STATEMENT OF FAITH

XICF DOCTRINAL STATEMENT


GOD

We believe there is one God, existing eternally in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and possessing the same attributes and perfections (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).


JESUS CHRIST

We believe that Jesus Christ is God (1). We believe in: His virgin birth (2, 3); His sinless life (4, 5); His miracles (6); His vicarious and atoning death (7, 8, 9); His resurrection (10, 11); His public return to earth in power and glory (12, 13).


THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, dwells in every true believer (1, 2). We believe that the Holy Spirit seals and dwells in every believer, spiritually uniting them with one another (3, 4). We believe the Holy Spirit enables the trusting, obedient believer to live a godly life (5, 6, 7, 8) and continues to endow believers with gifts for the purpose of building up the body, for the common good, just as He wills (9).


THE SCRIPTURES

We believe the Bible is the final authority in faith and life. It has been written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (1, 2, 3).


THE CONDITION OF MAN

We believe that, within himself, man is incapable of redeeming himself from his lost and depraved condition (1, 2, 3).


SIN

We believe that God’s eternal Son, Jesus Christ, became man, without ceasing to be God, in order to reveal God and redeem sinful man. We believe Christ voluntarily offered Himself as our sacrificial substitute on the cross, satisfying God’s righteous judgment against sin. We believe God’s only provision for our sin is Christ’s death on our behalf, through which God reconciles us to Himself (1, 2, 3, 4).


SALVATION

We believe that salvation from the penalty of sin is a gift of God’s grace and is provided on the single ground of trust in God’s work on the cross. All who trust Christ in this way are forgiven of their sins and born into God’s family by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Saved people will naturally engage in good works, which are an intrinsic part of the believer’s life (6, 7, 8).

THE CHURCH

We believe that the church, called in Scripture the “Body of Christ,” is a spiritual organism and that every true believer is a member of His Body. We also believe that Scripture affirms the establishment and continuation of local churches, groups of Christian believers called together for worship, instruction, fellowship and service. True membership of the church comes only through the work of the Spirit (1, 2, 3, 4).

ETERNAL STATE

Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, in eternal separation from God. Those credited with righteousness by having accepted salvation and having their names written in the book of Life will receive resurrected and glorified bodies. They will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9).