Statement of Faith
As a Non-denominational, Christian Church, we believe in:
The Holy Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible is inspired by God and is therefore infallible in its original writings and completely trustworthy in all areas in which it speaks. The salvation message and essential teachings are clear and accessible to all who follow the standard and self-evident rules of literary interpretation. The Bible is therefore the supreme, unmediated, and final authority of faith and practice for every believer. (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
Creation
We believe in God’s direct creation of the universe without the use of pre-existent material and apart from any process of evolution whatsoever, as according to the Genesis account. (Genesis 1:1-31; Exodus 20:11; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3)
The Godhead
We believe in the Holy Trinity, one eternal almighty and perfect God. Within the Being of this one true God exist three eternally distinct and coequal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three Persons are the one true God.
Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, who took upon Himself human flesh through the miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. He who is God became man, uniting two natures in one person forever. Christ lived a perfect, sinless life, died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into Heaven where He now serves as our High Priest, our only Mediator. He will return bodily and visibly to the earth as King of Kings and will judge every human being who has ever lived.
Bodily Resurrection of Christ
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven, and in His present life there as our High Priest and Advocate. (Matthew 28:1-7; Acts 1:8-11; 1 Corinthians 15:4-9; Hebrews 4:14-16)
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the eternal Third Person of the Triune God, the Regenerator and Sanctifier of the redeemed, the bestower of spiritual fruit and gifts, and the abiding Advocate who empowers believers for godly living and service.
The State of Man
We believe in Adam, human beings were created in the image of God (i.e., they share in a finite way the communicable attributes of God, including personality, spirituality, rationality, and morality). Through the fall of Adam that image of God in humanity has been defiled, although not eradicated. Every human being is radically corrupt and estranged from God. Human beings are condemned by God because of their descent into sin, both through their relationship to Adam and through individual choice. The desperate need of humanity is forgiveness of sins and consequent restoration of fellowship with God; yet humans remain totally unable to atone for and restore themselves.
The Scope of Salvation
We believe Jesus’ death on the cross provided a substitutionary atonement for the sins of humanity. In salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by His unmerited grace alone, through faith alone, on account of Christ alone.
The Way of Salvation
We believe those who have received the free gift of salvation will be raised from the dead or raptured (snatched up from their earthly lives) to meet Christ at His Second Coming, and their bodies will be transformed like unto His glorious, immortal body. They will live forever in the fellowship and Kingdom of God in a new heaven and a new earth. Eternal, conscious punishment apart from the fellowship and Kingdom of God (hell) is the ultimate destiny of unredeemed humanity, Satan, and his entire angelic host.
The Local Church
We believe the Christian church, which is the body and bride of Christ, is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Corporately and individually, its members strive to worship, serve, and glorify God through prayer and praise, diligent study and application of the Scriptures, evangelism, sanctified living, good works, and observance of the rites of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The ultimate mission of the church is the discipleship of all nations – not only the saving of souls (which is primary) but also the bringing of the gospel to bear on every aspect of life and thought – until the Lord returns.
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe that the two ordinances of the local Church are Baptism by immersion after salvation, and The Lord’s Supper which was instituted by Jesus that we might remember and show forth His death “till He come.” (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12)
Missions
We believe that God has given the Church the Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means to go to foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:20)
Civil Government
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: (1) the home, (2) the Church, and (3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the Church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-24; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14)
Giving
At Christ Chosen Church, we do not teach that if you do not tithe, you are in sin. We teach that not to give from your heart as God directs is always unwise, and depending on your motive, possibly sinful. We believe that giving in the New Testament Church is a “heart thing” as opposed to a legalistic thing. We believe that 10% (a tithe) is an excellent goal to attain from a stewardship perspective and that every Christian should strive towards this goal. In fact, much of the giving we see in the New Testament was far beyond 10%. Many of you CAN and SHOULD give more than 10% but recognize the mandate is regular, cheerful giving as God has prospered you. (1 Cor 16:1-2) We believe everything we have belongs to God. (Ps 24:1) We believe in divine reciprocity, that God will give to us according to our giving. (Lk 6:38; 2 Cor 9:6) We believe in giving our best in love because that is what Jesus did. (Jn 3:16) We believe in giving to support our Vision so that lost people around the world may be found. (Matt 9:35-38, 28:18-20) We believe in consistent giving to ensure a firm financial foundation for God’s church. (2 Cor 9:10-15) We believe in giving in faith, knowing that God will continually test us with money to ensure it has not become an idol. (Matt 6:21)
