Beliefs
Church of the cross confession of the faith
I. The Scriptures.
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, inerrant, and authoritative rule for faith and practice.
II. God.
There is only one God, who is the Creator, Sustainer and Ruler of all things. He is infinite in his perfections and being. He is immutable, eternal, holy, wise, gracious, merciful, and abundant in goodness and truth. He knows all things – whether past, present, or future. He is rightly entitled to every person’s highest love, worship and obedience.
III. The Trinity.
Scripture reveals that God exists eternally in three persons as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each of whom has distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.
IV. Providence.
God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet does so in such a way that He is not the author or approver of sin, nor destroys the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.
V. Election.
Election is God's eternal choice of some persons to salvation and eternal life -- not because of foreseen merit in them, but only because of his mercy in Christ.
VI. The Fall of Man.
God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, Adam transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness. As a result, all mankind inherit a corrupt nature and are wholly opposed to God and His law. Therefore all people are born under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, such corruption manifests itself through rebellion against God and his law.
VII. The Mediator.
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having truly and fully taken upon Himself human nature, yet being without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the Law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose hand He lives forever to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
VIII. Regeneration.
Regeneration is a change of heart, brought about by the Holy Spirit who gives life to those who are dead in trespasses and sins, in which their minds are spiritually and savingly enlightened to understand the Word of God, and their whole nature renewed, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone.
IX. Repentance.
Repentance is a gracious gift from God, in which the Holy Spirit enables a person to see the many evil elements of his sin and humbles himself before God, with godly sorrow and hatred of his evil and sin, and turns away from idolatry and rebellion toward God, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.
X. Faith.
Saving faith is the belief, on God's authority, of whatever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for righteousness, forgiveness, and eternal life. It is accompanied by all other saving graces and leads to a life of holiness.
XI. Justification.
Justification is God's gracious and full pardon of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made. Such pardon is not for anything done in them or done by them but on account of the obedience and satisfaction for sin made by Christ alone. Christ’s righteousness is counted as their righteousness when by faith they receive and rest on Christ alone for forgiveness and salvation.
XII. Sanctification.
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified, by God's word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in joyful obedience to all Christ's commands.
XIII. Perseverance of the Saints.
Those whom God has accepted in Christ will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but will certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin - in which they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church and temporal judgments on themselves - yet they shall be restored to repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith to salvation.
XIV. The Church.
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all his true disciples, and in Him all power is supremely invested for its government. According to his commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular churches; and to each of these churches he has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline and worship which he has appointed. The biblical officers of a church are elders (synonymous in the Scriptures with pastors and overseers) and deacons.
XV. Baptism.
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, in which he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of forgiveness of sins, and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church membership and to participation in the Lord's Supper.
XVI. The Lord's Supper.
The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and the cup, and to be observed by his churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with him, and of their church fellowship.
XVII. The Lord's Day.
The Lord's Day is a Christian institution for regular observance, and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private
XVIII. Liberty of Conscience.
God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He has left it free from the doctrines, traditions, and commandments of men, which are in any way contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Because government authorities are ordained of God, Christians ought to yield themselves in subjection to all lawful things commanded by them, as they would to the Lord.
XIX. The Resurrection.
The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God -- the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.
XX. The Judgment.
God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when everyone shall receive according to his deeds; the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.