About Unity in the Southern Tier
-
Welcome to the web page of Unity in the Southern Tier in Endicott, New York. We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordained by the Lord Jesus himself - baptism as a symbol of entrance into the body of Christ and the Lord's Supper a regular reminder of the death, resurrection, and return of Christ. Baptism symbolizes the believer's death to sin and new life in Christ. Those baptized are done so in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Together they are simultaneously God's pledge to us, divinely ordained means of grace, our public vows of submission to the once crucified and now resurrected Christ, and anticipations of his return and of the consummation of all things.
We believe that there is one God who exists in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is Sovereign and Faithful to fulfill everything is has promised in His Word. We believe that Jesus is God the Son. He was born of a virgin, was wholly God and wholly man, lived a sinless life, died in our place as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind, was buried, arose bodily from the grave, and ascended into Heaven where He resides today. He will literally return to earth at a time of His choosing to Judge all mankind. We further believe that God the Holy Spirit is active in convincing unbelievers of their need for salvation, and is the Comforter and Guide Who lives in the heart of every believer.
About God's Word: We believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, authoritative Word of God. We believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the original writings of Scripture and that the original writings are without error.
About Separation of Church and State: We believe that each local church is self-governing, and must be free from interference by any external ecclesiastical or political authority; that every human being is ultimately responsible to God in matters of faith and life; and that each person is free to worship God according to the dictates of his/her conscience. We further believe that governments are established by God; that Christians, as good citizens, should be subject to governing authorities insofar as possible, recognizing our greater allegiance to God and His kingdom in matters wherein human authorities conflict with clear, biblical mandates.