DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

As a church we are very much concerned with the issue of "doctrinal correctness." We believe there are certain areas of doctrine that are essential, and cannot be compromised. However, we also recognize that there are many areas of Scripture about which we cannot be quite as dogmatic. This is seen throughout the history of the Reformation. Not all the Reformers agreed on every point, and there are things that we believe people can differ on, yet still maintain the integrity of the central truths of the Gospel. We will attempt first to outline what we believe to be essential, and then move to non-essentials.

Essential doctrine of CHCC


THE SCRIPTURES


We believe that the Bible is the infallible, authoritative, and inerrant Word of God. We believe that it reveals all things that are necessary to salvation, life and godliness, and that it is a final and closed revelation, consisting of the sixty-six books of Holy Scripture. 

(1 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim 3:14-17; 2 Peter 2:2-4)



GOD


We believe that there is only one true and living God, eternally existing in a Trinity of persons-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that these three persons are one in substance, power, and eternity; each possessing fullness of the divine essence and yet this essence is undivided. 

(Col 2:8-10; Acts 5:1-4, Deut 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; 45:21-23)


We believe that God is infinite in being and perfection. We believe that He is all powerful, all knowing, and present in all places at all times. We believe that He is absolutely sovereign over all His works, and that He orders all things according to the counsel of His own wise, immutable, and righteous will for His own glory This sovereignty extends not only to inanimate creation, but to all living things as well, and is the ultimate determiner of each creature's destiny.

 (Eph 1:3-11; Rom 9:6-23)


We believe that God is self-existent and self-sufficient. That is, He needs nothing from His creation to exist or to continue to exist. On the contrary; He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things both seen and unseen. 

(Ex 3:13-14; Col 1:15-17)


He is loving, gracious, merciful and longsuffering, forgiving sin and transgression. Yet He is also infinitely just and holy. 

(Ex 34:5-8)


In His sight all things are open and manifest. His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent of the creature; so that nothing to Him is contingent or uncertain. He is holy in all His counsels, works, and commands. To Him is due, from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them. 

(Isaiah 46:9-11, Rev 4:8-11)



JESUS


We believe in both the full deity and full humanity of Jesus Christ, that He was truly God manifest in human flesh. (John 1:1, 14; Phil 2:5-11; Col 2:8-10)


We believe:

  • In His virgin birth
  • In His sinless life
  • In His vicarious and atoning death for our sin
  • In His burial and resurrection
  • In His ascension to the right hand of the Father
  • In His personal, physical, and future return to earth to rule in righteousness and to inaugurate the New Heavens and New Earth. 
  • (Luke 1:26-38; Heb 7:26; Rom 3:25; Matt 28:5-7; Acts 1:9-11, Rev 19-22)



HOLY SPIRIT


We believe that the Holy Spirit is both a person and that He is fully God, being the third member of the blessed Trinity. 

(Acts 5:1-4; Matt 28:19; John 14:15-21)


We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, to convict men of sin, to regenerate sinners, baptize them into Christ, and to seal them until the day of redemption. We believe that He is our Guide, our Comforter, and our Instructor in the things of God. 

(John 16:7-15, Titus 3:5; 1 Cor 12:13, Eph 1:13-14, John 14:15-20)


We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every true believer. We believe that this indwelling at once unites us with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and results in the imputation of Christ's righteousness, as well as the experience of the new birth. 

(Eph 1:12-14, 1 Cor 6:17, 12:13; Rom 6:4-5; 1 Peter 1:3)

Doctrines of grace

Man’s Radical Depravity

We believe in the doctrine of Man's Total Depravity. We believe that the first man, Adam, stood as the representative and federal head of the entire human race. We believe that in his fall, the entire human race fell with him, resulting in the total corruption and condemnation of mankind before God. This does not mean that every man is as wicked as he could be, but that sin has corrupted us at every level of our being. Because of this corruption, we are unable, apart from grace, of either understanding or desiring spiritual truth. 

(Rom 5:12-19; Rom 8:6-8; 1Cor 2:14; John 6:37, 44, 63-65; Eph 2:1-3)


Definite Redemption

We believe that this salvation was purchased by the precious Blood of Christ. The blood was shed as propitiation to the Father for the sins of the world resulting in our justification before God. 

(1Peter 1:18-21; Rom 3:25-26; John 3:16; 10:11, 15, 25-30; Matt 1:21; Heb 9:12-15; Isa 46:9-11; Eph 1:11)


Justification

We believe in justification by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ and His work alone. This declaration of righteousness is based solely on the merit of Christ’s obedience and is imputed to those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

(Eph 2:8-9, Ro.3:19-28, Ro.4:5-8, Ro.5:9,18-19, Ro.4:22-25)


Sanctification – New Life in Christ

We believe that this new birth will produce sanctification and holiness in the life of a believer. Progress in sanctification will vary in each individual child of God, but it will nonetheless be present in all, seeing that it, too, is the sovereign work of God in our hearts.

 (Ezek 36:26-27; Jer 32:38-40; Titus 3:5; John 15:3, 17:17; Eph 5:18, 26; 1Peter 2:2; Phil 2:12-13)


Baptism

We believe that water baptism is essential, not to regeneration, but as a sign and seal of the righteousness we possess by faith. 

(Matt 28:19-20; Rom 6:1-6; Col 2:12)


Spiritual Gifts (Charismata)

We believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still valid for today, being sovereignly distributed to every member of Christ's Church, as He, the Spirit, wills, for the purpose of edifying the entire body. 

(1Cor 12:1-11; Rom 12:3-8; 1Peter 4:10)


Eschatology (Last Things)

We believe in the personal, physical, and future return of Jesus Christ to the earth, to rule in righteousness and to inaugurate the New Heavens and New Earth. (Zech 14:1-9; Matt 24:30-31; 25:31-46; Acts 1:9-11; 2Thess 1:7-10; Rev 1:7; 19:11-21; Ch 20-21)

We believe in the physical resurrection of the body, the eternal blessedness of the saved, and the eternal separation of the lost. (1Thess 4:13-18; Dan 12:2; Rev 20)


Corporate Worship

We believe in the assembling together of the saints to worship Him, to hear the teaching and preaching of the Word of God, to share in breaking the bread of Holy Communion, and to give as God has prospered them into the treasury of God's house. (Heb 10:25; Acts 20:7; 1Cor 16:1-2)

AREAS OF IMPORTANCE BUT

IN WHICH WE CAN DIFFER


The Mode of Baptism

We believe in baptism by full immersion. We believe that it symbolizes our union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. That said, however, we do recognize that there are differing views on these things, and we extend an open invitation to join with us in fellowship regardless of one's views in this area.


Frequency of Partaking of the Lord's Supper

We recognize that there are different opinions on this question, and we respect those who differ, we don't see it as being essential to fellowship.


Eschatological Details

We believe the important thing here is the essential truth that Christ will return one day, physically, to rule the earth in righteousness. The exact details of all of this are where we believe we can differ. 

We believe...

1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God.


2. We believe there is one eternal, almighty, and perfect God, the Holy Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.


3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in his personal return in power and glory.


4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.


5. We believe in the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.


6. We believe in resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost to eternal separation.


7. We believe in the spiritual unity of all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord.