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BELIEFS
CLOSED HAND
Some things we just can't budge on. This is the closed hand. It's the Apostle's Creed, the basics of Christianity. You know - standard Bible stuff.
OPEN HAND
Then there are other things that people debate about and argue over. This is the open hand. It's confusing theological issues, opinions, and grey areas that divide the church and the world.
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT
Here you can find what C4 believes regarding a number of different areas. But honestly, instead of having you read all of this right now, we would so much rather meet you and talk about it person!
C4 believes the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired word of God - the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13)
C4 believes in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit co-eternal in being, co-eternal in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections.
C4 believes that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem the sinful man.
C4 believes that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative and a sacrifice, and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead.
(Romans 3:24; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5)
C4 believes that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry as Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate.
(Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2)
C4 believes Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead.
C4 believes that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them until the day of redemption.
(John 16:8-11; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18)
C4 believes in the Baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart, and that the purpose of this is the provision of power for service.
C4 believes that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that through Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Man is depraved and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost condition.
(Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3,12)
C4 believes that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on a violent cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
(Ephesians 2:8-10; John1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
C4 believes that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word, which clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for the flesh.
C4 believes in the current and evident activity of God in His sovereign bestowing of spiritual gifts.
(1 Corinthians 12:1,7,10,28,31; 1 Corinthians 14:1)
C4 believes that, according to scripture, Signs following believers.
(Mark 16:17-20; Romans 15:18-19; Hebrews 2:4)
C4 believes in the Fruit of the Spirit.
(Romans 6:22; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11)
C4 believes that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accordance with His own will, for the sick and afflicted.
C4 believes that Divine healing, according to God's time frame, is provided for all in the Atonement.
(Psalm 103:3; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17; James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:24)
C4 believes that it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift(s) and grace of God that is given to them.
C4 believes that the church, which is the body and bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons.
(Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2)
C4 believes that the birthing and continuation of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament.
(Acts 14:27; Acts 18:22; Acts 20:17; 1 Timothy 3:1-3; Titus 1:5-11)
C4 recognizes believer's baptism and the Lord's supper as scriptural means of testimony for the church.
(Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 18:8; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
C4 believes and intends that our current church locations are just the first of many that will be planted.