we recognize ourselves as sinners and put our trust in Christ as the Son of God and His finished work on the cross of Calvary. Salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing (Romans 3:24, 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-9).

  • All who by faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior are born again of the Holy Spirit, and placed by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ, the Church, of which Christ is the Head (I Corinthians 12:12-14; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23).

  • The early Church met together and “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and to prayer” – God’s pattern for the Church today (Acts 2:42).

  • There are two ordinances for the church: the baptism of believers in water (Matt 28:19; Acts 8:35-38) and the Lord’s Supper for believers, which we celebrate each Lord’s Day (Matt 26:26-28, 1 Cor 11:23-26), as did the early church (Acts 20:7).

  • We believe in the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and premillennial coming of the Lord in the air to rapture (catch up) the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17), and in the revelation of Christ in glory at His Second Advent to the earth to establish His kingdom on earth and to reign in righteousness (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Philippians 2:9-11).

Westlake Bible Fellowship, 27975 Hilliard Blvd, Westlake, OH 44145, (440) 892-1953

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