What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Westport Bible Church based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

We believe that the Bible is divinely inspired by God and is the final authority for all faith and works. Though holy men were used to pen its parts, it is divinely infallible, indestructible, absolutely true, and alive in every word. We hold to a normal, literal, grammatical, and historical method of interpreting Scripture. (2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 119:160; 1 Peter 1:25; Matthew 19:4) The Bible is our only rule for faith and practice, the supreme standard by which all conduct, creeds, associations, and ministries should be tried (1 John 4:1).

We believe Scriptures teach that there is one God, consisting of three persons, yet in one being without division of nature: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three persons are fully God. All three were instrumental in Creation of the universe in six literal days, and all three fulfilled their unique roles in redemptive history. (2 Corinthians 13:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 1:23; Philippians 4:10)
 

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, born of a virgin, sinless and perfect in life, and the sole Savior of the world. In His incarnation, Jesus was fully God while fully man. Being the perfect Lamb of God, we affirm that His bodily death and resurrection provide the only means of salvation for mankind. Jesus has ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven, interceding now for His bride until the end of this world. (John 1:1. 14; Philippians 2:6; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 7:25)
 

We believe  the Holy Spirit to be coequal with the Father and the Son. He came to this earth as the fulfillment of Christ's promise. He convicts, regenerates, indwells, seals, fills, empowers, and guides the believer. (John 16:7-13; John 3:3-5; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:1-14, 5:18)

We believe that man was created sinless, in the image of God. God made male and female. But in Adam, all fell into sin so that all men are born with a sin nature, completely unable to save themselves and given to willful and continual sin. This sin must be judged by a holy God. Sinful men must then either accept by faith God's gift of eternal salvation (Jesus Christ), or pay for their own sin in eternal judgment separated from God in Hell. (Genesis 1:27, 3:6; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Romans 6:23)

We believe that God has provided full and free salvation through His Son for all who will repent and believe. Salvation is entirely of grace and cannot be earned. Once the righteousness of Christ is imputed to a sinner, that one can never fall away from grace. We affirm that salvation begins with the drawing/conviction of the Holy Spirit, initiates with regeneration and justification, continues through sanctification, and ends in final glorification. (Genesis 15:6; Ephesians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 10:28; Romans 8:30)

We believe the church consists of God's redeemed people - those who have followed Him by faith. The local church is led by ordained and qualified pastors and served by elected and qualified deacons. No hierarchy or external church governance is necessary. We believe that Christ has purchased gifts for His church which the Holy Spirit distributes to the saints individually. In the early days of the church, some were given miraculous gifts by the Spirit, but today we see only serving and teaching gifts. All gifts are for the building up of the church. (Titus 1-2; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:1-3)

We believe Christ left His followers two ordinances that are to be exercised in the context of the local church. The first is baptism by immersion, followed by the believer's open profession of faith. The second is the regular observance of the Lord's Supper by believers in a local church. (Matthew 28:19-20: 1 Corinthians 11:24-26)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is coming again in the air at any moment to catch up all born again believers and to reward their service (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 Corinthians 3:12-14); the unbelievers left behind will go through a seven year period called the Tribulation, after which Christ shall return visibly to the earth to set up His kingdom of 1,000 years of righteous rule; after this, the unbelievers of all ages will stand at the Great White Throne to be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire, separated from God forever, while the believers spend eternity in the fullness of joy and in the presence of our Lord forever (Revelation 20:11-15).