SCRIPTURE

Inspiration

We believe the Holy Bible was written by men by divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is God’s revelation of Himself to man and that the inspiration of the original autographs was complete and absolute. Therefore, the Bible is inerrant and infallible in its original manuscript. It is the sole authority for faith and practice in all matters. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Study

The Bible is to be studied by all believers in Christ., “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God…” (2 Timothy. 2:15). We believe in the systematic study and preaching of the Bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. It is imperative that the whole Counsel of God is proclaimed.  We need to immerse ourselves daily in God’s Word, like the Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily. 

References: Acts 17:11

GODHEAD

Trinity

There is one and only one living, true, and triune God; the eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes. There is no division of nature, essence, or being and is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal being. He is Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all-powerful and all-knowing and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. 

References: 1 John 5:7

God the Father

God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the stream of human history, according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all. 

References: Genesis 2:7; Exodus 3:14; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3, Matthew 6:9; John 4:24; 5:26; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Hebrews12:9; 1 Peter 1:17

God the Son, Jesus Christ 

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. We believe in the full deity of the Lord Jesus Christ who always was and will be God and did not cease to be God at the incarnation. The Man Christ Jesus possesses both a divine and human nature, both distinct and unmixed.  He was without sin and perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross. He made provision and atonement for the redemption of men from sin. He died a substitutionary death for the sin of all men. He was buried and arose on the third day in the same but glorified body in which He lived and died. He appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. Fully God and fully man, in whose person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He functions as the High Priest for all believers ever making intercession for them and now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord. He will return personally and physically in power and glory.  We believe in the imminent return to the earth in glory to set up His kingdom. The Second Coming has two phases: the Rapture in which Christ returns for His church and His earthly return when he stands on earth in Jerusalem.

References:  Psalm 2:7; 110:1; Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18- 23; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; Colossians 1:15-16; 1 Corinthians 15:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:10 

God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead and is fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. He is the infallible author and interpreter of the infallible Word.  We believe He distributes a variety of gifts to believers for the edification of the church and for serving one another. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption.

References:  John 14:26, 15:26, 16:18; 1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 12-13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 16:6-8

MAN; CREATION AND FALL

Man is the unique creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning achievement of His creation.  In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was given by God, his Creator, the freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of satan man transgressed the command of God and fell from his original innocence and is now inclined toward sin.

Only the grace of God through Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross can bring man into fellowship with Him, and enable man to fulfill the original purpose of God: that is to have a relationship with God.

References: Genesis 1:1, 18, 21-22, 26-30; Psalm 8:3-6, 32:1; Isaiah 6:5-6, 64:6-7; Matthew 16:26; Romans 3:23, 5:6;  Acts 12:26-27; Ephesians 2:1-3

SALVATION/JUSTIFICATION
 

By Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone, In Christ Alone
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. By His own blood Christ obtained eternal redemption for the believer. Salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin and was made a curse for us, dying in our stead; nothing we do can add to the merit of the finished work done for us by Him Who died and was raised for us.

References: Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 26:28; John 3:16, 14:6; Colossians 1:19-23; Ephesians 2:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:21;  Titus 3:5-7

Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God.

References: Romans 6:22-23 

Sanctification

Sanctification begins in salvation, which is a setting-apart unto God. However, the believer retains his sin nature, which cannot be eradicated in this life. Therefore, while the standing of the Christian in Christ is perfect, his present state is no more perfect than his experience in daily life. There is, therefore, a progressive sanctification wherein the Christian is to “grow in grace,” and to “be changed” by the unhindered power of the Spirit. We believe also that the child of God will yet be fully sanctified in his state as he is now sanctified in his standing in Christ when he shall see his Lord and shall be “like Him”.

References: John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 7:1; Ephesians 4:24; 5:25–27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23; Hebrews 10:10, 14; 12:10

Glorification

Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. The redeemed will receive their new glorified bodies and will not possess a sin nature and nor will they ever be able to rebel again. This is the eternal state of the believer.

References: 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 15:36-49

Eternal Security

Because of the eternal purpose of God toward man, the pinnacle of His creation, and the objects of His love. His freedom to exercise grace toward the fallen human race on the ground of the reconciling blood of Christ, we and all true believers everywhere, once saved shall be kept saved forever (Ephesians 1:13-14).  Those whom God has accepted in Christ by the power of the  Holy Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace (John 6:35-40, 10:28).  They may bring temporary discipline on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. God is a holy and righteous Father and since He cannot overlook the sin of His children, He will, when they persistently sin, chasten them and correct them in infinite love (Hebrews 12:5-11); He, who cannot fail, will in the end present every one of them faultless before the presence of His glory and conformed to the image of His Son (Jude 24)

 ORDINANCES

Baptism

We believe in full emersion water baptism of the believer .Water baptism is a public, outward testimony that indicates a personal, inward faith. As well, it is a public declaration of allegiance to Christ, and Him alone, it proclaims the evidence of the inner change for every aspect of your life that has already occurred in the believer’s life, when he or she was “born again” through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:4). Baptism is a command from our Lord, not a personal choice (Acts 2:38-39; Matthew 28:9). It is done not as an infant,  but at a time and age when the individual has made a conscience decision to receive the free gift of salvation through belief in Christ. Every occurrence of baptism in Scripture was an adult. Only those that confess faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross should be baptized.

