At CBC we are unashamed of our Christian beliefs. In fact, all of our initiatives, from our Sunday School to our Food Box Ministry, only exist because we follow Jesus’ example of bringing freedom to the world. Our moto, Freedom in Christ, isn’t something we just talk about, but something we live out and want to share with you!
Core Beliefs
Core Beliefs
See youversion for bible verses. See also the CBC Core Values.
TRINITY
Creed: I believe the God of the Bible is the only true God – Father Son and Holy Spirit Key Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (note: this is verse 13 in the Net Bible)
1. ABOUT GOD
The existence in the one Godhead of three Persons – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He is infinite in power, wisdom, holiness and love. He has created all things from nothing, he is transcendent yet immanent. Gen 1:26,27;3:22, Psalm 90:2, Matt 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Cor:13:14
2. ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
The incarnation and virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ who is God the Son, and who in one Person is truly God and truly man. The efficacy of Christ’s death as the only atonement for sin. The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and His ascension into heaven. The future personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection is the Lord of the cosmos. Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1: 9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13.3
3. ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 17:7-13; 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18.
SALVATION BY GRACE
Creed: I believe a person comes into a right relationship with God by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Key Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. Romans 6:23; Eph. 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Rom. 5:1
AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE
Creed: I believe the Bible is the Word of God and has the right to command my belief and action. Key Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” The Bible is God’s word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160; 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
PERSONAL GOD
Creed: I believe God is involved in and cares about my daily life. Key Scripture: Psalm 121 “I look up toward the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth! May he not allow your foot to slip! May your protector not sleep! Look! Israel’s protector does not sleep or slumber! The Lord is your protector; the Lord is the shade at your right hand. The sun will not harm you by day, or the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life. The Lord will protect you in all you do, now and forevermore.”
IDENTITY IN CHRIST
Creed: I believe I am significant because of my position as a child of God. Key Scripture: John 1:12-13 “But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children – children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.”
CHURCH
Creed: I believe the church is God’s primary way to accomplish his purposes on earth today. Key Scripture: Ephesians 4:15-16 “But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.”
HUMANITY
Creed: I believe all people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Saviour Key Scripture: John 3:16 “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called ‘sin’. This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2.
COMPASSION
Creed: I believe God calls all Christians to who compassion to those in need. Key Scripture: Psalm 82: 3-4 “Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless! Vindicate the oppressed and suffering! Rescue the poor and needy! Deliver them from the power of the wicked!”
ETERNITY
Creed: I believe there is a heaven and a hell and I believe Jesus Christ is returning to judge the earth and establish his eternal kingdom. Key Scripture: John 14:1-4 “Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. And you know the way where I am going.”
STEWARDSHIP
Creed: I believe everything I am or own belongs to God. Key Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.”
Core Competencies – Practices
WORSHIP
Creed: I worship God for who he is and what he has done for me Key Scripture: Psalm 95:1-7 “Come! Let’s sing for joy to the Lord! Let’s shout out praises to our protector who delivers us! Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving! Let’s shout out to him in celebration! For the Lord is a great God, a great king who is superior to all gods. The depths of the earth are in his hand, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land. Come! Let’s bow down and worship! Let’s kneel before the Lord, our creator! For he is our God; we are the people of his pasture, the sheep he owns. Today, if only you would obey him!”
PRAYER
Creed: I pray to God to know him, to lay my requests before him and to find direction for my daily life. Key Scripture: Psalm 66:16-20 “Come! Listen, all you who are loyal to God! I will declare what he has done for me. I cried out to him for help and praised him with my tongue. If I had harbored sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. However, God heard; he listened to my prayer. God deserves praise, for he did not reject my prayer or abandon his love for me!”
BIBLE STUDY
Creed: I study the Bible to know God, the truth and to find direction for my daily life. Key Scripture: Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.”
SINGLE-MINDEDNESS
Creed: I focus on God and his priorities for my life Key Scripture: Matthew 6:33 “But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
BIBLICAL COMMUNITY
Creed: I fellowship with other Christians to accomplish God’s purpose in my life, others’ lives and in the world. Key Scripture: Acts 2:42-47 “They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and miraculous signs came about by the apostles. All who believed were together and held everything in common, and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need. Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.”
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Creed: I know and use my spiritual gifts to fulfill God’s purposes. Key Scripture: Romans 12:4-6 “For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another. And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith.”
GIVING AWAY MY TIME
Creed: I give away my time to fulfill God’s purposes. Key Scripture: Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ”
GIVING AWAY MY MONEY
Creed: I give away my money to fulfill God’s purposes. Key Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:7 ”But as you exce in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you – make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too. ”
GIVING AWAY MY FAITH
Creed: I give away my faith to fulfill God’s purposes. Key Scripture: Ephesians 6:19-20 “Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak – that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.”
GIVING AWAY MY LIFE
Creed: I give away my life to fulfill God’s purposes. Key Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.”
Core Competencies – Virtues
LOVE
Creed: I sacrificially and unconditionally love and forgive others. Key Scriptures: 1 John 4:10-12 “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
JOY
Creed: I have inner contentment and purpose in spite of my circumstances. Key Scriptures: John 15: 11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete”
PEACE
Creed: I am free from anxiety because things are right between God, myself and others. Key Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
PATIENCE
Creed: I take a long time to overheat and I endure patiently the unavoidable pressures of life. Key Scripture: Proverbs 14:29 “The one who is slow to anger has great understanding, but the one who has a quick temper exalts folly.”
KINDNESS/GOODNESS
Creed: I choose to do the right things in my relationship with others. Key Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:15 “See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.”
FAITHFULNESS
Creed: I have established a good name with God and with others based on my long-term loyalty to that relationship. Key Scripture: Proverbs 3:3-4“Do not let truth and mercy leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and good understanding, in the sight of God and people.”
GENTLENESS
Creed: I am thoughtful, considerate and calm in dealing with others. Key Scripture: Philippians 4:5 “Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near!”
SELF CONTROL
Creed: I have power, through Christ to control myself. Key Scripture: Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
HOPE
Creed: I can cope with the hardships of life and death because of the hope I have in Jesus Christ. Key Scripture: Hebrews 6:19-20 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain, where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever ……”
HUMILITY
Creed: I choose to esteem others above myself. Key Scripture: Philippians 2:3-4 “Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.” At CBC we’re convinced there is a God in heaven who loves people, and sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to die for our sin and show us the way back to God.
HOW TO ACHIEVE THESE
Using VISION, INTENTION & MEANS
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WOMEN
