Statement of Faith

Article 1 – Revelation

We believe that God has faithfully revealed Himself both in nature (general revelation) and in the Scriptures (special revelation). General revelation is sufficient to reveal to men that God is the creator, and to reveal His glory, power, and divinity (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-20). However, nature reveals only the wrath of God against men because of our rejection of Him (Romans 1:18-20). The Bible is God’s special revelation, by which men may be saved (Romans 1:16,17; II Timothy 3:15; I Corinthians 1:21). In fact, Scripture is necessary for salvation (Romans 10:17; James 1:18; I Peter 1:23). The Scriptures are the inspired Word of God (II Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1,2; II Peter 1:21; 3:15, 16). As such, it is an infallible guide for life (Psalm 19:7-11; II Timothy 3:16,17) and is infallible and inerrant in all matters of which it speaks.

We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creed, and opinion shall be tried (Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 22:29; 24:35; John 12:48; Acts 17:11).

Article 2 – God

We believe that there is but one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6; 46:9; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6), who is unfathomable (Job 11:7,8; Isaiah 55:8,9; Romans 11:33, 34); eternal (Daniel 3:34, Romans 1:20, Revelation 1:8; 1 Timothy 1:17), a spirit, not flesh (John 4:24), sovereign (Exodus 9:29; Psalm 115:3; Daniel 4:35; Romans 9:19-21); without imperfection (James 1:17); and independent (Psalm 50:10-12; Acts 17:25).

We believe that God is Holy (Isaiah 6:3, I Peter 1:15,16), just/righteous (Genesis 18:25; Romans 3:21-26), kind (Romans 2:4; 11:22), good (Matthew 6:25-32; James 1:17), merciful (Psalm 86:13; 2 Corinthians 1:3), loving (1 John 4:8), omnipotent (Psalm 135:6; Daniel 4:35; Revelation 1:8), omniscient (Psalm 139:1-4; John 2:24, 25), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10; Jeremiah 23:23,24).

We believe that God is the Creator and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible (Genesis 1:1; Job 38:4-7; John 1:1-3; Acts 17:26, 28; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3).

We believe that In the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons, of one essence (Matthew 3:16, 17; 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:4-7); – the Father (Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 4:6); the only begotten Son of God (John 1:14, 18; 10:30-33; 14:9; Romans 9:5; John 5:20), and the Holy Spirit, proceeding from both the Father and the Son (Luke 11:13; John 15:26, 16:7; Acts 5:3, 4; Galatians 4:6).

Article 3 – Jesus The Christ

We believe that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah of God sent to redeem and restore the lost creation (Luke 19:10); that He is eternal (Micah 5:2); God of very God (John 1:1; Titus 2:13; Jude 25); that He was begotten into the human family by the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, by Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; Galatians 4:4); and that He is both the Son of God and God the Son (1 John 5:20).

We further believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ (Matthew 28:6,7; Luke 24:2-7, 39; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:4) which guarantees the bodily resurrection of all believers (1 Corinthians 15:12-58); and in His ascension into Heaven (Acts 1:9-11), where He now sits at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 10:12; 12:2) as our High Priest interceding for us (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17, 18; 4:14; 7:25; 10:12).

Article 4 – The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person (Luke 1:35; John 14:16,17; Acts 5:3,4); that He was active in the creation (Genesis 1:1-3; Job 33:4); that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11); that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony (John 15:26, 27; Acts 5:30-32; Mark 13:11); that He is the agent in the New Birth (John 3:5, 6); that He is the “water” of spiritual baptism, forming the body of Christ (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 11:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13); that the evidence of His filling is the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 22-23); that He seals (Ephesians 1:13,14, 4:30); guides (Romans 8:14), adopts (Romans 8:15); gives witness of assurance (Romans 8:16); helps (Romans 8:26); teaches (Nehemiah 9:20; I Corinthians 2:12,13) and sanctifies the believer (Romans 15:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:7,8).

Article 5 – Man the Sinner

We believe that man was created in image of God (Genesis 1:26,27), but by voluntary transgression Adam fell from his sinless and happy state (Genesis 3:1-6); as a result of Adam’s sin all men are guilty and totally depraved (Romans 5:6, 12, 19; Ephesians 2:1-3; Jeremiah 7:14-24); and are sinners by nature and by conduct (Romans 1:28; 3:10-18); and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse (Romans 1:20, 32; Romans 6:23a; Galatians 3:22a).

