Crawfordsville Community Church

Our Beliefs

The Bible

The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, as the written Word of God, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God, and that it was given by the Holy Spirit through chosen men. Scripture thus speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible, inspired, and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.  (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21, Hebrews 1:1-3)

God

We believe that there is one true, Holy God, eternally existing in three persons of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each of Whom possess equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning God created in 6 days out of nothing the heavens and the earth and all the things therein, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.  (Genesis 1:26, Matthew 3:16-17, John 10:30, Ephesians 1:3-6)

Sin and Salvation

The central purpose of God's revelation in Scripture is to call all people into fellowship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God and sinned. He chose to go his independent way, and was thus alienated from God, and he suffered the corruption of his nature, rendering him unable to please God. The fall took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are thus in need of the saving grace of God. The salvation of mankind is, then wholly a work of God's free grace, not the result, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness, and must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ. When God has begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He gives assurance in His Word that He will continue performing it until the day of its full consummation.  (Genesis 3:1-9, Romans 3:23, Romans 11:32, Ephesians 2:8-10, Galatians 3:22, Titus 3:3-7)

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the eternal second Person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.   (Phil 2:5-11, 1 Timothy 2:5, Luke 1:34, Matthew 1:20, Romans 3:21-26, John 20:17, Luke 24:6, Luke 22:19-20, John 10:15, 1 Timothy 2:6, Acts 7:55, 1 Corinthians 15:14, Hebrews 1:1-3)

The Holy Spirit

The essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need of a Savior and regenerates them. At the point of salvation He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the building up of the body. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture. His power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father.  (2 Corinthians 5:17, John 1:12-13, John 3:5-6, John 16:13, John 16:7-11, 1 Corinthians 12, Galatians 5:16-22, Titus 3:3-7)

Human Destiny

Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world, and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation. God's judgment will reveal His justice in consigning them to eternal retribution for their own rejection of Jesus Christ. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life.  (1 Corinthians 3:13-15, 2 Timothy 4:8, Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 20:4-5, Revelation 20:11-15)

The Church

That which joins believers together as one is Jesus Christ. He is the head of the church. There is one true church comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, and teaching of the Word, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. Observance of baptism and communion are the sacraments of the church established by Jesus Christ. Wherever God's people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Under the watchful care of Elders and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.  (Ephesians 1:22, Acts 2:38, 41, 47, Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-12, Acts 20:28, Matthew 28:19-20, Hebrews 10:25)

New Covenant

"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,..." (Heb. 1:1-2 NKJV) As disciples of Christ we are able ministers of the New Covenant and use the Old Covenant as a witness to Christ. We are also ministers of grace through the blood of Jesus and the gospel message. We are ministers of reconciliation to God through the cross. The gospel is good news and not just good advice. All truth now comes by the revelation of Jesus Christ, he is the way the truth and the life.  (2 Corinthians 3:6, 5:18-19, Hebrews 13-20, John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 8:6 & 9:18, Galatians 3:19-20)

Faith and Practice

Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible and accountable. We believe this Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches. All are urged to refrain from advocating doctrines that contradict this Statement of Faith in such a way as to cause dissension or confusion.  (1 Corinthians 10:31-33, Romans 14:1-12, Titus 3:10, Romans 16:17)

Return of Christ

The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ - is imminent and will be visible. This is the believer's blessed hope and is a vital truth, which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.  (Acts 1:7-8, Heb. 10:37, Lk 21:27-28, Titus 2:11-14)