CCJERUSALEM
Ministry
...About the One, True God:
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God. He is an infinite intelligent Spirit, Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love. We believe that in the singular unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Each Person is equal in every divine perfection, executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of God's redemption.
Exodus 20:2-3; Genesis 17:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4:24; Psalm 147:5; Psalm 83:18; Psalm 90:2; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11; 1 Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 1 John 5:7; John 10:30; John 17:5; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 13:14
...About God's Written Word, The Scriptures
We believe the Holy Bible was written by men who were supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter and therefore is and remains until to the end of the age the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man, the true center of Christian union [is not Jesus the ultimate and only complete, final revelation of the will of God to man - and the true center of Christian union?] and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
A. By "Holy Bible" we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation which as originally written not only contains and conveys the Word of God but is the very Word of God.
B. By "Inspiration" we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old as they were moved by the Holy Spirit and in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25; Psalm 119:160; Psalm 119:105; Psalm 119:130; Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Luke 24:44-45; Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 3:4; 1 Peter 1:23; Revelation 22:19; John 12:48; Isaiah 8:20; Ephesians 6:17; Romans 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psalm 19:7-11; John 5:45-47; John 5:39
...About Jesus
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Triune God. He is God in flesh, the “God Man”, begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, tempted as we are yet without sin. Being the perfect “Lamb of God” he freely gave His life to redeem the sins of man. He gave himself in death on the cross, bearing the sins of the world. He bodily arose from the grave conquering death. He ascended into Heaven where He intercedes and advocates before God the Father's holy throne on behalf of all who receive Him and Him alone as the Savior of their souls.
Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1, 14; 3:16; Galatians 4:4, 5; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:6-10; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7; Hebrews 4:14-17; 1 John 2:1-2)
...About God the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature. We furthermore believe that He was active in the creation and in His relation to the unbelieving world, He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled. We believe that He convicts of sin, judgment, and righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.
John 14:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; John 16:8-11; John 15:26-27; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; John 16:13; Romans 8:14; Romans 8:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Romans 8:26-27
...About the Devil or Satan
We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors but through pride and ambitions to be as the Almighty fell and drew after him a host of angels. We furthermore believe that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man's great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all the powers of darkness, destined, however, to final defeat at the hands of God's Son, and the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.
Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Revelation 12:9; Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4; Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1-3; 1 Peter 5:8; I John 3:8; Matthew 13:39; Luke 22:3-4; Revelation 12:10; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13:21-22; 1 John 4:3; 2 John 7; 1 John 2:22; Revelation 13:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; Revelation 19:11, 16, 20; Revelation 12:7-9; Revelation 20:1-3; Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41
...About the Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of Creation and that it is to be accepted literally, not allegorically nor figuratively. We furthermore believe that man was created directly in God's own image and after His own likeness; that man's creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species or developments through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms. We also believe that animal and vegetable life were made directly and that God's established law was that they should bring forth only "after their kind."
Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jeremiah 10:12; Nehemiah 9:6; Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:21-23; Genesis 1:11; Genesis 1:24
...About the Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless state. As a result, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but by choice. Therefore man is under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:19; Romans 3:10-19; Ephesians 2:1, 3; Romans 1:18; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:32; Romans 1:20; Romans 1:28; Galatians 3:22
...About the Virgin Birth of Jesus
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born of woman, and that He was born the Son of God and God the Son.
Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psalm 2:7; Galatians 4:4; 1 John 5:20; 1 Corinthians 15:47
...About the Atonement for Sin
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace given through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God who by the appointment of the Father freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins. Webelieve that the Son of God's, Jesus', atonement does not consist in setting for us an example by His death as a martyr but rather was and is the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just One dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree. We furthermore believe that, having risen from the dead, Jesus Christ, the Son of God is now enthroned in heaven, uniting in His wonderful person the most tender sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior.
Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 10:18; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:11; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Corinthians 15:20; Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 9:12-15; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:2
...About Grace in the New Creation
We believe that in order to be saved sinners must be born again; that this new birth is a new creation in Jesus Christ; that it is instantaneous and not gradual; that in this new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.
John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Luke 5:27; 1 John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13; John 1:12-13; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9
...About the Freeness of Salvation
We believe in God's electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
1 Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 1:2; Titus 1:1; Romans 8:29-30; Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:13; John 6:37; Isaiah 55:6; Acts 2:38; Isaiah 55:7; John 3:15-16; 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; John 5:40; John 3:18; John 3:36
...About Justification
We believe that the great Gospel which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life based on principles of righteousness; and that this justification is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness imputed unto us.
Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Romans 8:1; Romans 5:9; Romans 5:1; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 1:17; Habakkuk 2:4; Galatians 3:11; Romans 4:1-8; Hebrews 10:38
...About Repentance and Faith
We believe that repentance and faith are solemn obligations and also inseparable graces that are wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God by which, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior.
Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; Luke 18:13; Romans 10:13; Psalm 51:1-4; Psalm 51:7, Isaiah 55:6-7; Luke 12:8; Romans 10:9-11
...About the Church
We believe that a local church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His work; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: first, to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church; third, to teach and instruct as He commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit. We also believe that it is scriptural for true local churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and furtherance of the Gospel; that every local church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline and benevolence the will of the local church is final.
Acts 2:41; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8-11; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 15:23; Acts 20:17-28; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Matthew 28:19-20; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23-24; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 15:22; Jude 3-4; 2 Corinthians 8:23-24; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Malachi 3:10; Leviticus 27:32; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 1 Corinthians 6:1-3; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13.