our beliefs

Bible   The Bible

We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God.  

(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21) 


circleheart  Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.   

(John 1:1,14; 1 Peter 3:18)


We believe Jesus bodily resurrected back to life from the dead. 

(1 Corinthians 15:3-4) 


Cross   Salvation

We believe that God wants everyone to be saved. Salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ. It is through Christ that God’s free gift of grace is given to those who put faith in Christ, repent of their sins, confess Christ as Lord and Savior, and receive forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism by immersion in water. 

(2 Peter 3:9; Romans 10:9-10; 6:3-4; Acts 2:38)


Medical Clinic  The Church

We believe that the church is the body of Christ on the earth and exists to save the lost and edify the saved. 

 (Ephesians 4:1 – 16)


Cloud  Jesus' Return

We believe that Jesus will return again one day.  

(John 14:3, Matthew 25:46)

BAPTISM

The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace through faith. Baptism is an integral part of responding in faith to Christ and the Gospel.  


Following our understanding of Scripture, we practice baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. The Greek word used throughout the New Testament for baptism is “baptizo,” which means to plunge, dip, or immerse. Jesus modeled this form of baptism and commanded it, making baptism an act of obedience and faith. 


Baptism by immersion represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, symbolizing our old self dying, being buried in the water, and raised as a new creation in Christ Jesus. Anyone who has professed faith in Jesus Christ should be baptized immediately or as soon as it can be arranged. 


(Matthew 3:13-17, 28:18-20; Acts 2:38, 8:12-13, 8:36-38,10:44-48; Romans 6:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17) 

BAPTISM QUESTIONS

Below are some frequently asked questions about baptism. If you’d like to be baptized or talk more about baptism, please contact Wade Allen by phone at (765) 689-9469 or by email: wade@cocgrissom.org.  

  • A person should be baptized to: 

    follow the example of Christ (Matt. 3:13-17), 

    to obey Christ’s command (Matt. 28:18-19), 

    to accept forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), 

    to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), 

    to express trust in Christ (Acts 8:12-13), 

    and to testify to God’s work in his or her life (Rom. 6:1-8; Gal. 3:27). 

    Baptism also serves to cleanse a guilty conscience (1 Pet. 3:21). 


    The Holy Spirit prompts individuals to recognize their sin and guilt. The only method by which the human soul can be wiped clean of sin is through the blood of Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:27-10:7). This “washing away” of sin is most clearly demonstrated in the act of baptism (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). Since one of the biggest obstacles between God and man is human pride, baptism also offers a venue by which believers humble themselves before God and others and admit their need for Christ’s redemption (James 4:6). 


    In addition, baptism meets a God-given human need for making a commitment, much as a marriage ceremony is an official act of love and commitment. The act of baptism, by itself, cannot save an individual who lacks faith. We are saved through accepting Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and that includes repenting of sins, confessing Christ and being baptized. 

  • A person should be baptized at the time he or she trusts in Christ. The Bible teaches we are saved by grace, through faith (Eph. 2:8), but in the New Testament church, a person’s baptism was always the first expression of faith, not separate from it. So, baptism was not just a symbol or a memorial of faith, but offers a means of union with Christ and a benchmark of transformation, marking the place and time a person made a commitment to Christ (Rom. 6:1-8). 


    At the Church of Christ at Grissom, we are attempting to restore the original intent and practice of baptism. Therefore, we ask a person to be baptized at the point that he or she is ready to make a commitment to Christ. 

  • The word for “baptism” in the New Testament is the Greek word baptizo, which means “To immerse in water.” Examples of how it was used in first century culture include the dyeing of a garment by plunging it into a vat, the drawing of water by dipping one vessel into another, or even the sinking of ships at sea. 


    Some form of the word is used 91 times in the New Testament. The vast majority of these cases refer to the act of submitting to immersion in a body of water in response to a person’s admission of his sinfulness, a sense of repentance, and the realization of the need for God’s mercy and forgiveness to overcome that condition. 


    The New Testament teaches that baptism represents the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:1-5). Baptism specifically serves as a symbol of the burial of the old self and the resurrection of the believer’s soul to walk in life with Christ. Therefore, at the Church of Christ at Grissom, we baptize people by immersing them in water. 

  • No. Baptisms at other times are acceptable and were the norm in the early church (Acts 8:38; 16:33). However, baptisms during worship services do provide the opportunity to testify to your faith and show humility. 

  • If the purpose of baptism is to publicly identify a believer in Jesus Christ, the question may well be asked by some, “What is the significance of my baptism as a baby?” Biblically, baptism is for those who have made a personal decision to trust Christ alone for their salvation. God creates all of us in His image, and babies are incapable of sin, and also unable to have an understanding of sin and salvation. 


    In the New Testament the examples we see of baptism are with people old enough to make the decision for themselves. If you were baptized as a child, it was the intent of your parents that you would one day be a follower of Christ. Your baptism as an adult can be viewed as the fulfillment of your parent’s wishes. 

  • Any person who has trusted in Jesus as the only Son of God and who has willingly been immersed into Christ may become a member of the Church of Christ at Grissom whether the baptism occurred at CCG or elsewhere. 


    Re-baptism is encouraged for those who lack confidence in their initial baptism experience because they don’t remember it, they were coerced, or their heart was not right with God at the time. Anyone who has fallen into sin after having been baptized should repent and seek forgiveness, but re-baptism is not necessary (1 John 1:8-9).