A. Bible
The Bible is inspired by God, error free in the original manuscripts and the supreme authority in life and practice (Psalm 19; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
B. Nature of God
There is but one living and true God, the Creator of all, who is one in essence, while eternally existing in three distinct persons of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Though each person of the Godhead possesses the same nature each functions differently (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24).
C. Father
The first person of the Trinity orders all things according to His pleasure. He graciously involves Himself in human affairs, answers prayer and saves all who come to Him through Christ (Psalm 139:1-16; 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 5:17).
D. Son
Jesus Christ is both the eternal Son of God and virgin-born Son of man. Fully God and fully man, He surrendered nothing of His deity during His earthly life. His sinless life and His death satisfied the Father’s justice concerning sin. We believe in His bodily resurrection, physical ascension and visible return to earth to establish His earthly kingdom. The cross was the instrument of Jesus’s death, and His blood shed for the benefit of mankind makes possible the restoration of fellowship between individual believers and God. Jesus took the place for all mankind on the cross, and He came to reveal the Father to us (John 1:1-2; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-25; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
E. Holy Spirit
The third person of the Trinity enters the lives of Christ-followers the moment they surrender to God’s grace. The Spirit guides believers in all truth. The Spirit makes us aware of our sin. The Spirit teaches us to love God, empowers us to follow Jesus and enables us to love and serve others (John 16:12-13; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:13-14; Galatians 5:22-25).
F. Nature of Mankind
Mankind was created in God’s image to enjoy His fellowship and fulfill His will. Because mankind fell into sin through disobedience, all are spiritually dead apart from Jesus Christ. This deadening effect spreads to all, as each is born with a sinful nature (Genesis 1:25-27; Romans 3:22-23; 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).
G. Sin
Sin is rebellion against God’s authority, which results in the disobedience of God’s law and the grieving of God’s heart. Sin came into the world by Adam’s transgression and is passed onto all mankind, resulting in both spiritual and physical death (Genesis 3:1-14; 5:3; Psalm 14:1-3; Mark 7:20-23; Romans 3:10-18, 23; 5:12-20).
H. Salvation
Christ’s death is the only sacrifice sufficient for sin. All who by faith repent of sin and embrace the death of Christ as their substitution are declared righteous on the basis of His sacrifice and receive both forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus’ resurrection proves that the Father has accepted the Son’s death in our place. Followers of Jesus are marked by the Holy Spirit at the moment of their salvation and are therefore God’s children forever (John 10:27-30; 16:33; Acts 16:31; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-14).
I. Church
All people declared righteous on the basis of His sacrifice belong to one invisible church: the body of Christ. Followers of Jesus associate themselves in visible, local churches to minister Christ’s grace to the world (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Hebrews 10:25).
J. Future
The next great historical events will be the rapture, tribulation and personal return of Jesus Christ. He will return to redeem His creation fully and to judge unrighteousness finally and completely. Though the time of Christ’s return is and will remain a mystery known only to the Father, it is certain (Zechariah 14:4-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:6).
K. Human Destiny
We believe in the physical resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous: the righteous to eternal fellowship with God, the unrighteous to eternal punishment and conscious separation from God (Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:15; 22:3-5, 11).
L. Marriage and Sexuality
Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique plan to model the union between Christ and His Church. Marriage provides the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards and the means of procreation of the human race. We believe that sexual intimacy is a wonderful gift of God that is only to be expressed between one woman and one man (as genetically defined), within the love and bonds of marriage (Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Corinthians 7; Hebrews 13:4).
M. Ordinances
Ordinances are practices established by Jesus Christ with a command to the Church that they are to be carried out. They are engaged in today as a memorial or act of obedience by believers in Jesus Christ. The term is used at CCC to refer to believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Believer’s baptism takes place in a person’s life after a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ has occurred. This act of obedience memorializes the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus and is a prerequisite of a candidate desiring membership at CCC. Communion is a term for the Lord’s Supper. In this practice of eating and drinking we are commemorating Jesus’ death. It follows the pattern of the Last Supper with the disciples on the eve of Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:17-32).