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Articles of Faith
Palo Cedro Community Church
Revision May 2016

WE PROCLAIM:

1. OF GOD THE TRUE GOD:

WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ONE AND ONLY ONE LIVING AND TRUE GOD.  WHO IS AN INFINITE SPIRIT, AND THE MAKER AND SUPREME RULER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. HE IS INEXPRESSIBLY GLORIOUS IN HOLINESS, AND WORTHY OF ALL POSSIBLE HONOR, CONFIDENCE AND LOVE; THAT IN THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD (“THE TRINITY”), THERE ARE THREE PERSONS, THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. THEY ARE EQUAL IN EVERY DIVINE PERFECTION, AND EXECUTING DISTINCT BUT HARMONIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE GREAT WORK OF REDEMPTION.  (EXODUS 20:2,3; 1 CORINTHIANS 8:6; REVELATION 4:11; 1 JOHN 5:7)

1. OF GOD THE FATHER:

WE BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER, THE PERSON WHO ORDERS AND DISPOSES ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSES AND GRACE.  HE IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS.  AS THE ONLY ABSOLUTE AND OMNIPOTENT RULER IN THE UNIVERSE, HE IS SOVEREIGN IN CREATION, PROVIDENCE, AND REDEMPTION.  HE HAS DECREED FOR HIS OWN GLORY ALL THINGS THAT COME TO PASS.  HE CONTINUALLY UPHOLDS, DIRECTS, AND GOVERNS ALL CREATURES AND EVENTS.  THIS HE DOES SO AS IN NO WAY TO BE THE AUTHOR OR APPROVER OF SIN OR TO REMOVE THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF MORALLY INTELLIGENT CREATURES. (GENESIS 1:31; PSALM 29:4; PSALM 115:3; EPHESIANS 1:11-13; PSALM 55:22; HEBREWS 1:3; HABAKKUK 1:13; JAMES 1:13-15)

1. OF GOD THE SON, (JESUS):

WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE CHRIST, IS A DIVINE PERSON, OF THE SAME NATURE AS GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.  THE UNIQUE SON OF GOD THAT HE IS ETERNAL SPIRIT WHO WAS MADE INCARNATE (IN THE FLESH), BY BEING BEGOTTEN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE VIRGIN, MARY.  HE IS BOTH GOD THE SON AND THE SON OF GOD AND IS THE EXPRESSION OF GOD’S LOVE FOR HUMANITY.  HE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD; ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND NOW SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER AS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST. (GENESIS 3:15; ISAIAH 7:14; MATTHEW 1:18-25; LUKE 1:35; JOHN 1:4; MATTHEW 28:6-7; 1ST CORINTHIANS 15:4; LUKE 24:51; LUKE 22:69; EPH 1:20; HEBREWS 2:17)

1. OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT:

WE BELIEVE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A DIVINE PERSON, WITH GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE SON. THEY ARE OF THE SAME NATURE. WE BELIEVE THAT HE WAS ACTIVE IN THE CREATION; THAT HE CONVICTS THE UNBELIEVING WORLD OF SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND OF JUDGMENT. HE BEARS WITNESS TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL IN PREACHING AND TESTIMONY. HE IS THE AGENT IN THE “NEW BIRTH” AND THAT HE SEALS, ENDUES, GUIDES, TEACHES, WITNESSES, SANCTIFIES, AND HELPS THE BELIEVER. WE BELIEVE THAT HE RESTRAINS THE EVIL ONE UNTIL GOD’S PURPOSE IS FULFILLED. (JOHN 14:16; MATTHEW 28:19; HEBREWS 9:14; LUKE 1:35; GENESIS 1:1-3; JOHN 16:8-11, 14:26; ACTS 5:30-32; JOHN 3:5-6; EPHESIANS 1:13-14; MARK 1:8; JOHN 1:33; ACTS 11:16; LUKE 24:49; ROMANS 8:14, 16, 26-27)

 

 

1. OF THE SCRIPTURES:

WE BELIEVE THAT THE HOLY BIBLE AS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN, WAS VERBALLY INSPIRED AND THE PRODUCT OF SPIRIT INSPIRED WRITERS AND THEREFORE IS INERRANT IN ALL THAT IT TEACHES.  WE BELIEVE CHRIST JESUS TO BE THE TRUE CENTER OF CHRISTIAN UNION AND THE BIBLE TO BE THE SUPREME STANDARD BY WHICH ALL HUMAN CONDUCT, CREEDS, AND OPINIONS SHALL BE TRIED.    (2ND TIMOTHY 3:16-17; 2ND PETER 1:19-21)

1. OF THE LOCAL CHURCH:

WE BELIEVE THAT A LOCAL CHURCH IS A CONGREGATION OF BAPTIZED BELIEVERS, ASSOCIATED BY A COVENANT OF FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL; OBSERVING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF CHRIST; GOVERNED BY HIS TRUTHS; AND EXERCISING THE GIFTS, RIGHTS, AND PRIVILEGES INVESTED IN THEM BY HIS WORD; THAT ITS OVERSEERS ARE THOSE WHOSE QUALIFICATION AND DUTIES ARE DEFINED IN THE SCRIPTURES.

WE BELIEVE THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS THE FAITHFUL WITNESSING OF CHRIST TO ALL PERSONS AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY.  WE HOLD THAT THE LOCAL CHURCH HAS THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT OF SELF-GOVERNMENT FREE FROM THE INTERFERENCE OF ANY HIERARCHY OF INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE ONE AND ONLY AUTHORITY IS CHRIST, THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. THAT IT IS SCRIPTURAL FOR TRUE CHURCHES TO COOPERATE WITH EACH OTHER IN CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH AND FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL. AND BEING GUIDED BY SCRIPTURE THAT EACH LOCAL CHURCH IS THE KEEPER OF THE MEASURE AND METHOD OF ITS COOPERATION ON ALL MATTERS OF MEMBERSHIP, POLICY, GOVERNMENT, DISCIPLINE, AND BENEVOLENCE. (ACTS 2:41-42, 15:13-18, 20:17-28; 1ST CORINTHIANS 11:2; EPHESIANS 1:22-24, 4:11, 5:23-24; 1ST TIMOTHY 3:17; COLOSSIANS 1:18)

1. OF THE CREATION:

WE ACCEPT THE GENESIS ACCOUNT OF THE CREATION AND BELIEVE THAT MANKIND CAME BY DIRECT CREATION OF GOD. (GENESIS 1-2; COLOSSIANS 1:16-17; JOHN 1:3)

1. OF THE FALL OF MAN:

WE BELIEVE THAT MANKIND WAS CREATED IN INNOCENCE TO WALK IN THE LOVE OF THEIR CREATOR; BUT VOLUNTARILY ABANDONED GOD’S LOVE AND FELL FROM THEIR SINLESS AND HAPPY STATE.THE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT ALL OF MANKIND ARE SINNERS, NOT ONLY FROM THE NATURE OF ADAM BUT ALSO BY INDIVIDUAL CHOICE, AND THEREFORE, UNDER JUST CONDEMNATION WITHOUT DEFENSE OR EXCUSE. (GENESIS 3:16; ROMANS 5:9-10, 12; 1:18, 32)

 

1. OF FAITH AND SALVATION:

WE BELIEVE THAT FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY CONDITION OF SALVATION.

1. OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN:

WE BELIEVE THAT THE SALVATION OF SINNERS IS WHOLLY OF GRACE, THROUGH THE MEDIATORIAL WORK OF THE SON OF GOD, JESUS, WHO BY APPOINTMENT OF THE FATHER, FREELY TOOK UPON HIMSELF OUR NATURE, YET WITHOUT SIN, HONORED THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD BY HIS PERSONAL OBEDIENCE AND BY HIS DEATH MADE A FULL AND VICARIOUS ATONEMENT FOR OUR SINS.  HIS ATONEMENT CONSISTED NOT IN SETTING FOR US AN EXAMPLE BY HIS DEATH AS A MARTYR, BUT AS A VOLUNTARY SUBSTITUTION OF HIMSELF IN THE SINNER’S PLACE; BEARING IN HIS OWN BODY OUR SIN, AND THAT HAVING RISEN FROM THE DEAD HE IS NOW ENTHRONED IN HEAVEN AN ALL SUFFICIENT SAVIOR, UNITING TO HIMSELF ALL THOSE WHO ACCEPT HIS ATONING WORK AND ENTER INTO HIS LOVE. (EPHESIANS 2:8; ACTS 15:11; ROMANS 3:24-25; JOHN 3:16; MATTHEW 18:11; PHILIPPIANS 2:7; HEBREWS 2:14; ISAIAH 53:4-7; 1 JOHN 4:10; 1ST CORINTHIANS 15:3; 2ND CORINTHIANS 5:21)

1.  OF JUSTIFICATION:

WE BELIEVE THAT THE GREAT GOSPEL BLESSING WHICH CHRIST SECURES TO THEM WHO BELIEVE IN HIM IS JUSTIFICATION.

