OUR BELIEFS
There are a handful of beliefs that Crosstowne holds as doctrines.
They shape the way we will preach, teach, counsel and minister. Our desire is to be as upfront and honest with these theological doctrines and to teach those who are in Covenant Partnership what these views are and why we hold them as part of our Biblical doctrine.
The basic doctrines within Crosstowne Statement of Faith represent what we believe to be core elements of biblical teaching. We expect all Covenant Partners to affirm these doctrines.
They shape the way we will preach, teach, counsel and minister. Our desire is to be as upfront and honest with these theological doctrines and to teach those who are in Covenant Partnership what these views are and why we hold them as part of our Biblical doctrine.
The basic doctrines within Crosstowne Statement of Faith represent what we believe to be core elements of biblical teaching. We expect all Covenant Partners to affirm these doctrines.
Theological Distinctives
The Theological Distinctives within Crosstowne’s Statement of Faith reflect what distinguishes Crosstowne from other churches who would affirm the basic doctrines. These distinctives indelibly shape the way that Crosstowne is led and the direction the church is headed. We do not expect all partners to embrace all aspects of these distinctives, but partners should expect that the distinctives will be maintained in all ministry environments at Crosstowne, and partners may not teach contrary to them.
About God
Core Belief: We believe in one God eternally existing as one essence and three distinct persons: God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit, each of whom is fully God, yet there is one God.
-We believe that there is one God, eternally existent as Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. He is infinite in love, holiness, and perfection; and to Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each as distinct persons, but without division of nature, essence, or being. Each person is fully, equally and eternally God, yet there is only one God. We hold this to be an implied wondrous mystery taught in Scripture. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10, Matthew 28:18-20)
-We believe in the Son, God from God, eternally begotten but not made, who in history assumed to Himself a human nature for the sake of our salvation. He is truly God and truly man. Through Him, all things came into being and were created. He was before all things, and in Him, all things hold together by the word of His power. (John 1:14, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:15-20)
-We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious (taking our place) and atoning (receiving our punishment) death, in His bodily resurrection, in His personal ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal future return to this earth in power and glory for His church. (Luke 1:34-38, Acts 2:23-24, Hebrews 2:9, 1 Peter 3:18)
-We believe in the Holy Spirit who eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son and is sent by the Father and the Son to give new life. He is to be respected, honored and worshiped as God, the third person of the trinity. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
-The triune God, the Father, Son and Spirit, is the Creator of all things, visible and invisible. As the immortal and eternal Creator, He sovereignly rules over all of His creation. (Psalm 24:1)
-We believe that there is one God, eternally existent as Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. He is infinite in love, holiness, and perfection; and to Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each as distinct persons, but without division of nature, essence, or being. Each person is fully, equally and eternally God, yet there is only one God. We hold this to be an implied wondrous mystery taught in Scripture. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10, Matthew 28:18-20)
-We believe in the Son, God from God, eternally begotten but not made, who in history assumed to Himself a human nature for the sake of our salvation. He is truly God and truly man. Through Him, all things came into being and were created. He was before all things, and in Him, all things hold together by the word of His power. (John 1:14, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:15-20)
-We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious (taking our place) and atoning (receiving our punishment) death, in His bodily resurrection, in His personal ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal future return to this earth in power and glory for His church. (Luke 1:34-38, Acts 2:23-24, Hebrews 2:9, 1 Peter 3:18)
-We believe in the Holy Spirit who eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son and is sent by the Father and the Son to give new life. He is to be respected, honored and worshiped as God, the third person of the trinity. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
-The triune God, the Father, Son and Spirit, is the Creator of all things, visible and invisible. As the immortal and eternal Creator, He sovereignly rules over all of His creation. (Psalm 24:1)
About Sin
Core Belief: We believe that sin has fractured all things, leaving the world in desperate need of salvation.
In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherits a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. (Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 5:12-19, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherits a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. (Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 5:12-19, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
About Salvation
Core Belief: We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone.
