Statement of Faith – Clovis Christian Center

 

  1. That the entire Bible is the infallible, inspired Word of God and our main source of revelation for all we do and are. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 10:35; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12)
    • We believe it is eternally valuable to read the Bible each day.
    • The Word of God was not only meant to be read but to be studied.  (Ezra 7:10, NIV)
    • The Word of God is not only meant to be read and studied, but also practiced.  (Joshua 1:8; Matthew 7:21-27; James 1:22-25)
    • The Bible is the truth and any instruction that is contrary to the Bible is a lie.  We do not believe that the books of the Apocrypha are part of the inspired writings.  (John 17:17)
  1. That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is seen in the birth (Luke 1:35), baptism (Matthew 3:16-17), life (Acts 10:38), death (Hebrews 9:14), and resurrection (Romans 8:11) of Jesus.  See also Deuteronomy 6:4, John 10:30 and Matthew 28:19.
    • We are a Trinitarian church.  We do not believe in the “Jesus Only” doctrine.
    • The Oneness of God is NOT numerical.  From Genesis to Revelation, the God of the Bible is never manifested as the singular, solitary numeral, or number one.  The Oneness of God is a Compound Unity.  The Unity of God involves Plurality.  Never is God revealed as a Number One God, but always as Three-in-One and One-in-Three, or Tri-Unity.  In this One God there are Three Persons, distinguishable but indivisible.
  1. That Jesus Christ was and is the Son of God. We believe in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His atoning and vicarious death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of God the Father, and His personal return to this earth in power and glory.  (John 1:34; Isaiah 7:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5; Mark 16:19; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 8:1, 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22; Acts 1:11; Mark 13:26)
    • Jesus is divine.  He is fully God and fully man.  There is no other mediator between God and man except the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is the great God and Savior.  The Virgin Mary is not a mediator.  (1 Timothy 2:5; Titus 2:13; John 1:49; John 17:3)
    • Jesus is the Savior of the world.  He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  (John 1:29; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14)
    • Jesus is not a created being or an angel or archangel.  He is the eternal Son of God.  (John 1:1, 14; John 17:5)
    • Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Joseph and Mary did not have sexual relations to produce Jesus.  (Luke 1:31-35; Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14; Genesis 3:15)
    • We believe in the literal, historical, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead by God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 1:4; 8:11)
    • The resurrection from the dead is one of the foundations of the Christian faith.  (1 Corinthians 15:12-21; Hebrews 6:2)
  1. That all have sinned and that the only means of being cleansed from sin is through the blood of Christ. (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:9; 1 John 1:10)
    • Both Jews and Gentiles are under sin.  Everyone is a sinner.  (Romans 3:9-18; Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 53:1-3; Romans 5:12)
    • The only man to ever live a sinless life is Jesus Christ (He is divine also).  No human being ever born on planet earth is sinless or divine.  All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  (Romans 3:23)
  1. That regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential for personal salvation. You must be born again by the Spirit to be saved.  (John 3:5-8; Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5)
    • No one speaking by the Spirit of God says “Jesus is cursed” and only by the Spirit can someone say, “Jesus is Lord.”  (1 Corinthians 12:3)
  1. That man becomes justified by faith in Jesus Christ, not by, but unto good works. Those who endure in faith to the end will be saved.  (Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-10; Matthew 10:22; Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13)
    • In the tradition and teaching of the Reformers, we believe in justification by faith alone.  We do not believe that you can earn your salvation through good works or deeds.  (Isaiah 64:6; Titus 3:4-7)
  1. That the redemptive work of Christ provides healing for the whole man: body, soul, and spirit. It is appropriated by faith.  (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 9:22; Matthew 15:28; Mark 10:52; Acts 3:16; Acts 14:9-10; James 5:14-16).
    • God alone is the true healer.  Man cannot truly heal anyone.  We do not believe in psychic healing or any of the practices of the occult.  It’s by the stripes of Jesus that God has provided healing.
    • If you are sick in body, you can call the elders of the church and they can anoint you with oil and pray the prayer of faith, and God will heal you.  (James 5:14-16)
  1. In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling presence and sanctifying power the believer is enabled to live a godly life that manifests the fruit of the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-15; Galatians 5:16, 22-23; Galatians 6:8)
