Statement of Faith
The following represent the core beliefs of Cripple Creek Community Church.
Scripture
The Bible, in the original writings of its sixty-six books, is inspired by God and without error. Scripture is fully true, reliable, and trustworthy as our final and sufficient authority for all of life (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
God
There is only one true God, who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and each is fully God. All things exist for His glory (Jn 17:3; Matt 28:18-20; 1 Jn:1-4; Acts 5:3-4).
God the Father
God is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. He adopts into His family those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He foreknew, predestined, justified and glorified all who are called children of God. (Deuteronomy 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 7:11; 28:19; Romans 8:30).
God the Son
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us. He lived a sinless life, was crucified for us (see “Salvation” below), and rose from the dead (John 1:14; Jn14:8-9; 1 Tim 3:16).
God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit’s chief office is to exalt Jesus in the world. He converts unbelievers, seals, fills, guides, instructs, comforts, sanctifies, equips, empowers, and bestows gifts to the believer for service to the church. He also convicts the world of sin. (John 16:8; 13:15; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:22; 4:11-12; Romans 8:9-17; 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:4-5, 11-13, 19; Galatians 5:25; Hebrews 2:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12, 2 Cor 4:6).
Man
God created man—male and female—in His image to glorify and enjoy Him, and reflect His glory on Earth. Man sinned and fell short of His glory, becoming spiritually dead, utterly lost and incapable of returning to God apart from the intervening work of the Holy Spirit. The saving work of Christ alone can redeem man (Gen 3:1-6; Rom 1:18-32, 3:10- 19).
Salvation
God, being rich in mercy, sent his Son into the world to save us. Jesus took our sin upon himself, bore our sin in his body on the cross to fully satisfy the wrath of God due us. All who trust in Jesus alone for their salvation will, through faith, be saved. He or she now lives to Christ, to know Him and make Him known in this world, striving to walk in holiness with the saints (Eph 2:1-9; Rom 3:23-24, 8:37-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
The Church
The universal church, the body of Christ, is the redeemed of God throughout all generations, of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. The local church is a body of believers, who agree to meet regularly with one another for the purpose of worship, fellowship, instruction, encouragement, and to observe the ordinances (below). We also stimulate one another to love and good deeds, and to make disciples of all nations. (Acts 1:3, 9; Hebrews 7:25-26, 10:24; Eph 4:12; Rev 21-22:5).
Marriage and Sexuality
Marriage is the sacred institution of a covenant bond between one man and one woman, to mystically reflect Christ and the church to the world. Sexual activity is a gift from God to be enjoyed only within the covenant of marriage. All forms of sexual activity outside of marriage, including pornography, fornication, adultery, and homosexuality, are sinful (Gen 1:27, Rom 1:26 32, 1 Cor 6:9-11).
The Sanctity of Life
As all men and women are created in the image of God, all human life is sacred, dignified and of inestimable worth, including unborn babies, the aged, and the physically or mentally challenged. We are called to value and defend life and condemn efforts to abort, euthanize, or otherwise devalue life.
The Future
We joyously and expectantly await the glorious, visible, and bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will descend from the sky on a date of His choosing. The lost will be raised to judgment, and to eternal conscious torment in hell; the saved will be raised to everlasting joy in the very presence of God, to never again be afflicted by sin or sorrow (Acts 1:3, 9; Hebrews 7:25-26; Rev 21-22:5).