We, the family of Eternity Baptist Church want to extend a welcome to you! We believe that you are not looking at this page by accident. God has a plan, a purpose for your life. (Jeremiah 29:11-14) We hope you choose to visit us because we would love to meet you! Eternity Baptist Church was established in 1957 with a mission from God wanting us to reach out to people on the west side of Centralia. Eternity has undergone many physical changes since then. But, our belief in the Bible being God’s inspired word that transforms lives has not changed. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21) The Bible is still God’s word for all people today and has the answers to life’s problems. (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18)
We believe in the One God, The Father, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. (1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:6) We believe that in God’s perfect timing, that He sent His only begotten son Jesus into a fallen world to show us the invisible God in human form. (John 3:16) Jesus was born of a virgin named Mary. Jesus came to give us the way back to God. We are all born sinners separated from a Holy God. (Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:10) Through Adam’s fall in the garden of Eden, sin entered, but through the gift of Jesus, God’s Son, one can repent and call on Jesus for forgiveness of their sins. (1 John 1:9, Acts 10:43, Romans 10:9, Romans 10:13) Jesus lived a sinless life and was obedient to The Father, choosing the suffering and shame of being nailed to a cross so we could be brought back to God. (Hebrews 9:12-14, Ephesians 1:7, Mark 14:24)
Jesus died on that cross and was buried in a borrowed tomb. But, He was raised from the dead on the third day! (1 Corinthians 15:14, Acts 2:24) It is through the blood that Jesus shed that we have forgiveness of our sin by God. Jesus is The Lamb of God, the sacrifice for us, who takes away the sin of the world. After a period of time, Jesus ascended into Heaven and is at The Father’s right hand where He makes intercession for us. (Acts 2:33, Mark 16:19) Jesus knows our struggles and the things that tempt us. He was tempted just as we are but without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
We believe in The Holy Spirit and that He is an equal part of the Godhead that is known as The Trinity. (1 John 5:7) The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit are one. The Holy Spirit was sent down to us on Pentecost. He lives within the true believer and is giving us new life. The Holy Spirit is our comforter as we live our life. (John 14:26, John 16:13, John 15:26)
We believe that when a person turns from their sin and trusts in Jesus with their life that they become a new creation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20) We believe that there is no other name in Heaven or Earth that a person can call on and be saved from their sinful condition. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5, John 3:36) We believe that baptism is a first step of obedience and that it is by immersion. (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts, 16:31-33, Romans 6:3-6) It is symbolic of the death of the old life and the raising to a new life in Jesus. We believe that salvation comes first and then baptism.
We believe in a literal second return of our Lord Jesus. Jesus came as a baby the first time. He will return as The King of Kings and The Lord of Lords with His second coming. He will judge the living and the dead. (Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11-16, Matthew 25 31-46, Matthew 16:27) He will gather those who have trusted and been obedient to Him to a place called Heaven. Those who have rejected Jesus will be sent to a place of judgment called Hell. We believe both Heaven and Hell are eternal and without end. (2 Peter 2:4, Luke 16:24, Revelation 14:11)

We, the family of Eternity Baptist Church partake of The Lord’s Supper quarterly. It is served by our pastor and deacons’ as is our custom. We believe The Lord’s Supper to be symbolic, meaning that the juice and bread do not actually become the body of Christ but rather they are a symbol reminding us of the price Jesus paid for our sins. We do this in remembrance of Him. We practice an open communion. This means if you are a believer, then you can partake of The Lord’s supper without being a member of Eternity Baptist Church. We believe that according to 1 Corinthians 11:27-30, that a person should examine their heart to make sure they are in right fellowship with the Lord and other believers before taking The Lord’s Supper. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord.
So a man should examine himself; in this way he should eat the bread and drink from the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.
A few notable verses concerning The Lord’s Supper are:
As they were eating, He took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it, this is My body.” Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them, and so they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is My blood that establishes the covenant, it is shed for many. I assure you: I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in the kingdom of God.” Mark 14: 22-25
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He also took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude. Acts 2:46

Contact Information

500 W McCord Street
Centralia, IL 62801

Phone: 618-532-9596