    • No one can live a life of victory over sin apart from the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 8:1-15)
    • The Holy Spirit is not some fog, mist, or ghost.  He is divine, eternal, invisible, and the third person of the Godhead.  Paul said “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”  (2 Corinthians 3:17)  He is the Lord.
    • God builds ministries and individuals on the fruit of the Spirit.  He builds on character and uses gifts.
  1. In the present-day baptism with the Holy Spirit and speaking with new (other) tongues. (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4, 11; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 11:15-16; Acts 19:6)
    • The individual believer in his private prayer life should practice speaking in tongues.  (1 Corinthians 14:2; Ephesians 6:18; Jude 1:20)
    • In a congregational setting, the gift of tongues should only be exercised if there is someone with the gift of interpretation.  Many people speaking in tongues in the congregation at the same time are out-of-order and can be viewed as madness.  (1 Corinthians 14:22-28, 40)
  1. That the gifts of the Holy Spirit should be practiced in the church today. (1 Corinthians 12-14)
    • When we say we are a “Spirit-filled” church that does not mean we are flaky or swing from chandeliers.  The word “charismatic” is from the Greek word “charisma” which is usually translated “gift.”  “Charisma” is from the Greek word “charis” which means “grace.”  Charismatic gifts are by the grace of God and not intended for our promotion but His glory.  (Romans 1:11; Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 4:10)
    • We believe in exercising the gift of prophecy in the services for the edification and strengthening of the body of believers.  Prophecy must be exercised with wisdom, meekness, and discernment because there is the potential to do great harm.
  1. In water baptism by immersion, into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which name is the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 3:16; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:10; John 3:23; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36-39; Acts 10:47-48)
    • We have a teaching outline that people study before they are water baptized.
    • We do not believe nor practice water baptism by sprinkling.
    • We do not believe nor practice infant baptism.  No infant was ever baptized in the Scriptures.  We do, however, dedicate children (toddlers, infants, and babies) to the Lord.
    • We will only baptize believers.
    • We baptize people into the triune name: Lord Jesus Christ.
  1. That we remember His death in the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. His blood purchased salvation and His broken body purchased healing for us.  (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26)
    • We could have communion every service, but instead we have communion on the first Sunday of every month.  We encourage fathers to celebrate communion in their own homes with their wife and children.
    • Communion (along with water baptism) is one of the two ordinances of the church.
  1. In the reality and the personality of our enemy, Satan. A Christian who is walking with God cannot be demon-possessed.  (Genesis 3:1-5; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:6-12, 2:1-7; Matthew 4:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; Revelation 12:1-10)
    • The devil is not a fog, mist, or ghost.  He is a spirit (fallen).  He was once an archangel who fell because of pride.  (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:12)
    • There are spirit beings called demons that are sent to possess, harass, and hinder men, women, and children.  (1 Thessalonians 2:18)
    • We do not believe that a Christian can become demon-possessed who is submitted to God and serving Him faithfully.  There is no Christian in the Bible who was ever demon-possessed.  (Matthew 6:13; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:8)
    • We do believe that Christians can be oppressed, but not possessed.  We do not practice casting demons out of Christians.  (Acts 10:38; Ephesians 4:27; 2 Corinthians 2:10-11)
    • We do believe that the believer has authority over demons and can cast them out by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 10:8; Mark 3:15; Mark 16:17)
  1. That the offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher, elder and deacon should be recognized and operating in the church. (Ephesians 4:8-11; Acts 11:27; Acts 13:1; Acts 15:32; Acts 21:8, 10; 1 Corinthians 14:29-32; Ephesians 2:20; Ephesians 3:5; 1 Timothy 3:1-12; Titus 1:5-9)
    • All the 5-fold ministries functioned in the book of Acts and should be functioning in the body of Christ today.  (Acts 2:43; 11:27-28, 13:1, 14:14; 15:2-4, 15:32, 18:11; 20:28, 21:8 with 8:1-7, and 21:10)
    • We are not cessationists.  We do not believe that because we now have the Bible, we don’t need apostles or prophets.  Interestingly, most cessationists believe in the ministry of evangelists, pastors, and teachers but not the rest of the offices listed in Ephesians 4:11 or 1 Corinthians 12:28-29.  They selectively eliminate ministries with no Scriptural support.
