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We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21)
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:21-22; John 14:16; 26:1 John 5:7)
We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the conception of His body by the Holy Spirit and His birth by the virgin Mary, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. (Matthew 1:20-23; II Corinthians 5:21: Matthew 11:15; l Peter 3:18; Luke 24:36-40; Acts 1:9-Il)
We believe that salvation is wholly of grace, but conditioned solely on repentance toward God and acceptance of Christ by faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) When the sinner has met these requirements, God justifies and regenerates him. Justification is a judicial act absolving from punishment and restoring to divine favor. (Romans 5:1-9; Acts 13:39) Regeneration is the impartation of divine life effecting a change in the believer’s nature. By the operation of the Holy Spirit through the Word he is given a disposition to obey God. (II Corinthians 5:17; l Peter 1:23) This experience is witnessed to by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:16)
We believe in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, that He personally dwells within and guides those who are true believers, and empowers them for service, giving to them various gifts and producing within their lives the fruits of Christian Character. (I John 2:27; Romans 8:9, 11, 16, 26; John 14:26:16:13; Acts 1:5, 8; I Corinthians 12:4, 13; Galatians 5:22-23) b. We believe that all believers the moment they are regenerated are simultaneously baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:10-12) and also at that moment He comes to dwell within the believer. (John 14:16; I Corinthians 6:19; Romans 8:9). The filling of the Holy Spirit should be a continuous and repeated action. (Ephesians 5:18)
We believe sanctification is that work of grace begun by the Holy Spirit at the moment of regeneration and continues progressively until physical death. We believe the old nature is not eradicated until after death, but that we must constantly guard against its influence in our lives. (I John 1:8; Romans. 6:16; 7:7-21)
We believe that at the return of the Lord, the bodies of the righteous dead will be raised and the living believers will be changed so that both will have literal, spiritual, and immortal bodies like unto Christ’s own glorious body. (Romans. 8:23; I Corinthians 15; I Thessalonians 4:16; Philippians 3:20, 21)
We believe that man was created by God and not by any accidental or spontaneous or self-propagated occurrence, action, method, or process; that he was created in the image and likeness of God, possessing personality and holiness, and that he is a free moral agent possessing the power of choice, and that the purpose of his creation was to glorify God. (Genesis 1:27-28; Galatians 3:10; Ephesians 1:5, 6)
We believe the Biblical teaching about the fall of man (Genesis 2:16-17) and that because of his fall, death passed upon all men and sin entered into the world. (Romans 5:12-13), therefore, condemnation rests upon each person who has reached the age and development with which comes accountability before God and he is forever lost, except he be born again. (Romans 3:23; 6:23; John 3:3, 5, 16, 36)
We believe in the oneness of the church of Christ, composed of all Spirit-regenerated believers, (John 3:3; 1 Corinthians 10:17, 12:13-27; Ephesians 4:4), and that these believers both living and dead, shall be caught up together at His Second Coming. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-52).
We believe the Christian Ordinances are outward rites appointed by Christ to be administered in each church, not as means to salvation, but as visible signs of the facts and realities of salvation.
We believe in water Baptism, (Matthew 28:19) and that it is to be administered to believers only. (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:12). We recommend immersion as the mode of baptism.
We believe The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance instituted by Christ for observation by his followers until He returns. It consists in partaking of the consecrated emblems of bread and wine, and symbolizes the death and suffering of Christ for the remission of our sins and our continual dependence upon Him for our sustenance. The Lord’s Table should be open to all believers who are in right relationship with God, regardless of denomination. (Matthew 26:26-30; Luke 22:19; I Corinthians 10:16; 11:23, 26).
We believe that marriage is a sacred institution ordained of God in the time of man’s innocence and that it is the mutual union of one man and one woman and morally binding so long as both shall live, and that therefore it cannot be dissolved by a decree of a civil tribunal, except on evidence that one party is guilty of adultery; or (2) abandonment. (Matthew. 5:31-32; 19:4-9; 1 Corinthians 7:14-15) On positive evidence of such guilt the innocent party is free from further matrimonial obligations and justly entitled to marry again, but the guilty party has no such right. (Matthew 5:32, 19:9) c. We deny the right of marriage to both parties who have been divorced for other causes than adultery and abandonment. d. Any person sustaining a marriage relation contrary to that above recognized as justifiable shall be ineligible to enter into the office of the ministry of The Christian Union.
We believe that the Scriptural teaching concerning the financing of the Lord’s work is through tithes and offerings of God’s people. (Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23; I Corinthians 16:2.)
At Blue Ridge, we agree with the Psalmist. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105). We regularly study the Word of God together, and as we grow in our knowledge of God’s word, we grow in our knowledge of God Himself. Studying the Bible helps us grow in our love for God and love for one another. Therefore, every Wednesday we dive into books of the Bible with the goal of growth and Christian maturity.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work“ (2nd Timothy 3:16-17). Sunday school is designed to train Christians for the work of the ministry. During the worship service on Sunday morning, and Wednesday night Bible study we stay focused on books of the Bible. But during Sunday school we study topics such as prayer, missions, evangelism, and discipleship. This is so our people will be equipped to live out God’s call on their lives, build up the church, and reach the world around us.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing“ (1 Thessalonians 5:11). The CUWF meets the first Thursday of every month, 7–8:30 pm in the church basement. We have business, Bible lessons and close with dessert and fellowship. All women are welcome. Some of the projects the CUWF supports are:
Christian Union Youth Camp- we pay 100% of the fees for the campers and workers from Blue Ridge.
Funeral Dinners – organize and serve the dinners.
Annual Fish Fry – organize the entire fish fry and serve.
Church meals- free will offering lunches that the CUWF organizes and furnishes.
CUWF State Spring Luncheon – the CUWF of the seven Christian Union Churches meet the first Saturday in April at a different church each year. The host church organizes the meal. Another church does devotions and one church will do favors for each lady who attends. The big event for this day is the auction. The ladies bring all kinds of different homemade baked goods, candies and crafts. New or gently used items are also welcomed. The funds go toward the youth camp. A very fun day.
In Person Services:
• Sunday School / Group Classes: 9:00 am
• Fellowship & Greeting “Coffee” Time: 9:40 am
• Worship Service: 10:00 am
• Wednesday Night Adult Bible Study: 6:30 pm
Online Content:
• Sunday Pre-Recorded Worship Service: 3 pm
Jesus’ death on the cross represents the most generous gift ever given – when the King of Glory gave up everything in order to reconcile us to God. Giving cheerfully, sacrificially, and consistently is a part of our worship. When we are generous with others, we are reminding one another of the greater generosity of our good God.
We are partnered with Tithe.ly to enable secure, online giving:
Please send gifts to:
Blue Ridge Christian Union Church
466 S. 775 E.
Shelbyville, IN 46176
