At Christ Proclamation Church, we believe that a right understanding of God and clarity on the gospel of Jesus Christ are critical to the well-being of our souls and the health of our church.
The Bible
We value the Bible because it is God’s inspired and inerrant Word, declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; Luke 24:25-32, 44-47).
The Gospel
We value the gospel because it is God’s good news that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and was raised on the third day to save undeserving sinners from His eternal judgment in hell. The gospel alone is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16, 3:21-26, 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; Revelation 21-22).
Gospel-Driven Preaching
We value gospel preaching from all of Scripture (since the entire Bible is about Christ), in all contexts, to all people, believer and unbeliever, for the salvation of sinners and the transformation of saints (Luke 24:25-32, 44-49; John 5:46; Romans 1:14-17, 10:17; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 1 Peter 1:22-2:3).
Gospel-Driven Faith
We value clarity on the nature of true saving faith. Sinners are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, but true saving faith is never alone. True saving faith always works itself out in love for Christ and love for His bride, the church (Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-26; Matthew 25:31-46; 1 John 4:7-11).
Gospel-Driven Worship
We value the worship of God in Christ, because it is the goal of the gospel. Worship is our natural response to God’s salvation in Christ. It is why we were created (Exodus 15:1-18; Revelation 5:9-10).
Gospel-Driven Community
We value gospel-driven community, the church, where redeemed sinners evidence their love for Jesus Christ by their sacrificial love for one another. Our body life is a tangible and authenticating witness to an unbelieving world that the gospel is true (John 13:34-35; Philippians 2:3-11; 1 John 4:7-11).
Gospel-Driven Diversity
We value diversity in the body of Christ as a testimony to the power of the gospel in bringing people from every tribe, language, people, and nation to fellowship and glorify God together (Revelation 5:9-10).
Gospel-Driven Acceptance
We value acceptance and forbearance toward one another in all matters neither addressed nor clearly mandated by Scripture (e.g., schooling preferences, family planning, holiday practices, etc.), that the gospel and its proclamation might remain primary (Romans 14:1-23; 1 Corinthians 8-9).
Gospel-Driven Leadership
We value a plurality of godly male leaders whose lives qualify them to shepherd Christ’s church, who will lead with humility and serve as examples of godliness (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 2:12-15, 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-16; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:7, 17).
Gospel-Driven Mission
We value Christ’s mission to make disciples of all the nations. This is accomplished as we live intentionally to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to those in our circles of influence (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Revelation 5:9-10).
Gospel-Driven Church Planting
We value church planting as the primary means of fulfilling the Great Commission. We believe that church planting is the most effective way to reach an unbelieving world and to remain ourtwardly oriented and evangelistic as a church (Acts 13:1-21:14).
The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that is has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct (Psalm 19:7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of all people, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 145:3; John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1Timothy 1:17).
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth (Isaiah 53:10-12; John 1:1, 14; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 3:21-26, 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Galatians 3:13; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:1-3).
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide (John 14:16-17, 16:14; Acts 5:3; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 1:13-14).
Regeneration
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:1-6; Titus 3:5; 1 John 5:1).
The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world (John 10:16; Acts 20:17, 28; Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Hebrews 10:25).
Christian Conduct
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ (Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 4:1-3; 5:1-2; 1 Peter 1:13-16; 2 Peter 1:5-11).
The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:26-29; 28:19; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-34; 12:13).
Religious Liberty
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other (Matthew 15:9; Romans 13:1-7; 14:4; Acts 5:29; Colossians 2:20-23).
Church Cooperation
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether it is the Conference or a district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis.
The Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked (Matthew 25:46; John 5:22, 27-29; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:6-11; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 7:13-17; 14:9-11).
Adopted by the Baptist General Conference in 1951, reaffirmed in 1990 and amended in 1997.
Passages of scripture were added for reference.