    • No where in the Bible was the office of apostle or prophet ever rescinded.  There are no more apostles or prophets to write any more Scriptures, but we need their ministry as revealed in the Scriptures.
    • We also ordain qualified men as elders and deacons.  (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1-13, 5:17; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
  1. That God is preparing a bride for His Son who shall be made up of fully-mature believers. (Matthew 5:48; Luke 6:40; 2 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:11-13; Ephesians 5:27; Philippians 3:15; Hebrews 12:23)
    • The Lord is not returning for a half-grown, defeated, or weak church.  He is returning for a glorious church without spot or wrinkle.
    • The Lord wants us to aim for perfection, not by our power, but by His power and strength.  (Matthew 5:48; 2 Corinthians 13:11)
    • The marriage of the Lamb to His bride is part of the eternal purpose of God.  (Revelation 19:6-7)
  1. In the resurrection of the saved and lost, the saved to everlasting life and the lost to eternal judgment. (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; Revelation 20:11-15)
    • After a person dies, he faces the judgment.  We do not believe in reincarnation.  (Hebrews 9:27)
    • We believe there is a literal hell (Hades) and that man’s final resting place will be the lake of fire (Gehenna) for those who would not repent and receive Christ as their Savior and Lord.  (Luke 16:23-31; Revelation 20:13-15)
    • We do not believe in purgatory.  The doctrine of purgatory is a Roman Catholic doctrine taken from one of the Apocryphal books.
    • We do not believe in “second-chance” or post-mortem conversion theology.  You will not be given another chance after death to receive Christ.
    • We do not believe in annihilationism; that is, people’s spirits will be burned up in hell and extinguished.
    • We do not believe in universalism; that is, all people will eventually be saved.
    • The everlasting fire has been prepared for the devil and his angels.  (Matthew 25:41)
    • More importantly, for the believer, the Lord by His grace has given us eternal life.  (John 3:16, 6:47, 10:28, 17:2-3; Romans 5:21, 6:23; 1 Timothy 1:16; Titus 1:2; 1 John 2:25)
  1. That discipline should be administered to church leaders and members for sins like sexual immorality, rebellion, and other evil actions mentioned in the Scriptures. We will always seek every means possible to restore such a brother/sister to the Lord and to us.  Those who will not repent will be put out of our fellowship.  (Matthew 18:15-18; Romans 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 12:20-21; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14; 1 Timothy 1:20; Titus 1:10-13; Titus 3:10)
    • Very few churches speak on church discipline, even less actually practice it.
    • This scriptural injunction is not for leaders to go on power trips, but to protect the local body from disastrous “infections.”  “A little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough.”  (1 Corinthians 5:6)
    • In the past 30 years or so, we have put out of our fellowship a few people who would not repent of: adultery, division, drunkenness, and rebellion.  We must emphasize that all these people refused to repent and turn from their wicked lifestyle.
    • All correction that is done in this church must be done in a spirit of meekness and for the purpose of restoration and reconciliation.  (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15-18)
    • We believe that in some cases like 1 Corinthians 5:5 and 1 Timothy 1:20, it is proper to hand people over to Satan that they might be moved out from under the Lord’s protection.  They will be “overwhelmed” by the enemy so they can be taught not to be involved with sexual immorality or blaspheming.  The goal is to bring them back.
  1. That this local church should be actively involved in world missions to fulfill the great commission of preaching the gospel to everyone and discipling all nations (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Acts 13:47 with Isaiah 49:6; Romans 10:14-15; Romans 15:19-21)
    • We will stay focused on countries or regions that are dominated by Islam.
    • When supporting ministries in other countries, we will always evaluate ministries in two practical areas: Are they a ministry of integrity?  Are they native missionaries?
  1. We believe that homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord. No practicing homosexual can inherit the kingdom of God.  We will support, encourage, and help those seeking to get out of this lifestyle, and assist in any way ministries that do the same.  (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:24-28, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Genesis 19)

 

  1. We believe that abortion is the murder of an unborn child. We will support, encourage, and help women to carry their child to full-term and assist in any way ministries that do the same.  (Proverbs 24:11-12)

 

  1. That all members of the church body should be involved in one-on-one or small group discipleship for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission and bringing believers to maturity and spiritual growth. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, 2 Timothy 2:2).