Statement of Beliefs – CrossBridge Baptist Church

We believe that every word in the original manuscripts of the Holy Scriptures is inspired by God; complete, unified, and without error. (Matthew 5:18; II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21)

We believe, therefore, that it is the final standard of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ and for His body of believers.
God– We believe in an eternal and personal God existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one in God. He is the Sovereign Creator. (Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19, John 4:24; II Corinthians 13:14)
Jesus– We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son (John 3:16) and our sole mediator (I Timothy 2:5). We believe in His pre-existence (John 1:1), His incarnation (John 1:1-14), His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23-25), His substitutionary atonement (Romans 3:23-25), His bodily resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:24-27), His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Acts 1:9-11), and his bodily return from heaven (Titus 2:13).
Holy Spirit– We believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, and seals all believers who are yielded to God (Matthew 28:19; John 3:3-7, Romans 8:9, I Corinthians 2:12, 6:19; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:6).
Man and Sin- We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned in Adam, and that he is now a sinner by nature and by choice, yet remains the essence of God’s image in his fallenness (Genesis 1:26-27, 3:1-6; Romans 5:12-14; James 3-9).
Salvation– We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from human merit, works, or ceremonies (Acts 4:12, 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Baptism– We believe in the immersion of a professed believer in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, Lord, and Master. It is to be performed under the authority of the body. Baptism is not to be considered necessary to, or a part of, one’s salvation but is a first step of obedience after one’s salvation. It is representative of the death and burial to the old life, and resurrection into one’s new life in Christ. (Matthew 3:13-17; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12).
Church– We believe that the church is the spiritual body of which Christ is the Head, and that there is a twofold aspect to the church: the universal and the local (Ephesians 1:22-23; Philippians 2:1; Thessalonians 2:13-14).
Lord’s Supper– We believe this is a sacred act instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ to commemorate and call to remembrance His death until He comes again. It is never to be practiced without the authority of the body, and is never to be considered a sacrament or a necessity for one’s salvation. This body shall observe the Lord’s Supper in a manner normally referred to as open communion. (Matthew 26; 26-30; I Corinthians 11:23-29).
Stewardship– We believe that God is the source of all blessings temporal and spiritual. All that we have and are, we owe to Him. We believe Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. We believe, therefore, we are under obligation to serve Him with our time, talent, and material possessions, and recognize all these are entrusted to us to use for the glory of God, and for helping others. We believe the Scriptures teach that Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth (Genesis 14:20; Malachi 3:8-10; Acts 2:44-47, 4:33-37; 5:1-11; II Corinthians 9:6-7).
Resurrection and Judgements – We believe in the resurrection of the human body, the eternal existence of all men, in either heaven or hell; in divine judgments, rewards, and punishments (John 5:25-29, 11:25-29; I Corinthians 15:51-57; II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15).
Great Commission– We believe that Christ sends believers into the world as the Father sent him. Those so sent are to go and make disciples, and to make Christ known to the world. (Matthew 28:18-20; John 15:8, 17:18, 20:21; II Corinthians 5:20).