What we believe

Our Statements of Faith

God

We believe that there is only one true, living, and eternal God and that the Godhead is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Bible

We believe that the Holy Scriptures as found in the King James Version of the Bible to be the inspired and infallible Word of God and therein is found the only reliable guide of Christian faith and conduct.

Man

We believe that God created man in His own image to bring Him honor through obedience, and that when man disobeyed, he became a fallen and sinful creature, unable to save himself. We believe that infants are in the covenant of God’s grace and that all persons become accountable to God when they reach a state of moral responsibility.

Salvation

We believe that Salvation (regeneration, sanctification, justification, and redemption) has been provided for all mankind through the redemptive work (life, death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession) of Jesus Christ, and that this Salvation can be received only through repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Assurance and Endurance

We believe that those who abide in Christ have assurance of salvation. However, we believe that the Christian retains his freedom of choice; therefore, it is possible for him to turn away from God and be finally lost.

Christian Duties

We believe that Christians should love faithfully by serving in and through the local Church, praying diligently, witnessing earnestly, practicing tolerance, showing loving kindness, giving as God prospers, and conducting themselves in such a way as to bring glory to God.

Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality

We believe that God wonderfully an immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complimentary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen 2:18-25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10).

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Christ Covenant Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Christ Covenant Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Christ Covenant Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22).

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11).

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor doctrines of Christ Covenant Church. Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, Christ Covenant Church will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the Pastors, ordained officials, and staff of Christ Covenant Church shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of Christ Covenant Church shall only host weddings between one man and one woman.

The Church

We believe that the Church Universal is the body of Christ, the fellowship of all believers, and that its members have been called out from the world to come under the dominion and authority of Christ, its head.

We believe that the local Church is a fellowship of Christians, a part of the Body of Christ voluntarily banded together for worship, nurture, and service.

Ordinances

We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances instituted by Christ to be observed by Christians only. We also believe that the Biblical mode of baptism is immersion and that participation in the Lord’s Supper should be open to all Christians. Baptism is to be performed by the ordained preachers of the Church and the Lord’s Supper by ordained officials.

The Lord’s Day

We believe in the sanctity of the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, and that this day ought to be observed by worshipping God, witnessing for Christ, and ministering to the needs of humanity. We believe that secular work on Sunday should be limited to cases of necessity or mercy.

Last Things

We believe in the personal return of Jesus Christ, and in the bodily resurrection of the dead. We believe that God will judge all mankind by Jesus Christ; that He will reward the righteous with eternal life in heaven, and that He will banish the unrighteous to everlasting punishment in hell.

Statements of Faith with Bible References

Section 1: God

We believe that there is only one true, living, and eternal God and that the Godhead is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

A. One True and Eternal God: Deut. 6:4; 33:27; Jer 10:10; Matt. 3:15-16; 28:19; Mk. 12:29; Jn. 14:9-11; 10:30; Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; 2 Cor. 3;17; 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 Tim. 1:17; 2:5; 6:17; Heb. 1:1-13; 3:12.

B. The Godhead:

1. God as Father: Gen. 1:1; Matt. 6:9; Eph. 4:6;

2. God as Son: Isa: 9:6; Matt. 16:16; Jn 1:1; 3:14,16; 14:28; 1 Cor:15:28; Heb. 1:8; Virgin birth of Jesus: Matt: 1:18-25; Lk. 1:26-38.

3. God as Holy Spirit: Jn 14:16, 26; Acts 1:5,8; 2:1-4; Rom. 8:16.

Section 2: The Bible

A. The Inspired Revelation: Lk. 24:44-46; Rom. 16:25-26; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 2 Pet. 1:20-21.

B. The Infallible Word: Isa 40:8; Lk. 21:33; Jn. 17:17; Titus 1:2; 1 Pet. 1:25.

C. The Reliable Guide: Deut: 6:6-9; Ps. 19:7-10; 119:105, 140; Jn 5:39; Acts 17:11-12; Rom. 10:14-15; 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17.

Section 3: Man

A. Man’s Origin: Gen 1:26-27; 2:7; Ps 8:5

B. Man’s Purpose: Gen 1:28-31; Ps 51:5; Jer 13:23; Rom 1:18-3:23; 5:12-21; 7:1-25

C. Man’s Accountability: Matt 19: 13-15; Rom 4:15; 5:13; 6:16; Heb 11:24-26

Section 4: Salvation

Salvation: Heb 5:9; 1 Thess 5:9; 1 Pet 1:9; Heb 7:25

Regeneration: Jn 3:3-8; 1:11-13; 1 Pet 1:23; Eph 2:1-10; 2 Cor 5:17; 2 Pet 1:4; Titus 3:5

Sanctification: 1 Cor 1:30; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:9-10, 29; 2 Tim: 2:21; Heb 13:12; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Pet 1:2

Justification: Rom 3:20-24; 5:1-2, 18; 8:30-33; Acts 13:38-39; 1 Cor 6:11; 2 Cor 5:21

Redemption: Matt 20:28; Isa 53:6; Col 1:14; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet 1:18-19; Rev 5:9

Christ’s Redemptive Work: Jn 3:16; Rom 5:8; Heb 2:9; Rev 22:17; 2 Pet: 3:9; Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom 6:23; Eph 2:8-9