-We believe that, due to universal death through sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born again ; that salvation is only by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ; and that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ through faith are declared righteous by God and become children of God. (John 3:5-8, Hebrews 10:19-25)
-We believe that the only means of salvation is to surrender our lives completely to the Lordship of Jesus. We turn to God with true humility and brokenness, by faith in Jesus as our Lord, and relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior. (Titus 3:4-7, Romans 10:9-10)
-We believe spiritual regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential for personal salvation. It is the result of God’s free grace based upon faith in Jesus Christ and evidenced by a life that is being conformed to the image of Christ. (1Thessalonians 5:23-24, Ephesians 4:20-24)
-We believe the baptism and repeated filling of the Holy Spirit is vital, necessary, and promised for those seeking and pursuing a Christ-like life. (Acts 1:8, Romans 12:2)
-We believe that, due to universal death through sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born again ; that salvation is only by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ; and that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ through faith are declared righteous by God and become children of God. (John 3:5-8, Hebrews 10:19-25)
-We believe that the only means of salvation is to surrender our lives completely to the Lordship of Jesus. We turn to God with true humility and brokenness, by faith in Jesus as our Lord, and relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior. (Titus 3:4-7, Romans 10:9-10)
-We believe spiritual regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential for personal salvation. It is the result of God’s free grace based upon faith in Jesus Christ and evidenced by a life that is being conformed to the image of Christ. (1Thessalonians 5:23-24, Ephesians 4:20-24)
-We believe the baptism and repeated filling of the Holy Spirit is vital, necessary, and promised for those seeking and pursuing a Christ-like life. (Acts 1:8, Romans 12:2)
About Revelation
Core Belief: We believe God has made himself known to the world in Jesus Christ, the Scriptures and creation.
-We believe that God has made Himself known to His creation. He has revealed Himself to us in His Son, the incarnate Word, in Scripture, the inspired Word and in creation. (John 1:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 8, Romans 1:20)
-We believe Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the perfect revelation of who God is. Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the exact imprint of His nature and a perfect reflection of God the Father. (Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3, John 5:19)
-We believe that God has made Himself known to His creation. He has revealed Himself to us in His Son, the incarnate Word, in Scripture, the inspired Word and in creation. (John 1:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 8, Romans 1:20)
-We believe Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the perfect revelation of who God is. Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the exact imprint of His nature and a perfect reflection of God the Father. (Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3, John 5:19)
About The Bible
Core Belief: We believe The Holy Bible, in its origin, was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation (though not exhaustive) of Himself to mankind.
We believe it is a treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its subject matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God has revealed Himself, intention and will towards us and will remain to the end of the world. It is the standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. (2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:15-16)
We believe it is a treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its subject matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God has revealed Himself, intention and will towards us and will remain to the end of the world. It is the standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. (2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:15-16)
About Creation & Providence
Core Belief: We believe that God created the world from nothing and governs all things at all times in all places.
-God created the whole world from nothing. Creation according to the design of God was intentional and good. (Genesis 1:1-2, Psalm 24:11, Genesis 1:3-31)
-God doesn’t let the world exist, He makes the world exist. He upholds the universe by the word of His power, and He holds the world together in Himself. (Colossians 1:17)
-God created the whole world from nothing. Creation according to the design of God was intentional and good. (Genesis 1:1-2, Psalm 24:11, Genesis 1:3-31)
-God doesn’t let the world exist, He makes the world exist. He upholds the universe by the word of His power, and He holds the world together in Himself. (Colossians 1:17)
About Humanity
Core Belief: We believe that all humanity is created in the image of God and from that image derive dignity and worth.
We believe God made humanity—male and female—in His own image. Set apart as His image bearers, every human being is sacred. All men and all women, bearing the image of God, are meant to represent God in His creation. God declares the created order to be very good, distinguishing men and women as His agents to care for, manage and govern over it. They enjoy equal access to God by faith in Christ Jesus and are both called to move beyond passive self-indulgence to significant private and public engagement in family, church and civic life.
