What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Christ Fellowship Church - the Church accepts the scriptures as the revealed will of God, the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice, and for the purpose of maintaining unity, adopts these Statements of Faith and Doctrine.

These Statements of Faith & Doctrine do not exhaust the extent of our faith. 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 purposes of church doctrine, practice, policy and discipline, Senior Leadership is the Church's final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application.

We believe:

The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent I AM, the Creator of the universe, and the Redeemer of mankind (Deuteronomy 6:4, Exodus 3:14, Isaiah 43:10-11). God has further revealed Himself as a triune being: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit, being perfectly unified, identical in essence, equal in divinity, each executing distinct, but harmonious offices. (Isaiah 48:16, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22, Ephesians 2:18, John 1:1-3)

All scripture, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God, and are an inerrant revelation of God to man. They are the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:21)

The LORD Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and, as such, shares in the divinity and deity of God. (Matthew1:23, John 5:22, 2 John 3, Hebrews 1:1-3)

Man was created good and upright for God said, "Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness..."(Genesis 1:26-27). The first man, Adam, fell from the grace of God, through disobedience and rebellion. Thus, sin entered into the world and death by sin. Adam's transgression incurred not only physical death for man, but also spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. (Genesis 2:1-18, 3:4-6). Man's propensity to sin, because of his sinful nature, necessitates salvation from the power of sin and a savior to provide that salvation (Romans 7:13-25).

Man's only hope of redemption and salvation from the power of sin is through the shed blood of the LORD Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12, Romans 5:8-13, 10:9, James 1:21, Ephesians 2:8)

The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of His Great Commission. Each believer born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and the Church of the Firstborn, which was written in heaven. (Ephesians 1:22-33, 2:22, Hebrews 12:23) We also believe that the local congregation of Christian believers is divinely called and is the chosen instrument of God for the furtherance of God's work upon the earth. While appreciating the work of Parachurch groups, we believe that the local church is God's chosen vehicle for world evangelism, the nurturing of Christians, and the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry thereby building the Body of Christ. Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save all who are lost, to be worshiped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, it is the responsibility of the Church:
- To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-29, Mark 16:15-16)
- To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:28, 14:12)

The ordinance of baptism by immersion in water is commanded in the scriptures. All who repent of their sins and believe in Christ as Savior and LORD are to be baptized. This is a declaration to the world that they identify with Christ in His death and have been raised with Him in newness of life (Matthew18:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47-48, Romans 6:4)

The LORD's Supper, consisting of the elements of bread and the cup of the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our LORD Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:4) It is a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26), a prophecy of His Second Coming (1 Corinthians 11:26), and is enjoined on all believers until He comes again.

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit places a believer into permanent union with Christ and with other believers in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). The filling of the Holy Spirit is how He empowers and controls believers. (Acts 4:31, Ephesians 5:18) The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is God, the Holy Spirit, taking up permanent residence in our lives (John 14:17, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, 1 John 4:4). The sealing of the Holy Spirit is God marking us as His permanent possession (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Faith of the heart (Romans 10:9-10) is based on hearing (spiritual understanding) God's Word (Romans 10:17). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Christians are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), justified by faith (Romans 3:28, 5:1, Galatians 2:26, 3:11) shall live by faith (Romans 1:16-17, Hebrews 10:38) and overcome the world by faith (1 John 5:4).

Divine healing was provided for in the Old Testament (Exodus 15:23-26, Psalms 103:1-3, Isaiah 53:4-5) and was completed and solidified in the broken body of Jesus Christ on the Cross. It is an integral part of the Gospel (Matthew 8:16-17, Acts 5:16, James 5:14-16). Every believer is reminded of the provision of healing when he/she observes the ordinance of communion.

We believe that the whole purpose of man is the glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Therefore, we believe in the act of worshiping God with one's total being as set forth in the Holy Scriptures. (Psalms 150, Mark 12:29-31, Ephesians 5:18-21)

We believe in the divinely called, commissioned and equipped five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers as given to the Church by the LORD Jesus Christ after His ascension. We further believe that all Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ and that all believers have been given the ministry of reconciliation (Ephesians 4:11-13, 2 Corinthians 5:20).

We believe that marriage sanctioned by God joins one man & one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in scripture (Genesis 2:21-24). We believe that God intends that sexual intimacy is only to occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to change one's sex, or disagreement with one's biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God. (Hebrews 13:4, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

We believe in the doctrine of laying on of hands for:
- The confirming of a believer to commitment and ministry in the local church
- The confirmation of one's call of God to special ministry in the local church (Acts 13:13, Ephesians 4:1, 7)
- The imparting of spiritual gifts (1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:16)
- The experiencing of the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17-18)
- The ministering of healing to the sick through the LORD Jesus Christ (Mark 16:8)
- The blessing and dedication of children to the LORD (Mark 10:16)
- We further believe in obedience to the Holy Spirit, we should lay hands on no man suddenly, that the laying on of hands confirms a ministry which is already observable and proven. (1 Timothy 5:22)