1. THAT JUSTIFICATION INCLUDES THE PARDON OF SIN; THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE BASED ON TRUTH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

2. THAT IT IS CERTAIN, NOT IN CONSIDERATION OF ANY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT SOLELY THROUGH FAITH IN THE REDEEMER’S DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION WHEREIN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS IMPUTED TO US.(ACTS 13:39; ISAIAH 53:11; ZECHARIAH 13:11; ROMANS 8:1, 5:9, 5:1)

1.  OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION:

WE BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO BE SAVED, SINNERS MUST BE “BORN AGAIN”.  THAT THE NEW BIRTH IS A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST JESUS; THAT IT IS INSTANTANEOUS AND NOT A PROCESS. WE BELIEVE THAT IN THE NEW BIRTH, THE ONE DEAD IN SIN IS MADE A PARTAKER OF THE DIVINE NATURE AND RECEIVES ETERNAL LIFE.  THIS IS A FREE GIFT FROM GOD.  THE NEWLY CREATED PERSON IS BROUGHT ABOUT IN A MANNER ABOVE OUR UNDERSTANDING, SOLELY BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONNECTION WITH DIVINE TRUTH SO AS TO SECURE OUR VOLUNTARY OBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL; THAT IT’S PROPER EVIDENCE APPEARS IN THE REPENTANCE OF SIN AND NEWNESS OF LIFE AS EXHIBITED BY THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. (GALATIANS 5:22-23; 1ST CORINTHIANS 13:4-8; 2ND CORINTHIANS 5:17-19; 1 JOHN 3:6-7, 5:1; ACTS 16:30-33; 2ND PETER 1:4; ROMANS 6:23; EPHESIANS 2:1; JOHN 3, 8; COLOSSIANS 2:13)

1.  OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

WE BELIEVE THAT THE CHRISTIAN BAPTISM IS THE IMMERSION OF A BELIEVER IN WATER TO SHOW FORTH IN A SOLEMN AND BEAUTIFUL SYMBOL OUR FAITH IN THE CRUCIFIED, BURIED, AND RISEN SAVIOR WITH ITS SYMBOLIC STATEMENT OF OUR DEATH AND RESURRECTION TO NEW LIFE; THAT IT IS A VITAL PART OF A BELIEVER’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH.

WE BELIEVER THAT “THE LORD’S SUPPER” IS THE COMMEMORATION OF HIS DEATH AND IS TO BE PRACTICED UNTIL HIS RETURN.  THIS SHOULD ALWAYS BE PRECEDED BY SOLEMN CONFESSION AND SELF-EXAMINATION. (ACTS 8:26-39; JOHN 3:23; ROMANS 6:2-5; MATTHEW 3:16; COLOSSIANS 2:12; 1ST CORINTHIANS 11:23-28)

1.  MARRIAGE

WE BELIEVE THAT MARRIAGE AS IT IS WAS CREATED AND ORDAINED BY GOD CONSISTS OF ONE GENETIC MAN AND ONE GENETIC WOMAN ENTERING INTO THE MARITAL BOND FOR A LIFETIME COMMITMENT.A CIVIL GOVERNMENTS SANCTION OF A UNION WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS A LEGITIMATE MARRIAGE BY THIS CHURCH ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE AS STATED ABOVE.THEREFORE, PASTORS AND LEADERS WILL NOT PERFORM ANY MARRIAGE BETWEEN TWO INDIVIDUALS OF THE SAME SEX, NOR WILL IT RECOGNIZE ANY UNIONS OTHER THAN THOSE STATED ABOVE SHOULD LAWS BE PASSED TO THE CONTRARY.(GEN. 2:24)