Statement of Faith

The Bible
We believe the Bible to be the complete Word of God; that the sixty-six Books, as originally written, comprising the Old and New Testaments were written by chosen men of God under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and are entirely free from error: that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice and is the basis of Christian union. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2Peter 1:20-21; Peter 1:25)
God
We believe in one God, who is the Creator of all, eternally existent as God, the Father; God the Son; and God the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1; Psalm 90:2; Mathew 28:19)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ came as God in the flesh, that He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless and perfect human life, suffered and died upon the cross for the sin of the world, arose bodily from the grave, and ascended triumphantly into heaven as our Mediator from where we joyously await His return. (I Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 1:14; Mathew 1:25)
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the personality of the Holy Spirity and that His ministry is to reveal Christ to men, to convict of sin, to regenerate repentant sinners, and to sanctify and empower the lives of the redeemed. (Romans 8; John 16:7-14; John 14:15-26; II Corinthians 3:17-18; Acts 1:8)
Satan
We believe that Satan exists as an evil personality, the originator of sin, the arch-enemy of God and man. That he is destined to final defeat at the hands of the Son of God and to suffer eternal punishment in a place prepared for him and the fallen angles. (Genesis 3:1-5; John 8:40-45; Jude 6; Revelations 12:9-10)
Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but by willful transgression became sinful and is justly under the condemnation and wrath of the Almighty God. Man is utterly incapacitated to receive the grace of God apart from the quickening of the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-10; Isaiah 64:6)
Salvation
We believe that there is one Mediator between God and man – Jesus Christ. The purpose of His coming was to redeem man from the judgment and power of sin and to reconcile him to God. Through the shedding of His blood, Christ provided the one sufficient sacrifice for sin and established God’s New Covenant.

We are saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, convicts man of his sin and need for salvation. Those who repent of their sin and trust in Christ as Savior and Lord receive forgiveness. By the power of the Holy Spirit they are born into the family of God and receive the assurance of salvation. Saving faith involves a surrender of the will to Christ, a complete trust in Him, and a joyful obedience of his Word as a faithful disciple. (Acts 4:12; Ephesians: 1:13-14, 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-13; I John 1:9; Hebrews 9:15)

Future Things
We believe in the visible, personal, bodily and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the resurrection of the just and the unjust, in the eternal blessedness of the redeemed, and in the judgment an conscious eternal punishment of the wicked. (Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; Revelations 20:10-15)
Local Church
We believe that the membership of a New Testament Church is a body of baptized believers, associated for worship, service, and the spread of the Gospel of the grace of God to all the world. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-47; I Corinthians 12)
Ordinances
We believe that in the New Testament there are only two ordinances for the church:

Baptism – We believe that Christians should obey their Lord’s command to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To qualify for baptism, one must repent of sin and trust Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. We practice water baptism of the believer by immersion. We will recognize believer’s baptism of other modes.

The Lord’s Supper – The recurring memorial wherein the believer pursuing a right relationship with God partakes of two symbols, the bread and the cup, which symbolizes the Lord’s body and shed blood, proclaiming His death until he returns. (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 6:3-4; I Corinthians 11:20-34; Acts 8:37-38)

The Church and State
We believe in the entire separation of church and state. (Matthew 22:21)

CLCC Purpose:

1. Worship – The ultimate intent of all things done by the body of Christ is to worship God. It is this purpose which takes priority over all other functions in the church, but not to their exclusion. (Psalm 146)

2. Teaching – The local church is responsible for the building up of itself in love by the presentation of God’s Word. God’s Word is the authority in all matters concerning life, faith, practice and preparation of God’s people for service. (Ephesians 4: 11-16 ; 2Timothy 3: 16)

3. Fellowship – Fellowship is expressing the common bond of life in the Holy Spirit. It is expressed through mutual caring for one another under the direction and authority of Jesus Christ. (1Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10: 24-25)

4. Evangelism – The task of the local church and its individual members is to reach and disciple the lost, locally and around the world, with the message of salvation, offered by God, through Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28: 18-20; Acts 1:8)