Our Statement of Faith is not intended to be all-inclusive regarding everything we believe but instead is intended to highlight the core beliefs of Crosswater.  As the core beliefs of Crosswater, it should be known that we will preach, teach and counsel according to these beliefs/convictions. This Statement of Faith is intended to preserve the function and integrity of Crosswater Community Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Crosswater Community Church members and community.  It is with that intention that we share the following statements of faith

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 has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (John 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)

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 28:19; John 1:1-4; 1 John 5:7)

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 men, that He hears and answers prayer, that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-17, 4:24, 17:5)

We believe in Jesus Christ as God, the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth as a human being, 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 7:14; John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-11; I Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Hebrews 1:2, 3; I John 1:7; Isaiah 52:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24)

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 (restore and renew), sanctify (to make holy), and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit lives in every believer in Christ and that He is a faithful Helper, Teacher and Guide. (John 16:7-15; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 1:13-14; John 14:26)

We believe that all men are sinners by nature and choice. Therefore, they are under judgment. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12, 13, 3:16-18; Acts 20:21; Ephesians 2:1-9; Titus 3:5)

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. (Matthew 16:16-18; Acts 2:38-41; Ephesians 2:19, 22, 5:25-27)

We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and well-being of his fellow man; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full measure of maturity in Christ. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-16, Philippians 2:14-16; Colossians 3:17-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18, Mark 12:29-31, Matthew 28:16-20)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and communion (or the LORD’s supper). We believe that Christian baptism is a public declaration of faith Jesus Christ and inclusion in His body by the immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, signifying death to self and new life in CHRIST. Communion is remembering the sacrifice of JESUS by eating broken bread and drinking juice, at this time we also remember GOD’s faithful covenant to us. The bread represents JESUS’ body and the juice HIS blood, shed for the sin of mankind. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41, 42; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32)

We believe that every human being has direct relations with God and is responsible to God in all matters of faith. Each church is independent and must be free from interference by an ecclesiastical or political authority. JESUS is our true and only King and LORD. (Acts 5:29-32, 1 Timothy 6:11-16, Revelation 19:11-16)

We believe that local churches can promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or 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, likewise, cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis. (Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 12-13)

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 joy of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:18, 29; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:1-15)

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female.  These two distinct, complementary genders, together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26-27).  Rejection of one’s biological gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning; the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in scripture (Genesis 2:18-25).  We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Corinthians 6:18, 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4).  We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including; adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs.  The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning, truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.