We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect
treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and
truth without any mixture of error for its matter, that it reveals the principles by which
God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true
center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds,
and opinions should be tried.
II Tim. 3:16-17; II Tim. 3:15; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 2:12; Phil. 3:16; I John 4:1
We believe that there is one, and only one living and true God, an infinite intelligent
Spirit, whose name is YAHWEH, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth;
inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love;
that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost; equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in
the great work of redemption.
John 4:24; Ps. 83:18; Heb.3:4; Rom. 1:20; Jer.10:10; Ex.15:11; Ps.147:5; Isa.6:3; I
Pet.1:15-16; Rev.4:6-8; Mark12:30; Rev.4:11; Matt.10:37; Jer.2:12-13; Matt.28:19; John
15:26; I Cor.12:4-6; I John 5:7; John10:30; John 5:17; John 14:23; John 17:5&10; Acts
5:3-4; I Cor.2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6; Eph. 2:18; II Cor.13:14; Rev. 1:4-5.
We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker, but by
voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all
mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice; being by nature utterly void of
that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under
just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.
Gen.1:27; Gen.1:31; Ecc.7:29; Acts 17:26-29; Gen.2:16-17; Gen.3:6-24; Rom. 5:12;
Rom.5:15-19; Ps.51:5; Rom.8:7; Isa.53:6; Gen.6:12; Rom.3:9-18; Eph.2:1-3;
Rom.1:18,32; Rom.2:1-16; Gal.3:10; Matt. 20:15; Ezek. 18:19-20; Rom.1:20; Rom.3:19;
Gal. 3:22.
We affirm that salvation is a gift from God, offered to all who trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life. Through the intermediary offices of the Son of God; who by the appointment of the Father freely took upon him our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by his personal obedience, and by his death made a full atonement for our sins; that having risen from the dead, he is now enthroned in heaven; and uniting in his wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, he is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all sufficient Savior.
Eph.2:3, Matt. 18:11, I John4:10, I Cor.3:5-7, Acts 15:11, John 3:16, John1:1-14, Heb.
4:14, Heb. 12-24, Phil. 2:9&14, II Cor. 5:21, Isa. 42:21, Phil. 2:8, Gal. 4:4-5, Rom. 3:21,
Isa. 53:4-5, Matt. 20:28, Rom.4:25, Rom. 3:21-26, I John 2:3, I Cor. 15:1-3, Heb.9:13-15,
Heb.1:8, Heb. 1:3, Col. 3:1-4, Heb. 7:25, Col. 2:18, Heb. 7:26, Ps. 89:19, Ps.34
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in him
is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the promise of eternal life
on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of
righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood; by
virtue of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that it
brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other
blessing needful for time and eternity.
John 1:16, Eph.3:8, Acts 13:39, Isa. 53:11-12, Rom5:1-2, Rom. 5:9, Zech. 13;1, Matt.
9:6, Acts 10:43, Rom. 5:17, Titus 3:5-7, I Peter 3:7, I John 2:25, Rom. 5:21, Rom. 4:4-5,
Rom. 6:23, Phil. 3:7-9, Rom. 5:19, Rom. 3:24-26, Rom.4:23-25, I John 2:12, Rom. 5:3,
Rom. 5:11, I Cor. 1:30-31, Matt. 6:33, I Tim. 4:8
of the freeness of salvation
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the
immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial penitent, and obedient faith; and that
nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth, but his own inherent
depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him in an
aggravated condemnation
Isa. 55:1, Rev. 22:17, Rom. 16:25-26, Mark 1:15, Rom. 1:15-17, John 5:40, Matt.23:37,
Rom.9:32, Pro. 1:24, Acts 13:46, John 3:19, Matt. 11:20, Luke 10:27, II Thess. 1:8
We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers,
associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the sacraments of Christ; governed by his laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in
them by his word; that its only scriptural officers are elders or pastors and deacons
whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.
I Cor. 1:1-3; Matt. 18:17; Acts 5:11; Acts 8:1; Acts 11:21-23; I Cor. 4:17; I Cor. 14:23;
III John 9; I Tim. 3:5; Acts 2:41-42; II Cor. 8:5; Acts 2:47; I Cor. 5:12-13; I Cor. 11:2; II
Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17-20; I Cor.11:23-24; Matt. 18:15-20; I Cor. 5:6; II Cor. 2:17; I
Cor. 4:17; Matt. 28:20; John 14:15; John 15:12; I John 14:21; I Thess. 4:2; II John 6; Gal.
6:2; Eph. 4:7; I Cor. 14:12; Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22; I Tim. 3; Titus 1
We believe that the end of the world is approaching; that at the Last Day Christ will
descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution; that a solemn
separation will then take place; that the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment,
and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of
men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness.
I Peter 4:7; I Cor. 7:29-31; Heb. 1:10-12; Matt. 24:35; I John 2:17; Matt. 28:20; Matt.
13:39-40; II Peter 3:3-13; Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Heb. 9:28; Acts 3:21; I Thess 4:13-18; I
Thess. 5:1-11; Acts 24:15; I Cor. 15:12-58; Luke 14:14; Dan. 12:2 John 5:28-29; John
6:40; John 11:25-26; II Tim. 1:10; Acts 10:42; Matt. 13:49; Matt. 13:37-43; Matt. 24:30-
31; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 22:11; I Cor. 6:9-10; Mark 9:43-48; II Peter 2:9; Jude7; Phil.
3:19; Rom. 6:23; II Cor. 5:10-11; John 4:36; II Cor. 4:18; Rom. 3:5-6; II Thess. 1:6-12:
Heb. 6:1-2; I Cor. 4:5; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:2-16; Rev.20:11-12; I John 2:28; I John 4:17;
II Peter 3:11-12
Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Baptism
Due to our understanding of the historical differences on the topic of baptism, we believe there are two main streams of thought. Below are our statements on both Credo and Paedo Baptism. At Christ Church we allow for the baptism of both infants and believers; members will submit to whichever statement (Credo or Paedo) aligns best with their conscience.
Credo
We believe that the Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect, in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life.
Paedo
We believe in baptism as a sacrament of initiation instituted by Christ, signifying our union with him and entry into the covenant family of God's people. It symbolizes our incorporation into the body of believers and our participation in the promises of God's covenant grace. Administered by water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it is practiced for believers and their children, in accordance with biblical precedent and church history.
Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper is that glorious act in which the members of the church by the sacred use of bread and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.
Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; John 4:12; Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts
2:38; Acts 8:12; Acts 16:32-34; Acts 18:8; Acts 10:47-48; Gal.3:26-28; Rom.6:4; Col.
2:12; I Peter 3:20-21; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:41-42; I Cor. 11:26; Matt. 26:26-29; Mark
14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; I Cor.11:28; I Cor. 5:1-8; I Cor. 10:3-32; I Cor. 11:17-32; John
6:26