STATEMENT OF FAITH
Below is the Church For Life Statement of Faith.
As you read through, please keep this attitude in mind;
In essential beliefs, we have UNITY
(Ephesians 4:4-6).
In non-essential beliefs, we have LIBERTY
(Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22).
In all our beliefs, we have LOVE
(1 Corinthians 13:2).
If you have any questions about what you read here, feel free to contact a CFL Pastor to get clarification.
Holy Bible:
The Holy Bible and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God.
It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths.
In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible and inerrant
(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21, Proverbs 30:5, Romans 16:25-26, 1 Corinthians 2:13).
Trinity:
There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
These three are distinguishable but indivisible; coequal and co-eternal
(Genesis 1:26, Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19, 1 John 5:7, 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Jesus Christ:
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity.
On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life.
He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles,
died on the cross for mankind and thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood.
He rose from the dead on the third day, according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father,
and will return again in power and glory
(John 1:1 & 14, 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5).
Virgin Birth:
Jesus Christ, eternally existent, became made in human likeness when He was conceived by God the Father,
through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) in the virgin Mary’s womb; therefore, He is the Son of God
(Matthew 1:18 & 23-25; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:27-35).
Redemption:
Man was created good and upright, but, by voluntary transgression, he fell.
His only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God
(Genesis 1:26-31; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21).
Regeneration:
For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential
(John 6:44 & 65).
Salvation:
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; His death, burial, and resurrection.
Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts
(Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31, Hebrews 9:22).
Repentance:
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ,
which allows us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate salvation
(Acts 2:21, 3:19; 1 John 1:9).
Sanctification:
Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit
in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us.
It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life
(1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, Romans 8:29, 12:1-2, Hebrews 2:11).
Jesus’ Blood:
The Blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100% sufficient to cleanse mankind of all sin.
Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins,
enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death
(1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 5:9, Colossians 1:20, Romans 5:9; John 1:29).
Jesus Christ Indwells All Believers:
Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside them by His Holy Spirit.
They relinquish the authority of their lives over to Him, thus making Jesus the Lord of their life as well as Savior.
They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead
(John 1:12; John 14:17; 23; John 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelation 3:20).
Baptism in the Holy Spirit:
Given at Pentecost (50 days after Christ’s death on the Cross),
it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His ascension,
to empower the Church to preach and demonstrate the Gospel throughout the whole earth
(Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6).
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit manifests Himself through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church,
demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel.
All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives.
These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters
(Hebrews 2:4, Romans 1:11-12, Ephesians 4:16, 2 Timothy 1:5-6, 1 Corinthians 12:1-13,14:1-40, 1 Peter 4:10).
The Church:
The church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit,
with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus’ great commission.
Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers.
There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ
(Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22, 3:10-11, Hebrews 12:23, John 17:11 & 20-23).
Water Baptism:
Following putting his or her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
it is necessary for the new convert to be baptized in water by
immersion in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill the command of Christ
(Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:34-39, 19:1-6).
Communion:
Jesus gave us the sacrament of the Lord’s Table, a unique time of Communion in the presence of God
when the elements of the broken loaf of bread and the cup (representing the Body and Blood of Jesus)
are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. It is also a time of receiving from the Lord.
This regular practice is absolutely vital to our walk with Christ
(John 6:53-58; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 11:17-26).
Healing of the Sick:
Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is
given as a sign which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus' work on the cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit
(Psalm 103:2-3, Isaiah 53:5, Matthew 8:16-17, Mark 16:18, Acts 8:6-7, James 5:14-16, 1 Corinthians 12:9 &28, Romans 11:29).
God’s Will For Provision:
It is God’s will for believers to become whole, healthy and effective in all areas of life.
But, because of the Fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on Earth.
That fact, though, should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others
(1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
Spiritual Provision (John 3:3-8, 21; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:8-13)
Mental / Emotional Provision (2 Timothy 1:7, Philippians 4:6-9, Romans 12:2, Isaiah 26:3)
Physical Provision (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24)
Financial Provision (Joshua 1:8, Malachi 3:10-11, Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, Deuteronomy 28:1-14, Psalm 34:10, 84:11, Philippians 4:19)
Marriage:
God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and these two distinct, complimentary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:27).
God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman, and intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union (Genesis 2:24, Hebrews 13:4).
Human Sexuality:
Since the beginning of creation, God has revealed His intention for human personhood, sexual identity, and sexual intimacy in marriage.
God created humanity in His image as male and female, thus giving all humanity value, dignity, and eternal significance.
The distinction God created between male and female is part of His glorious plan to bless humanity.
It is the foundation for all subsequent human life and is reflected in a person’s biological birth sex;
embracing one’s birth sex honors this distinction as designed by God but misrepresenting one’s birth sex violates
God’s generous intention for human relationships. The goodness and beauty of God’s creation is affirmed by Jesus Christ and is
foundational for the New Testament view of human sexuality.
(Genesis 1:26-27, 1:31, 5:1-3, 9:6, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:6, Romans 1:26-27, James 3:9)
Resurrection:
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross.
In addition, all mankind will also be resurrected: for believers, to eternal life - for unbelievers, to eternal punishment
(Luke 24:16, 36, & 39, John 2:19-21, 3:16, 5:28-29, 20:26-28, 21:4, Acts 24:15,1 Corinthians 15:42-44,
Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9, Revelation 20:10-15).
Heaven:
Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all who believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
and have put their faith and trust in Jesus, receiving Him as Savior and Lord
(Matthew 6:20-21, John 17:24, 2 Corinthians 5:1 & 6-8, Philippians 1:21-24, Hebrews 11:16, 1 Peter 1:4).
Hell:
After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to hell
where they will be eternally tormented with the Devil and the fallen Angels
(Matthew 25:41, Mark 9:43-48, Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 14:9-11, 20:12-15, 21:8).
Satan:
Satan and his angels constitute a real and personal enemy whose ultimate fate is eternal judgment.
Jesus defeated Satan and gave to believers power over him and his angels here on earth
(Matthew 25:41, Ephesians 6:10-13, 1 Peter 5:8, 1 John 4:4, Revelation 20:10-15).
Second Coming:
Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom
(Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64, Acts 1:9-11,1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Revelation 1:7).
