Core Beliefs

The Scriptures: We believe that the Bible, containing the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, was written by men divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit and is the record of God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. The Bible in its entirety is the Word of God, and as such is wholly true in everything it affirms. The Scriptures are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. (Matt. 5:18; Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:12; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)

 

God: We believe that the one true and living God is both infinitely powerful and intimately personal. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God eternally exists as three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and each Person is fully God, and there is one God without division of nature, essence, or being. (Gen. 1:1; Ex. 3:14; Deut. 6:4; Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Col. 1:16-17; 1 Tim. 1:17)

 

God the Father: We believe that God the Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purpose of His grace. He is all powerful, all loving, and all wise. He is the source of all truth. (Ps. 103:13; Matt. 6:25- 34; John 17:3; Rom. 5:8; 1 John 4:8)

 

God the Son: We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation He was fully God and fully man, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for our sins by crucifixion, was buried, was resurrected on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He is Head of the church. He currently intercedes for the saints and will one day return to judge the living and the dead and make all things new. (John 1:1-4; Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:3-8; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 2:5; 2 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 1:1-4, 4:15; Rev. 11:15)

 

God the Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is God. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He indwells all believers, bears fruit in their lives, endows them with spiritual gifts, guides them in understanding Scripture and empowers them to live holy lives. (John 16:7-15; 1 Cor. 12:4-7, 13; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 4:30)

 

Mankind: We believe that God created mankind in His own image and therefore all people have intrinsic value. God created all mankind with the ability to make free decisions by which they can obey or disobey His commands. God created mankind for the purpose of glorifying Himself. (Gen. 1:26-27; Ps. 8:3-8, Is. 43:7; John 7:17; Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Pet. 2:16)

 

Sin: We believe that sin is disobeying God and it began when Adam and Eve disobeyed the command of God and fell from their original state. As a result, the entire human race inherits a corrupt nature that is opposed to God and His law. Sin has affected the mind, will, body, and affections of all people. Therefore, by nature and action, all humans live under the dominion of sin and Satan, the condemnation of God, and are hostile enemies of God in need of salvation. (Gen. 3:1-19; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 3:9-23, 5:12-14; Eph. 2:1-3)

 

Salvation: We believe that mankind is saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. God, by his own sovereign choice, and because of his love for mankind, sent Christ into the world to save people. Through repentance of sin and faith in the finished work of Christ, people can be forgiven of their sins, receive the Holy Spirit and be brought into relationship with God. We believe that a true believer is eternally secure, but his sin may interrupt the joy of his fellowship with God and bring the loving discipline of his heavenly Father. (Mk 1:15; John 3:16, 10:27-29; Eph. 2:1-10; Heb. 12:5-11; 1 John 2:18-20)

 

The Church: We believe there is one true church that is made up of all people who have been saved by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone to the glory of God alone. We believe that a local, visible, New Testament church is an assembly of baptized believers who covenant together to glorify God together. God has commanded each local church to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching God’s Word, observing the ordinances of believer’s baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper, fellowship, service and evangelism. The two offices of the local church are Elders and Deacons. (Matt. 16:18, 28:19-20; John 13:34-35; Acts 2:42-47; Eph. 3:21; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Heb. 10:24-25)

 

Consummation: We believe that God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return bodily and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all mankind in righteousness. The unrighteous in their resurrected bodies, along with Satan and his demons, will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and dwell in the New Heaven and Earth with the Lord forever. (Matt. 16:27; Acts 17:30-31; 1 Cor. 15:24-28, 35-58; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 1:5-10; Heb. 9:27-28; 2 Pet. 3:7-13; Rev. 20:1-22:13)

 

Marriage & Sexuality: We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the God ordained uniting of one man and one woman into a single exclusive union (Gen. 2:18-25). We believe that God designed and commanded sexual intimacy to be practiced exclusively within marriage between one man and one woman (1 Cor. 6:18, 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4). We believe that sexual intimacy outside of a marriage between one man and one woman to be immoral, sinful and offensive to God. This includes, but is not limited to, adultery, fornication, polygamy, transgenderism, homosexual and/or bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest and the use of pornography (Matt. 15:18-20; 1 Cor. 6:9-10)

 

Sanctity of Human Life: We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image (Gen. 1:26-27). Human life is of immeasurable worth in all its dimensions, including preborn babies, the aged, people with disabilities or mental illnesses and every other stage or condition from fertilization to natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Ps. 139). In accordance with the mission of CFC, we believe that every person should be afforded love, kindness, compassion, dignity and respect (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31; 1 Pet. 3:15). Unloving attitudes or words directed toward any individual are not Christ-like, and are in opposition to the mission of CFC.

 

Final Authority: This Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For the purpose of CFC’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the Elders are CFC’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.