Theological Distinctives

These reflect what distinguishes North Side from other churches that would affirm the basic doctrines.

Complementarianism

Complementarianism is a theological and doctrinal framework that is based on the biblical view of gender roles in Christian marriage, family, and church ministry. The term complementarianism is derived from the belief that men and women are equal in worth and dignity as individuals, but they have different roles and responsibilities based on their gender.

In complementarianism, we believe God has created men and women to complement each other in their roles and responsibilities. Men are called to be leaders and protectors of their families, while women are called to be helpers and supporters of their husbands in the home and in the church.

In the context of church ministry, complementarianism holds that men are called to be elders and pastors, while women are called to serve in other areas of ministry such as teaching, music, and hospitality.

The Sovereignty of God in Salvation

The doctrine of God's sovereignty in salvation emphasizes that God is in control of all things, and that includes the salvation of individuals. The foundation of this doctrine is grounded in passages such as Ephesians 1:4-5, where it says that believers were chosen "before the foundation of the world" to be adopted as God's children.

This doctrine teaches that salvation is solely the work of God. Humans do not have the ability to save themselves because of their sinful nature. Instead, it is God who initiates salvation and effectively calls individuals to himself by the power of the Holy Spirit. In other words, salvation is completely a work of God's grace that cannot be earned or merited by human effort.

God's sovereignty in salvation also teaches that once an individual has been saved, they can never lose their salvation because it is a gift given by God. This is referred to as the doctrine of "perseverance of the saints."

While the idea of God's sovereignty in salvation may be controversial to some, it is a foundational belief for many Christians. It is a reminder that salvation is not ultimately in the hands of humans, but in the hands of a loving and just God who has chosen to save those who put their faith.

Baptism By Immersion

We believe the Bible teaches that the mode of Baptism is one of full immersion for the following reasons.

• Symbolic Representation: Baptism by immersion is viewed as a symbolic representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, believers are immersed in water to symbolize their identification with Christ's death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12).

• Mode of Baptism: Immersion involves completely submerging the person in water, rather than sprinkling or pouring water on them. The Greek word "baptizo" used in the New Testament, which means "to immerse" or "to plunge," supports this understanding.

• Jesus' Baptism: The practice of immersion finds its basis in the baptism of Jesus himself. When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, he went down into the water and came up out of it (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10).

• Early Church Practice: The early Christian church also practiced baptism by immersion. For example, when Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch, they both went down into the water, and the eunuch was baptized by immersion (Acts 8:38-39).

• Cleansing and Rebirth: Baptism by immersion is seen as a means of spiritual cleansing and a symbol of new birth. It signifies the forgiveness of sins, the washing away of the old life, and the beginning of a new life in Christ (Acts 22:16; Titus 3:5).

• Obedience and Public Declaration: Baptism by immersion is viewed as an act of obedience to Christ's command to be baptized and a public declaration of one's faith in Jesus. It is seen as a step of faith and a public testimony of one's commitment to follow Christ (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-41).