The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. - Psalm 19:7-11
The Bible is full of God's holy truth, so it is a challenge to take the teachings of the Bible and simplify them down to just a page full of beliefs, but the most important thing you need to know about CCC is this - we love God because He first loved us! God's love for us can be seen in His creation of us and all the universe, and also in how He has made us a new creation through salvation! Forgiving our sins and making us new in His likeness! In everything listed below, know that God is love!
God the Designer and Creator of All Things
We believe in God as revealed in the Bible: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God created all things and reigns over all things. Nothing exists or occurs beyond God’s reign. God has designed, created, and sustained life. All of creation exists to bring God glory and to make His name known on the earth.
(Genesis 1, Psalm 90:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
The Authority of the Word of God
We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, therefore we accept the Word and the Word alone as our rule of faith, doctrine, and practice. Our preaching and teaching is intentionally rooted in scripture, and we often teach through whole Books of the Bible in our Sunday morning gatherings. All of our classes, groups, and Bible studies are centered on seeking God through His Word. The scriptures are our guide, and we hope to understand God's Word so that we might live by it.
(Psalm 119:105, John 1, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus to be the promised Christ, the Spirit-conceived, virgin-born Son of God, who died for our sins, was raised on the third day, and is going to return to reign over a new heaven and new earth. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ reigns in victory and has broken the power of sin and death by His death, burial, and resurrection. A coming Redeemer, a Messiah, is promised all through the pages of the Old Testament scriptures, and that Redeemer is Jesus. He was crucified, and his dead body was laid to rest in a tomb, and after three days, God raised Him from the dead, demonstrating His victory over sin and the grave!
(Luke 1, Isaiah 53, John 18:32, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21)
God’s Gift of Salvation
We believe that we are sinners saved by grace through faith - it is the work of Christ on the cross that secures our salvation, but each person receives salvation by placing our faith and trust in Him. Faith is demonstrated in obedient living on our part. We believe people are made right with God through God’s gift of mercy and forgiveness. This comes to us as the gift of God, received by faith, demonstrated in repentance, baptism, and pursuing a righteous life. God's gift of salvation to us is not just an idea that we agree to in our minds, it is a life transformation - the scriptures call us a 'new creation!'
(Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:14-17, James 2:14-17)
Jesus Christ as Our Redeemer
We believe that all who have faith in Jesus Christ will enjoy eternal life in the presence of God in a renewed heaven and earth. God will judge all humankind, and Jesus will be the advocate and redeemer of those who turned to Him in faith. Those who have rejected God will be subject to judgement without the saving grace of Jesus Christ. These will remain separated from God in eternal punishment.
(Matthew 10:32-33, John 5:38-40, 1 John 2:1)
The Church
We believe that there is one church – The Body of Christ. We need a relationship with God, and also a surrounding family of faith! The church is that family of faith, and it exists to exalt God and bring glory to Him through sharing the Gospel message and helping people grow towards a God-honoring life. We can not grow fully as disciples of Jesus without the help and encouragement of the church...and...others will not grow fully without you.
(Romans 12:4-6, John 17:20-23, Matthew 28:16-20)
Faith and Obedience
Repentance is turning away from our sinful ways to pursue God's righteous and holy ways. This is a work that God does in us, as we place our faith in Him and grow in trust. There is a lot 'sin that so easily entangles us' and God works in us to make choices that honor Him. We must decrease so that He might increase in our lives. We proudly say that 'we are justified by faith alone,' but we must also be aware that faith is never alone. Faith has a good friend: joyful obedience! Faith without works is dead. Faith that has not changed us has not yet resided in us.
(Hebrews 12:1-2, James 2:14-26, Romans 1:16-17)
