Knott Avenue Christian Church is a non-denominational multi-cultural church that believes the Bible is divinely inspired (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) and is the word of God. There is only one true and living God who is manifested in three eternal and equal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 3:17, 18).

We believe that Jesus Christ was virgin-born, sinless (Hebrews 4:15), died on the cross for our sins, was raised bodily from the dead on the third day, and is coming again (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4: John 14:3, Revelation 22:20). Jesus is the Son of God, God in the flesh and Lord of all (John 1:1, 14; Romans 10:9; Acts 10:36).

Man is a sinner (Romans 3:23) and is saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Man’s response to God’s grace includes repentance (Acts 17:30), publicly confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9, Matthew 10:32, 33) and baptism by immersion (Acts 2:38; Acts 10:47). Every Christian is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and is indwelt, empowered and gifted by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9) to become like Christ in character and deed.

Christ is the head and chief shepherd of the church (Colossians 1:18; 1 Peter 5:4). The purpose of the church is to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). We understand every believer to be an ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20) and minister (Ephesians 4:11, 12) of the gospel to help win our community to Jesus Christ.

The Church should continually devote itself to the apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread (communion or Lord’s Supper) and prayer (Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7). Our local church recognizes two offices of leadership known as elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-7) and deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Philippians 1:1).

WHY GET BAPTIZED?

Baptism is a command of Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19 to identify with Him as one of His followers (disciples). We are telling people that our hope is in His death that paid for our sins and His resurrection that conquered the power of sin.

Our response to this ‘Good News’ is to let people know of this hope and commitment. As Jesus said in Matthew 10:32, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.”

JESUS WAS BAPTIZED

“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” - Mark 1:9-11

We are to be like Jesus, following and imitating Him in every way. If Christ submitted to baptism, we should follow His example.

Our Heavenly Father was well pleased with Christ’s baptism. He sent a special anointing of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at that time. It prompted God to announce Christ’s Sonship publicly. The Father is likewise well pleased when we are baptized.

According to Luke 3:21-23, Jesus was about 30 years old when He was baptized.

WHO IS READY?

THOSE who BELIEVE in Jesus Christ. Acts 18:8.

THOSE who REPENT of their sins. Acts 2:38

THOSE who CONFESS Christ. At baptism, believers confess out loud that Jesus is Lord according to Romans 10:9.

We believe God, not man, created marriage. We believe marriage was the first institution designed by God. We believe the Bible teaches that the covenant of marriage is sacred and lifelong. The Bible makes it clear that marriage is a legally binding public declaration of commitment and a private consummation between one man and one woman, never between the same sex. Therefore, we believe God gives a wife to a husband and a husband to a wife, and they are to receive one another as God’s unique and personal provision to help meet their mutual needs.

We believe God created marriage for the purpose of couples glorifying God as one flesh, parenting godly children, and enjoying sexual pleasure. As iron sharpens iron, we believe God uses marriage to sharpen a man and woman into the image of Jesus Christ. Just as the Trinity reflects equal worth with differing roles, we believe God created a man and a woman with equal worth but with differing roles and responsibilities in marriage.

Finally, we declare the marriage commitment must be upheld in our culture as that sacred institution of God in which men and women can experience the truest sense of spiritual, emotional, and physical intimacy, so that the two can become one. (Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:30-32; 1 Corinthians 7:3; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9, 12:25; Proverbs 27:17; Romans 1:26-27, 8:29; Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 22:30; Deuteronomy 24:5; Song of Solomon)

We believe the Bible clearly states that marriage is the only context for sexual intimacy. We believe contemporary culture is pressing single people to engage prematurely in acts that are intended only for the context of marriage. Our culture has rejected God’s plan for intimacy by promoting sexual promiscuity of various kinds and, as a consequence, has brought upon itself sexual diseases and relational dysfunctions.

We believe in sexual purity and fidelity. Therefore, we are committed to training parents to teach their children at an early age to respect their sexuality and to preserve their virginity and purity until marriage. We are committed to communicating the message to teenagers, single adults, and married couples that sexual intimacy is available only in the context of marriage. (Genesis 2:24-25; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)

We believe God’s plan for marriage is that it be a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman. We believe God hates divorce. We believe divorce brings harm to every person involved. Therefore, reconciliation of a marriage should be encouraged and divorce discouraged. We also believe that God allows for divorce in certain situations, not because He wills it, but because of the hardness of people’s hearts.

We believe the Bible teaches that God allows for divorce in the case of adultery and in the case where an unbelieving spouse has chosen to abandon the commitment of marriage. We believe, however, that it is God’s priority that marital oneness be restored and that, through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, forgiveness and reconciliation be experienced.

We believe that in the unfortunate cases of abuse and abandonment, God has provided protection for an abused spouse and provision for child support through the church, civil law, godly counselors, prayer, and other practical measures.

We believe God can restore broken people and broken marriages by His grace, by the power of His Spirit, and by His practical truths found in the Bible. (Malachi 2:16; Matthew 5:31 32, 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:1-3; Romans 13:1-5; 1 Corinthians 7:15)