Beliefs

Bible text - CCHC
What We Believe

We believe the Scriptures, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God, without error in the words of the original writings. The Scriptures provide the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of humanity and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. (Deuteronomy 27:26; 2nd Kings 17:13; Psalm 19; 119; Matthew 5:17; John 10:35; Luke 24:44; 2nd Timothy 3:16; 2nd Peter 1:20-21)

We believe there is one true and infinitely perfect God who is the creator and sustainer of all things. He eternally exists in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1; 3:22; 11:7; Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4; Isaiah 6:3; 45:5; Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 12:29-32; 1st Corinthians 8:4-6; 2nd Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:1-6; Colossians 1:16-17)

We believe the Father, the first person of the Trinity, decreed for His glory all things that come to pass. He providentially upholds and governs all creatures and events according to His own purpose. Through His plan and in His wisdom He has graciously provided salvation for mankind through Jesus Christ. (Psalm 33:6; 103:19; 135:6; Daniel 4:34-35; Romans 11:33-36; 1st Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:4-14; 1st Peter 1:1-3)

We believe Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, is the eternal Son of God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life as the God-Man. He died on the cross in order to pay the penalty for the sins of the world, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven. He has been seated at the right hand of the Father and now serves as the believers’ High Priest and Advocate. (Luke 1-2; John 1:1-18; 29; 8:58;Romans 1:3-4; 1st Corinthians 15:3-4; Colossians 1:15; 2:3; Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:17-18; 4:14-16)

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ, convicts the world of sin and regenerates the believer. He indwells the believer and illumines the Scriptures. He empowers and encourages believers for spiritual growth, godly living, and Christian service. (Acts 5:1-11; John 3:5; 14:26; 16:8-11; 1st Corinthians 2:10-16; 12:11;Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:30)

We believe that God is sovereign in the distribution of spiritual gifts. Through the Holy Spirit, He alone decides which gift each believer should have. Spiritual gifts are for the purpose of building up the church. God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. Accordingly, in a spirit of love and respect, restraint should be exercised in the use of any gift that might cause confusion, particularly in the public services of the church. (1st Corinthians 12:4-11; 13; 14; Ephesians 4:7-12; Romans 12:6-15; 1st Peter 4:10)

We believe in the personal, premillennial, and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ. This hope plays a significant role in motivating believers to a godly life and service on behalf of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. (John 14:2-3; 1st Corinthians 3:10-15;2nd Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10;1st Thessalonians 4:15-17; Titus 2:11-13)
We believe the dead will be raised bodily. The believer will be resurrected to eternal, unbroken fellowship with God and the unbeliever will be resurrected to eternal, conscious punishment.
(Mark 9:43-48; John 5:28-29; 1st Corinthians 15:50-53; Philippians 3:21; Revelation 4:10-11; 20:11-15; 21:1-4; 22:5-11)
 We believe the local church is an organized, autonomous gathering of believers.  The local church assembles for the purpose of instruction in the Scriptures, prayer, fellowship, worship, exhortation, encouragement, and the observance of the ordinances.  Believers are to recognize their spiritual interdependence in the Body of Christ and to be witnesses to God’s saving grace in the world.  (Acts 2:42; 11:22; 20:17; Colossians 4:16; 1st Thessalonians 1:1-2; 1st Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 3:13; 10:25; 1st Peter 2:9)

 We believe the Scriptures prescribe two ordinances for the church: water baptism and the Lord’s Table.  Believers are to be baptized in water by immersion as a testimony to their spiritual identification with Christ’s death and resurrection.  In corporate worship, believers are to celebrate regularly the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of His death on the cross and in anticipation of His return.  These important physical reminders of the work of Christ are not prerequisites to justification. (Matthew 28:16-20; Romans 6:1-11; Acts 2:38-41; Luke 22:19-20; 1st Corinthians 11:23-29)

 We believe angels were created by God as sinless, spiritual beings.  They worship and serve God in heaven and minister to God’s people on earth.  We believe that Satan was created as the highest angelic being, but because of his pride, God removed him from his position.  Satan, the archenemy of God, endeavors to frustrate the purposes of God through all types of deception.  Having been defeated at the cross, he and his demonic followers will ultimately be cast into the Lake of Fire.  (Genesis 3:1-4;Ezekiel 28:12-19; Daniel 12:1; Matthew 25:41;2nd Corinthians 11:3; 1st Timothy 3:6; Hebrews 1:14; 1st Peter 5:8-9;Revelation 12:4-9; 20:10)

 We believe in the personal, premillennial, and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This hope plays a significant role in motivating believers to a godly life and service on behalf of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. (John 14:2-3; 1st Corinthians 3:10-15;2nd Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10;1st Thessalonians 4:15-17; Titus 2:11-13)

 We believe the dead will be raised bodily.  The believer will be resurrected to eternal, unbroken fellowship with God and the unbeliever will be resurrected to eternal, conscious punishment.(Mark 9:43-48; John 5:28-29; 1st Corinthians 15:50-53; Philippians 3:21; Revelation 4:10-11; 20:11-15; 21:1-4; 22:5-11)

We believe God created man and woman in His image, free from sin. They became sinners by voluntarily and personally choosing to disobey God’s command. As a result of their sin, and mankind’s continuation of sin, the human race is alienated from God and subject to His wrath. All people are sinners by nature and by practice. (Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-19; Jeremiah 17:9;Romans 3:23; 5:12-21; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-10;1st John 1:8, 10) 

We believe that due to the sinful nature of mankind, it is impossible to enter into a right relationship with God or to earn the forgiveness of sins through one’s own efforts. However, because of God’s great love and mercy, He has graciously paid the penalty for sin through Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross and has provided new life through His resurrection. The forgiveness of sins is an act of God’s grace. It is a free gift to be received by faith in Christ alone. Only those who receive this gift become children of God and have eternal life--a relationship in which they are kept forever. (Isaiah 53:6; Mark 10:45; Romans 3:21-31; 5:1-19; 8:6-8; 10:4; Galatians 2:16-20; 3:11; Ephesians 2:4-10; 2nd Corinthians 5:21; Jude 1)

We believe the process of spiritual growth begins at the point of justification. It is normative for believers to be conformed progressively to the image of Jesus Christ in attitude and action. Spiritual growth is increasingly demonstrated by the fruit of the Spirit and by obedience to the will of God due to a love for Him and others. Believers who walk in the spirit in obedience to Him will receive eternal rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. God disciplines believers who disobey Him with temporal consequences and the loss of eternal rewards. (Isaiah 53:4-9; John 1:9-13; 3:16-21; 6:26-65; 11:25-26; Ephesians 2:1-10; 3:16-19; Romans 6:1-22; 14:10-12; 1st Corinthians 3:11-15;2nd Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 5:16-25;1st Thessalonians 5:23; 2nd Peter 1:5-11; Hebrews 12:4-13)
We believe the ultimate glorification of believers is assured on the basis of the immutable character of God and His sovereign work in their lives. God glorifies all whom He has called and justified. His character and work guarantee the believer’s final conformity to the image of Jesus Christ. (John 17:24; Romans 8:17; 28-30; Ephesians 5:27; Philippians 3:21; 1st John 3:2)
We believe the true Church is the Body of Christ of which He is the head. All those in this age who believe in Jesus Christ are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ, the universal Church. (Acts 1:5; 2; 11:15; 1st Corinthians 12:13; 1st Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:21-23; 2:20-22; 3:1-10; Colossians 1:18)