God

We believe that there is one, living, sovereign God, Creator and Lord of the universe, who eternally exists in three infinite persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that these being one God are equal in essence and divine perfection (Exod. 3:14; cf. John 8:28 with 8:58, 20:28, Col. 2:9; Acts 5:3-4; Matt. 28:19, 2 Cor. 13:14). We believe that these distinct persons were involved together in the creation of all things (Gen. 1:1, 1:2; Psalm 33:6, 9; 104:30; 148:5; Job 33:4; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15:16; Heb. 1:2; 11:3). It stands that since we believe that God is the Creator and Lord over all things, that it follows that He is the owner of His creation, which makes mankind accountable to Him.

The Bible

We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the infallible Word of God, verbally inspired by God, and without error in the original manuscripts (2 Tim. 3:16). While men wrote various books in the Bible, we believe that the origin of Scripture and Biblical teaching is from God (2 Pet. 1:21, 2 Tim. 3:16). We believe that the Scripture is wholly true and trustworthy in all that it affirms (Psalm 33:4; John 17:17). We further believe that Scripture is our supreme and final authority for all matters of Christian faith, life, and conduct. We therefore believe that Scripture is to be trusted in all that it teaches, and obeyed (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10; 5:18-20; Mark 13:31; John 14:15; Luke 11:28; 2 John 1:6; 1 Cor. 10:11; Rom. 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; cf. James 1:22; James 4:12)

Humanity

We believe God created Adam and Eve in His image, i.e., good, upright, righteous, holy and innocent, without sin (Gen. 1:26-31; Eph. 4:22; Eccl. 7:29). Since Adam and Eve were created in God’s image and likeness, we believe humanity has inherent value and equality before God (Gen. 2:7 -3:24). We believe that God’s original design in creation was that humanity be manifested in two distinct sexes exclusively, male and female (Gen. 1:27; Matt. 19:4; Mark 10:6).

Marriage

We believe God has established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive relationship between one man and one woman (i.e., as defined in statement number three above), and that all intimate sexual activity outside the marriage relationship, whether heterosexual, or otherwise, is immoral and therefore sinful (Gen. 2:24-25; Ex. 20:14, 17, 22:19; Lev. 18:22-23, 20:13, 15-16; Matt. 19:4-6, 9; Rom. 1:18-31; 1 Cor. 6:9-10, 1 Tim. 1:8-11; Jude 7). Based on Scripture, we define marriage as a covenantal, one flesh union between one man and one woman, in which God joins the couple together (Gen. 2:18, 21-24; Matt. 19:3-6; Hebrews 13:4). The covenant is made before God (Mal. 2:14). [1]

The Human Condition

We believe that according to Scripture, Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan and fell into sin. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and choice. We believe the Bible teaches that humanity has a corrupt, sinful nature because of Adam’s sin (cf. Rom. 5:12-19; Ecc. 7:29; Psalm 51:1; Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:9-18). As a result, human beings are alienated from God’s life and are therefore subject to God’s wrath, and unable to save themselves or to contribute in any way to their acceptance with God (Gen. 1-3; Psalm 51:5; Romans 1:18; 2:6-11; 3:9-18; 5:12-21; Eph. 2:1-3).

Jesus Christ

We believe in the Virgin Birth (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:34-35) and the Deity of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, Who is also Son of Man, with two distinct natures in one Person forever (cf. John 1:1; Phil. 2:6-7; Heb. 1:3; Heb. 2:18; John 1:14; Gal. 4:4; 1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 7). We believe that since Jesus is uniquely both truly human and God that He is the only mediator between God and humanity (1 Tim. 2:5). We also believe Jesus Christ is the mediator of a new covenant (Heb. 9:15; 12:24) and a new relationship of peace with God, going beyond the Old Testament system, fully dealing with the guilt of sin (Heb. 9:11 – 10:18).

The Work of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. We believe that His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation. We believe salvation is graciously given to all who repent from their sins and turn to God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, 3:19, 16:31; 26:20, Rom. 10:9-13). We firmly believe there is salvation through no other person, creed, process or power. Each sinner is justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (John 3:36; Eph. 2:8; Acts 4:12; Gal. 2:16).

Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is a person and fully God and that His work is necessary for the individual’s new birth and growth to maturity (John 3:3-5; 6:63 2 Cor. 3:18 1 Thess. 5:23). According to Scripture, He is sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11). We believe the Holy Spirit indwells all who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Rom. 5:5; 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19). We believe He empowers and sanctifies us by enabling us to do what is pleasing in God’s sight in order that we might progressively be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:26-29; Phi. 2:12-13; Gal. 4:19; 5:22-25). We also believe that believers should pray to be filled with the Spirit daily (Eph. 5:18) and ask that His fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control be ripened in us (Gal. 5:22-23).

The Church

We believe the church is the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27), a spiritual organism of born again believers, who are called to be identified with Christ in baptism and to remember His death in the Lord’s Supper (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:11-13; 1 Cor. 11:23-26). We believe the church has the authority to exercise church discipline with its members (Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5:1-13). We believe the primary function of the church is to worship the God-head (1 Pet. 2:4-5; Rom. 12:1). In light of this commitment to worship, we also believe the church functions in three ways: A. to equip the saints so that they can effectively minister to each other (Eph. 4:11-12). B. to make disciples of all ethnic people (Matt. 28:16-20). C. to exercise God’s concern for righteousness, Biblical justice and compassion for the needy (Luke 10:25-37; 18:1-8; James 1:26-27; Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-36; Matt. 25:31-46).

The Government

We believe that the civil government is ordained by God with the mandate to punish evil and encouraged to promote good (Rom. 13:1-5). We believe all people should be subject to the laws of the land, except those contrary to Scripture. Our Lord has laid out the Biblical teaching to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matt. 22:21), which means citizens should obey the government except in circumstances that conflict with Scripture. We, therefore, believe that when there is a conflict between the government and the clear teaching of Scripture that Christians are obligated to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29).

Christ’s Return

We believe in the personal, physical return of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:11; Rev. 20:6-21). We believe that after Christ’s return, He will bring about the ultimate defeat of Satan, the final judgment, and the eternal blessing of the righteous. At that time, the Kingdom of God will be completely fulfilled in the new heavens and new earth, in which righteousness dwells and in which Jesus will be worshipped forever (Matt. 25:41; Rom. 16:20; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 50-58; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thess. 1:3-12; Rev. 19:1-21; 20:7-15).

Eternal Destiny

We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which ensures the resurrection of all believers who have received God’s gift of eternal life (John 11:25-26; Acts 1:3; 2:24-35; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30-32; 13:33-37; 17:31; 1 Cor. 15:1-11, 20; 15:54-57; 2 Cor. 5:1-5; Eph. 1:18-2:10; Col. 2:9-15; 3:1-4). We also believe in a resurrection of judgment regarding unbelievers who reject the gospel (Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29). We believe that the unbeliever will be condemned to eternal, conscious punishment and the believer is assured of eternal communion and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and new earth.

[1] For CBI’s position on homosexuality and transgender see “Doctrinal Statement on Human Sexuality and Marriage”. Request only.