Article 6 – Salvation: The Father

We believe that God ordained from eternity everything that has or will occur, by no counsel or consultation except His own will (Proverbs 16:4; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 11:33; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15,18); yet God is not the author of sin (James 1:13,17; 1 John 1:5), men are not forced against their will to act; and the necessity of unforced secondary causes is established (Acts 2:23; Matthew 17:12; Acts 4:27–28; John 19:11; Proverbs 16:33). Among those things God has ordained is that certain of His creatures will obtain eternal life, including angels (I Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:41) and certain men, called the elect, through salvation (Romans 9:22,23; Ephesians 1:4-12); because of His love for His creation and especially for His elect the Father sent the Son to redeem the elect (John 3:16; Romans 8:19-21; Ephesians 2:4-6; I John 4:10); and all those whom the Father has elected will be with Christ in glory (Romans 8:29,30; I Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 1:11); those not elected by the Father will be justly punished for their sins (Romans 9:22; I Peter 2:8).

Article 7 – Salvation: The Son

 We believe that the salvation of sinners is divinely initiated and wholly of grace (Ephesians 2:8, 9; 2 Timothy 1:9) through the mediatorial offices of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who voluntarily took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, and honored the divine law by His personal obedience (John 8:46; Hebrews 7:26-28; I Peter 2:21,22) and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for the sins of His people (Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Isaiah 53:4-7; 2 Corinthians 5:21); being their representative as Adam had represented the whole race (Romans 5:15-21; I Corinthians 15:21-22, 45-49);that by the shedding of His blood in His death He fully satisfied the just demands of a Holy and righteous God regarding sin (Romans 3:21-26; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 9:11-14); that His sacrifice consisted not in setting an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place (John 10:15, 17, 18; Romans 5:8); the Just dying for the unjust that God might judicially declare us righteous (1 Peter 3:18); Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the cross (Romans 3:24; 4:5; 5:1; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9; 1 Peter 2:24); that having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful Person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate and all-sufficient Savior (Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 1:3; 7:25; 10:12).

Article 8 – Salvation: The Holy Spirit

We believe that in order to be saved sinners must be born again, by the Holy Spirit (John 1:12, 13; 3:3-7); that in the new birth the spiritually dead sinner, dead in trespasses and sins, is made alive receiving eternal life, the free gift of God (Ephesians 2:1, 5; John 5:24; Romans 6:23); the Spirit setting us apart to God (2 Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 1:2) and God giving us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of salvation (Ephesians 1:13,14; 4:30; II Corinthians 1:21,22); that this activity is the call of God to His elect (Romans 9:24; I Corinthians 1:9; II Thessalonians 2:14; Hebrews 9:15; I Peter 2:9; 3:9); that everyone who hears this call comes (John 6:44,45); but that only the elect hear the call (John 6:65; 8:42-47; 10:14-16,26,27).

Article 9 – The Perseverance of the Saints

We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ and can never be lost (John 6:37-40; 10:28, 29; Romans 8:28-39; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Jude 1); and that those truly born again evidence the new birth by a life-style of righteousness (Matthew 7:22-23; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 5:18 III John 11), love (1 John 4:7), and a persevering in that faith (John 15:6; I John 2:19).

Article 10 – Sanctification

 We believe that sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto God accomplished in a threefold manner: past – sanctification is an act of God, based upon the redemption in Christ, whereby the sinner was, in God’s unsearchable foreknowledge, set apart to the hearing of and obedience to the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14; Hebrews 10:10); present – sanctification is an ongoing process in the life of the believer whereby the believer, through the power of the Holy Spirit, sets himself apart to holiness and maturity in Christ in his daily walk (Philippians 2:12-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4; 5:23, 24); and, future - sanctification shall culminate in the believer finally being made perfectly holy, at the redemption of the body (Romans 8:23; 1 John 3:2; Jude 24; Revelation 22:11).

We believe that a proper view of Christian sanctification focuses not on works (Galatians 3:3; Colossians 2:20-23) but on our relationship with God through prayer (Philippians 4:4-7; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; I Thessalonians 5:17); through Scripture reading and memorization (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 37:11; Hebrews 2:1); and through meditation on the person and work of Christ (Colossians 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:16-3:1; 12:1-3).
We further believe that a proper view of Biblical sanctification includes Biblical separation, the negative side of sanctification, wherein, first, the believer is commanded to personal separation from worldliness (1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 2:15, 16) and secondly, the believer is to separate himself from ecclesiastical apostasy (Romans 16:17; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17:1; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 John 9-11).

