We are children of God by birth. We become disciples of Christ by covenant. Jesus said plainly: "If you love me, keep my commandments," and again "You are my friends if you do what I command." This does not mean that we save ourselves through perfect obedience and good works. Rather, obedience is an expression of love.

Recognizing that the discipline required to be a "disciple" is not automatic, and it is not easy, we labor to surrender our will into His and then live it. Not merely profess it. Not merely believe it. Live it — in the body, in the home, in the world, every day of the week, as reality. Jesus called together the multitude and said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." We hope to live up to the Lord's expectations. We embrace His name as our central identity, staking our lives on Him. Whenever we sin and fall short of the glory of God, we repent sincerely and strive to sin no more.

We accept that Christ chose to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness, and instituted ordinances to remember Him always. Each religious institution formalizes these ordinances and sacraments for their own membership. Still, the Lord receives all who sincerely come to Him in His name and denies none — black and white, bond and free, male and female; He remembereth the heathen, and to Him all are alike, both Jew and Gentile.

We recognize that His apostles were sent into the world and taught, "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only." Those who feel the Spirit of Truth in their teachings and begin to believe in Christ always ask, "What shall we do?" The answer was as plain then as it is now: "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." Each disciple must feel after God's Spirit for what it means to be "born of the water and the Spirit" and how to enter into covenants with Christ.

We walk the path Christ set before us — Himself being the way, the truth, and the life. We pray always and "faint not." We endure in faith through joy and trials as God refines our new identity into mature discipleship over a lifetime of spiritual sanctification by the power of His Spirit. We seek to enter into God's Kingdom, which is at hand — now, in this moment — for those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and willing hearts.