STATEMENT OF FAITH

This shorter Statement of Faith for CPC Members articulates the beliefs required in order to become a member at CPC. The longer and more detailed Statement of Faith for CPC Elders articulates the teaching perspective reflected at CPC. While members are not required to agree with all the doctrinal points in the longer statement, we do ask members not to be divisive regarding areas of disagreement.

We believe that the Bible is the inspired, truthful, and authoritative word of God.

We believe that there is one God, the creator and ruler of the universe. He exists eternally in three persons— Father, Son and Holy Spirit—who are equal in deity, power, and glory.

We believe in Jesus Christ the Son, co-equal to the Father, fully God and fully man. He lived a sinless human life yet willingly sacrificed himself to pay the penalty for sin by dying on a cross. He physically rose from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return in power and glory.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, co-equal to the Father and the Son. He imparts spiritual life to all believers, indwells them, guarantees their salvation, empowers them with gifts that build up the church, and teaches them to think and act rightly.  

We believe humanity is the pinnacle of God’s creation, created as male and female in the image of God to reflect his character and authority. That image was marred by the disobedience of Adam and Eve, and mankind became alienated from God. Through Adam, the stain of sin spread to the entire human race so that all commit sin, deserve judgment, and need the gracious salvation of Christ.

We believe that marriage is between one biological man and one biological woman, and that sexual activity outside the context of marriage is sinful.

We believe that salvation is a gift of God brought to man by grace and received by all who repent and place their faith in the atoning work of Jesus. Genuine repentance and faith are characterized by a changed life.

We believe that the church is a global spiritual community made up of all believers from every age. The church is given local expression through individual congregations, which exist wherever the saints gather, the gospel is preached, and baptism and the Lord’s Supper are administered. The mission of the church is to make disciples of all nations.

We believe that Jesus Christ will return bodily to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and lost; the saved to life with God forever and the lost to everlasting separation from the presence of God.