Article 11 – Christian Liberty

 We believe that God has granted to all believers freedom in non-essentials, such as food and drink (Romans 14:1-8; Colossians 2:16,17,20,21); such liberty is a blessing from God not to be taken lightly but defended (Galatians 2:11-14; 5:1); however, this liberty must not to be used to sin (1 Corinthians 6:12,13; Galatians 5:13; I Peter 2:16); nor can this liberty be allowed to become a stumbling block to the weak (I Corinthians 8:9-13; Romans 14:15, 19-21); but it must be governed by love for one another (Romans 15:1,2; Galatians 5:13,14).

Article 12 – Creation

We believe the Biblical account of the creation of the physical universe, angels and man (Genesis 1, 2); that this account is neither an allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; 17); that man was created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:7); and that all men are descended from the historical Adam and Eve, first parents of the entire human race (Genesis 2:21-23; 3:20).

Article 13 – Angels and Demons

We believe in the angels, whom God created to worship Him (Isaiah 6:2,3; Daniel 7:10; Hebrews 1:6); to bear His message (Psalm 104:4; Daniel 8:15-16; 9:23; 10:12); to dispense His judgment (Genesis 19:12,13; Revelation 8:1,2, 6-12) and to minister to the elect (Hebrews 1:14); but they are not to be worshipped (Revelation 19:10; 22:8,9)

We believe that some of these angels rebelled against God, led by Satan, the Devil (Revelation 12:7-9); that Satan was created by God as an angel but through pride and rebellion became the enemy of his Creator (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17); that he became the unholy god of this world and the ruler of all the powers of darkness (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4; Ephesians 6:10-12); that these fallen angels now actively oppose the work of God (Daniel 10:13; Ephesians 6:12); Satan especially seeking to deceive by disguising himself as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14,15); but this opposition will come to nothing, as Satan and his angels are destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

Article 14 - The Church

We believe that the “universal” or complete church is made up of all those who are united in faith to Christ from Pentecost to the return of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:14-22 & Hebrews12:22-24). As such, it is described as: the bride of Christ (Ephesians 4:25-33, the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-31) and the temple of God (Ephesians 2:14-22). Practically, the church is seen in the outworking of many localized bodies (churches).Many times in Scripture a letter or comment was addressed to a specific body of believers (1 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:1-2 & Philippians 1:1-2). Local churches gather for the purpose of worshipping God through “growing up in all things into Him who is the Head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16). In striving to this end, each church is governed by a group of elders (pastors or bishops) who are chosen based on the qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.Above this, each local church is free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations and is accountable only to Christ. The elders, and thus the church, are aided in their task by deacons who, having met the qualifications found in 1 Timothy, carry responsibilities that would keep the elders from prayer and study of the Word (Acts 6:1-7).

Article 15 - The Sacraments

We believe that God has given two sacraments (ordinances) to His church. These sacraments are intended not to give the individual holiness or merit before God, but to be tangible symbols of God’s grace lest we ever forget. The first of these is baptism. The example of Scripture is for baptism to follow soon after salvation as a public identification with Christ  (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:41, 8:36-40). The definition of the Greek word used combined with Biblical examples make it clear that the appropriate method of baptism is immersion. In doing this, the new believer illustrates his death with Christ to sin and new life in His power. As baptism depicts our salvation in Christ and thus occurs once, the Lord’s Supper (communion) commemorates our fellowship with Christ and is thus ongoing. For this reason, baptism is to occur before joining a local assembly or partaking in communion. Self-examination and repentance must precede Communion. The unleavened bread and fruit of the vine are symbols of the body and blood of our Lord, which were given for us. We partake on earth looking forward to the day when we will enjoy them in the presence of God.

Article 16 - Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society (Romans 13:1-7), that our leaders are to be prayed for and held in honor (1 Timothy 2:1-4, Matthew 21:15-22) and that they are to be obeyed in all things which do not directly violate the command of God  (Acts 4:18-20, 5:27-32)

Article 17 - The End Times

We believe in the “blessed hope”: the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.  His return has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer (I Thes. 4:13-18).  We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost.  The saved are raised to eternal conscious bliss in heaven (Matthew 25:34; John 14:2; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Revelation 2:7) and the lost are raised to eternal torment in hell in conscious separation from God. (Matthew 8:11; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:49-50; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 12:5; Revelation 21:8)


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2009 Crossroad Community Church : 475 E. Progress Parkway : Shelbyville, IN : (317) 398-2575

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