References:  Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 16:31-33; 18:8

Communion

Jesus Christ instituted communion on the night before His crucifixion with His disciples. Communion, often called “The Lord’s Supper,” is a memorial in which Christians identify with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as well as looking forward to His return. The bread symbolizes Christ’s body, which was beaten and broken for us as He died for the sins of humanity. The cup symbolizes His blood, which was shed for us as He paid for our sins. Communion is only for the believer, and the believer must examine their hearts before taking it to keep from bringing judgement on themselves by taking it in an unworthy manner.

References: Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25; John 10:17-18; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:8-9; 1 Corinthians 11:27; 2 Corinthians 5:21

LAST THINGS

Overview

God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring this age to its appropriate end. The Rapture of the church will begin the Day of the Lord. The dead believers will be raised and the believers who are alive will be glorified and translated to Heaven to await the judgment seat of Christ where they will receive their reward. The Rapture will be followed by the seven year tribulation period. This is known as a pre-tribulation rapture, which is what My CCF Church believes and teaches. At the end of the Tribulation, according to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth to rescue the remnant of Israel and the Gentile nations and Christ will judge the nations in righteousness. The unrighteous dead will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The remnant of Israel and the Gentile will live in the Millennial Kingdom for 1,000 years. After the 1,000 years are over, the Great White throne Judgment will commence and sentence all other unbelievers, the Devil and his angels to the Lake of fire forever. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will dwell in new Heaven and new earth with the Lord forever. 

References: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:4-9; Titus 2:13

The 7 Year Tribulation Period

We believe that sometime after the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Seventieth Week of Daniel will occur for a period of seven years.  It is a time of judgment of all humanity; that it will bring to an end the times of the Gentiles and result in the national regeneration of Israel. God will again be dealing with the Nation of Israel that they might receive their Messiah, along with any gentile that would call on His Name and be saved.

References: Daniel 9:24-27; Zechariah 12:2-3, Isaiah 2:4; 11:9-11; Hosea 5:150-6:3; Matthew 24:15-22; Mark 13:14-23; Luke 21:27-28.

The Second Coming/Millennial Reign

Second coming should not be confused with the Rapture - these are two separate events. We believe in the personal, visible, and bodily return of Christ to the earth with his saints after the Tribulation. Christ will return at the request of Israel to save her from her enemies; to judge all living Gentiles for the purpose of determining who will be excluded from the Kingdom and who will be included in the Kingdom. This is the millennial reign beginning of Christ’s reign from David’s throne in Jerusalem for 1000 years.  

References: Isaiah 63:1-6; Hosea 5:15-6:3; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-2; Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-28; Isaiah 2:2-4; 4:2-6,11:6-9; Matthew 16:27;19:28; 24:27, 30, 36, 44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; Luke 12:40, 48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28, 35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8, 2 Peter 3:7; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18, 3:11; 20:1-22:13; Matthew 3:2; 4:8-10,23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52: 25:31-46; 26:29; Mark 1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32; 17:20-21; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Romans 5:17; 8:19; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 11:10, 16; 12:28; 1 Peter 2:4-10; 4:13; Revelation 1:6, 9; 5:10; 11:15; 20-22

Satan’s Final Defeat

We believe after the Millennial Reign of Christ, satan performs one last act of rebellion, inciting all the nations of the world to fight against the Lord at Jerusalem. He is defeated and thrown into the Lake of Fire for all of eternity.

References: Revelation 20:7-10.

The Eternal State

Presently, for the believer, at death they are ushered into the Presence of the Lord and have fellowship with Him, awaiting the resurrection of the body into its eternal state (2 Corinthians 5:8).  We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost to final judgment; where those that are saved have the resurrection to eternal life with God in a literal Heaven. Those that are lost appear before the Great White Throne Judgment and then to abide for eternity in the Lake of Fire. This is followed by the New Jerusalem and the New Heavens and New Earth,  eternity in the Kingdom of God.

References: Daniel 12:2, Matthew 25:31-46, Romans 14:10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:11-15, 1 Peter 1:3, Revelation 3:5, Matthew 7:22, 13:40-42, 2 Thessalonians 1:7

The Christian Life

We are called with a holy calling, to walk after the Spirit, not the flesh. This means a life separated to the Lord to His glory that reflects His holiness, goodness and grace. So we are to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit being His ambassadors on this earth. We are to be kept by the Spirit constantly in subjection to Christ as Lord. As well, the disciple of Christ is given enabling gifts of service by the Holy Spirit to serve the body. Each believer is energized by the same Spirit, and each is called to their own divinely appointed service as the Spirit may will.

References:  Matthew 5:16; 28:18-20; John 17:18; Romans 6:11–13; 8:2, 4, 12–13; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 5:16–23; Ephesians 4:22–24; Colossians 2:1–10;  2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Peter 1:14–16; 4:1; 1 John 1:4–7; 3:5–9). Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; Ephesians 4:11

Church Leadership

We believe also some men are especially called of God to leadership within the church. These are to be pastors, teachers, elders, and deacons and that it is to the fulfilling of His will and to His eternal glory that these shall be sustained and encouraged in their service for God. 

Reference: Ephesians 4:11-12, Titus 1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:9–15; 9:18–27; 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Timothy 3:1-13

Ministry Servants

Additionally, all who serve in any of leadership or teaching ministries here at My CCF are in agreement with this statement of faith. God is not the Author of confusion, and we walk together following the leadership of our Lord.

References:  Amos 3:3; Habakkuk 2:2; 1 Corinthians 14:33; 2 Timothy 4:1-5, Romans 12:3-8