Statement of Faith
"...and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine..." - Acts 2:42
Christ Fellowship is an Apostolic Church which means we wholeheartedly embrace as absolutely true and essential the ancient Biblical doctrines, among which are the absolute Oneness of God, the essentiality of the New Birth, the identity of Jesus Christ as the One Creator God manifest in the flesh, repentance from dead works, the essentiality of water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remissions of sins, and the essentiality of the baptism with the Holy Ghost with the common sign of speaking with tongues.
Christ Fellowship is a Pentecostal Church which means we wholeheartedly embrace as absolutely true and essential the present operation of God by His Spirit through the gifts of the Spirit and the responsibility of the Body to judge what is allegedly spoken by the Spirit of God. We accept the empowerment of the believer as a temple of the Holy Ghost unto a victorious life of holiness, modesty, and moderation. We reject rigid formalism in public worship and prayer while equally rejecting an atmosphere of indecency or disorder.
The Bible - Our Only Creed
The Bible is the infallible Word of God and the only authority for salvation and Christian living. It was written through direct inspiration by the Spirit of God to human authors over a period of about 1,500 years. We are thankful for centuries of scholarship in helping preserve the truths of God's Word and encourage the study of various translations of Scripture for better understanding.
Scripture References: 1 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17
God - One & Eternal
There is only one God, the Father of all, who dwelt in flesh called Jesus, the Son of God, and lives in Christians today, as He has worked through all eternity, as Holy Spirit. While He has engaged humanity in many roles throughout the ages and has taken many titles, He has never been more or less than the Holy One, without divisions, parts, or persons.
Scripture References: Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 3:16
Sin and Salvation - Our Problem & God's Solution
Everyone has sinned and is in need of salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We cannot hope to be saved by our own good works or by the works of the Law. Only by responding to the Gospel is salvation found. This is not just mentally accepting certain facts, signing a decision card, or reciting a "sinner's prayer." Biblical faith leads to equally biblical action.
Scripture References: Romans 3:23-25; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; James 2:14-26
The Gospel - The Good News & What We Must Do About It
The Gospel is the good news of Jesus' death for our sins, burial, and resurrection unto eternal life and how it applies to our life now and in eternity. We respond to the Gospel by turning from our sin in repentance (death), water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (burial), and the baptism with the Holy Ghost with the initial sign of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the ability (resurrection).
Scripture References: II Thessalonians 1:8; I Peter 4:17; I Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 2:4, 37-39; Romans 6:3-4
Christian Living - The Continued Journey of Faith in Action
As Christians we are to love God and others. We should strive for modesty and moderation, living a holy life inwardly and outwardly, and worship God joyfully. We believe true Christianity is more than a belief system: it's a way of life. This includes a private devotional life, spirituality beyond the church walls, and the reality of spiritual gifts. We must accept, in context, Biblical principles regarding love, marriage, gender, sexuality, dress, adornment, and other subjects often unpopular in both secular and religious cultures.
Scripture References: Mark 12:28-31; II Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14; I Corinthians 12:8-10; Matthew 19:4; 1 Peter 3:3-4; 1 Timothy 2:8-10
The Future - Return, Resurrection, & Judgment
Jesus Christ is coming again to receive His church to Himself and to execute judgement against unrighteousness and the nations of the earth. A trumpet will sound. The dead in Christ will rise first, and the righteous who remain alive at that time will be caught up. In the end, there will be the final resurrection and the judgment. Those who are Christ's will inherit eternal life; the rest, eternal death by their own choice. We are not told when these events will happen, just that they will. From the Day of Pentecost to now we have lived in the "last days."
Our own personal last day is sure as well.
The prophetic books of Scripture are not given in order to set a specific date or chart a precise timeline of events. Many have tried to do both and have been made to look foolish in their failed attempts. Prophecy serves to teach us that Jesus Christ is Almighty God and that He will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Scripture References: John 14:1-3; Titus 2:13; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:11-15