Life and Death: Rom 5:10; Heb 9:12-15; Jn 10:11; 1 Jn 3:16

Resurrection: Rom 4:25; 1 Pet 1:3; 1 Cor 15:14, 17

Ascension: Heb 4:14-16; 6:19-20; 9:24, 10:11-12

Intercession: Rom 8:34; Heb 9:15; Isa 53:12; 1 Tim 2:5

Repentance: Isa 55:6-7; Lk 24:47; Lk 13:3-5; Acts 2:38; 1 Thess 1:9-10;

Faith: Jn 3:16-18; Heb 11:1, 6; 1 Pet 1:5

Section 5: Assurance and Endurance

A. Assurance: Matt 28:20; 1 Cor 10:13; Heb 5:9

B. Endurance: Matt 10:22; Lk 9:62; Col 1:23; Rev 2:10-11; 3:3-5

C. Warnings: Jn 15:6; Rom 11:20-23; Gal 5:4; Heb 3:12; 10:26-29; 2 Pet 2:20-21

D. Finally Lost: Jn 15:6; 1 Cor 9:27; Heb 6:4-6

Section 6: Christian Duties

A. Faithful Service: 1 Chron 16:11; Ps 101:6; Matt 28:18-20; Jn 15:7-14; Rom 12:14; 1 Cor 13; 2 Cor 8, 9; Eph 4, 6; Heb 12:1

B. Prayer: 2 Chron 7:14; Dan 6:10; Matt 6: 1-13; 26:41; Lk 18:1; 1 Thess 5:17

C. Witnessing: Matt 28: 19-20; Acts 1:8

D. Tolerance: Matt 18:15-17; Lk 10:37; Gal 5:22-23; 2 Pet 1:5-9

E. Loving Kindness: Jn 13:35; 1 Jn 3:11; 4:7, 11-12

F. Financial Stewardship: Matt 23:23; 1 Cor 16:2; 2 Cor 9:6-7

Section 7: Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11).

Section 8: The Church

We believe that the local Church is a fellowship of Christians, a part of the Body of Christ voluntarily banded together for worship, nurture, and service.

A. The Church Universal: Matt 16:18; Jn 10:10; 1 Cor 3:16; 12:12-14, 27; Eph 1:22-23; Col 1:18, 24; Heb;12:23

B. The Local Church: Matt 18:17; Acts 2:38-47; 11:19-30; Rev 1:4; 3:22

1. Worship and Service: Rom 12:1; 1 Cor 14:12, 23-25; Heb 10:25; Ja 1:26-27

2. Nurture: Eph 4; 2 Pet 1:2-8; 3:18

Section 9: Ordinances

A. Baptism:

1. Instituted: Matt 3:13-15; 28:19

2. Subjects: Acts 2:41; 8:12, 27-38; 10:47-48; 16:30-33; 19:5;

3. Biblical Mode: Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12

4. Purpose: Matt 3:14; 1 Pet 3:21

B. Communion:

1. Instituted: Matt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25

2. Subjects: 1 Cor 11:27-29

3. Purpose: 1 Cor 11:26

Section 10: The Lord’s Day

A. Sanctify: Ex 20:8; Isa 58:13-14

B. Observance: Mk 2:27-28; Lk 4:16; Acts 20:7; Cor 16:2; Rev 1:10

Section 11: Last Things

A. Return: Matt 24,25; Lk 12:40; Jn 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Jn 3:2; Rev 1:7

B. Resurrection: Jn 5:25, 28-29; 6:40; 11:24-25; Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 15; Phil 3:21; 1 Thess 4:16-17; Rev 20:4-6

C. Judgment and Reward: Matt 25:21; Mk 9:43-48; Jn 5:27; Acts 17:31; Rom 2:16; 14:12; 2 Cor 5:1, 10; Col 3:24; 2 Thess 1:7-10; Heb 9:27; 2 Pet 3:9-13; Jude 21; Rev 2:7; 14:13; 20:10-15; 22:12

Church Covenant

Our Statements of Faith

Having given ourselves to God, we now give ourselves to His Church and covenant with it and with each other, as also with God.

1. That we forsake all unrighteousness, even the appearance of evil. We will abstain from all questionable pursuits and pleasures; we will forego all hurtful habits; we will avoid evil associations.

2. That we will follow earnestly after righteousness and true holiness in the fear and love of God. We will seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, trusting that all needful and helpful things will be added to us; we will seek entire consecration to God; we will live a life of prayer; we will seek the constant abiding of the Divine Life within us; and we will be satisfied only when we have evidence that we please God and are accepted of Him.

3. That we will faithfully improve all the means of grace, We will attend and support the services of the Church, the preaching, the social services, the business meetings; we will contribute freely of our means for the advancement of the Gospel; and we will cooperate with our brethren in every enterprise having for its and the glory of God and the salvation of men.

4. That we will be Christ-like in all our deportment. We will be tender and affectionate toward each other; we will be careful of each other’s reputation, thinking no evil, and backbiting not with our tongues; we will return good for evil. We will be just and honest; truthful and honorable in all our dealings; we will do unto others as we would be done by; we will be meek, loving and forgiving as we desire and hope to be forgiven.

5. That we will be faithful, Christian workers. We will do whatever Christian work comes to hand, shunning no cross, shirking no duty; we will even seek opportunities to do good, glorify God and save souls; we will study to win our associates, our neighbors, our families, all whom we may influence, to become Christians; we will count It more than our meat and drink, more than all things else, to do the will of our Father in heaven, to lead souls from sin and death, and lead them to God and heaven.

6. That when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with another Church where we can continue to live by the spirit of the Covenant and the principles of the Bible.