-We believe Adam and Eve were made to complement each other in a one-flesh union in the covenant of marriage that establishes the only God- ordained pattern of sexual relations for men and women. In God’s wise purposes, men and women are not simply interchangeable, but rather they complement each other in mutually enriching ways. (Genesis 1:27-30, 1 Corinthians 10:31)
DISTINCTIVE: Complementarianism
Men and women are absolutely equal in essence, dignity and value but are distinct by divine design. As part of God’s good created order, men and women are to have different yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the home and church. As it relates to the church, men and women are both expected to lead in specific areas.
We believe God made humanity—male and female—in His own image. Set apart as His image bearers, every human being is sacred. All men and all women, bearing the image of God, are meant to represent God in His creation. God declares the created order to be very good, distinguishing men and women as His agents to care for, manage and govern over it. They enjoy equal access to God by faith in Christ Jesus and are both called to move beyond passive self-indulgence to significant private and public engagement in family, church and civic life.
-We believe Adam and Eve were made to complement each other in a one-flesh union in the covenant of marriage that establishes the only God- ordained pattern of sexual relations for men and women. In God’s wise purposes, men and women are not simply interchangeable, but rather they complement each other in mutually enriching ways. (Genesis 1:27-30, 1 Corinthians 10:31)
DISTINCTIVE: Complementarianism
Men and women are absolutely equal in essence, dignity and value but are distinct by divine design. As part of God’s good created order, men and women are to have different yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the home and church. As it relates to the church, men and women are both expected to lead in specific areas.
About The Church
Core Belief: We believe that the Church is the body of Christ sent into the world to shine forth the glory of God.
-We believe God, by His Word and Spirit, creates the Church, calling sinful humanity into the fellowship of Christ’s body. By the same Word and Spirit, He guides and preserves that newly redeemed humanity. The Church is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ and have personally appropriated the gospel. The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Church is an extension of the ministry of Jesus in the power of the Spirit. The church is endowed, by the Holy Spirit, with leadership and gifting, to enable each believer to grow up into the likeness of Christ. (Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 2:19-22, Hebrews 12:23, John 17:11, John 20-23)
DISTINCTIVE: Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The gifts of the Holy Spirit that we see on display in the New Testament are still active within the life of the church. These gifts did not end with the close of the New Testament or the death of the last apostle. (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
DISTINCTIVE: Baptism by Immersion
The precedent we find in the New Testament is baptism following conversion by immersion into water. Baptism by immersion is meant to symbolically depict the believer’s real union to Christ in His death and resurrection. (Romans 6:1-14)
-We believe God, by His Word and Spirit, creates the Church, calling sinful humanity into the fellowship of Christ’s body. By the same Word and Spirit, He guides and preserves that newly redeemed humanity. The Church is made up of those who have become genuine followers of Jesus Christ and have personally appropriated the gospel. The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Church is an extension of the ministry of Jesus in the power of the Spirit. The church is endowed, by the Holy Spirit, with leadership and gifting, to enable each believer to grow up into the likeness of Christ. (Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 2:19-22, Hebrews 12:23, John 17:11, John 20-23)
DISTINCTIVE: Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The gifts of the Holy Spirit that we see on display in the New Testament are still active within the life of the church. These gifts did not end with the close of the New Testament or the death of the last apostle. (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
DISTINCTIVE: Baptism by Immersion
The precedent we find in the New Testament is baptism following conversion by immersion into water. Baptism by immersion is meant to symbolically depict the believer’s real union to Christ in His death and resurrection. (Romans 6:1-14)
About The Second Coming
Core Belief: We believe that Jesus Christ is returning to the world in the future to judge the living and the dead.
We believe God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end and renewal. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will come back again for His church. We do not claim, nor will we ever, to know the exact timing or sequence of His return and we will not divide the church on end-times speculation. (Hebrews 10:37, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)
We believe God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end and renewal. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will come back again for His church. We do not claim, nor will we ever, to know the exact timing or sequence of His return and we will not divide the church on end-times speculation. (Hebrews 10:37, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)
Sacraments