WHAT WE BELIEVE

THEOLOGY

We as elders and leaders of Cross+Crown Church believe that there are both open-handed issues and closed-handed issues in matters of theology. We affirm the eloquent words of the German theologian Rupertus Meldenius, "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty; in all things love.” For us, the following are essential.

FUNDAMENTALS

TRINITY

There is one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; co-eternal in being, co-eternal in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

In the words of the Athanasian Creed, “we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal.”

DEITY OF CHRIST

The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (John 1:1-2; John 1:14; Luke 1:35).

SALVATION BY GRACE

Salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. This salvation is not by works but by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross in our place for our sin (Ephesians 2:8–10, John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19).

INERRANCY AND AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE

The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13).

RETURN OF CHRIST TO RULE, REIGN AND JUDGE

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry as Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1–2). We believe Jesus is coming again to rule, reign and judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5; Romans 14:9; 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 19:15-16).

dOCTRINAL DISTINCTIVES

GOSPEL CENTRALITY

The Gospel is the good news that God saves sinners, not based on anything they have done or could ever do, but solely based on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, where he suffered and died in our place for our sins.

Jesus’ sinless life, sacrificial death and bodily resurrection, won the victory over Satan, sin and death, and purchased our forgiveness from sin and justification before God. Because of Christ’s death, we can have life; because of his resurrection, we have hope for eternal life.

We believe salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. This truth has implications for all of life and must be central to our proclamation, our lives and everything we do at Cross & Crown Church. As has been rightly stated “This gospel is not proclaimed if Christ’s penal substitutionary death and bodily resurrection are not central to our message.”

At Cross & Crown we believe that the scripture teaches that we have been saved (Justification); we are being saved (Sanctification); and we will be saved (Glorification). Therefore, the Gospel is not only the means by which people are saved, but also the truth and power by which people are sanctified; it is the truth of the Gospel that enables us to genuinely and joyfully do what is pleasing to God and to grow in progressive conformity to the image of Christ, and the hope for eternal life.

(Mark 1:1; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:16-18; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:2; 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 9:13; Galatians 1:6-9; Ephesians 1: 7-10; Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 1: 19-20; 2 Timothy 1:8-14; 2 Peter 3: 11-13 Jude 3-4; Revelation 21-22)

CONCERNING SALVATION

We believe in the sovereignty of God’s grace in salvation. We believe that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, not on the basis of foreseen faith but unconditionally, according to his sovereign good pleasure and will.

We believe that through the work of the Holy Spirit, God will draw the elect to faith in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, graciously and effectually overcoming their stubborn resistance to the gospel so that they will most assuredly and willingly believe.

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37–40, 10:27–30; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4–8; 1 Peter 1:5). We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word which clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11–15).

We believe that God’s sovereignty in this salvation neither diminishes the responsibility of people to believe in Christ nor marginalizes the necessity and power of prayer and evangelism, but rather reinforces and establishes them as the ordained means by which God accomplishes his ordained ends.

(John 1:12-13; 6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 13:48; 16:30-31; Romans 3-4; 8:1-17,31-39; 9:1-23; 10:8-10; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7; 1 John 1:7,9)

SPIRIT EMPOWERED MINISTRY

We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. We believe that the Holy Spirit empowers believers for life and ministry.

The Spirit permanently indwells, graciously sanctifies, lovingly leads, and empowers all who are brought to faith in Christ so that they might live in obedience to the inerrant Scriptures.

Jesus Christ modeled a Holy Spirit dependent and empowered life. The Holy Spirit who indwelt and empowered Christ, indwells and empowers believers through spiritual gifts he has bestowed for the work of ministry and the building up of the body of Christ. Although there are different understandings of the nature and function of these gifts, we all recognize that they are divine provisions central to spiritual growth and effective ministry and are to be eagerly desired, faithfully developed and lovingly exercised according to biblical guidelines.

(Matthew 3:11; 12:28; Luke 4:1, 14; 5:17; 10:21; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15, 34; 14:12; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Acts 2:14-21; 4:29-30; 10:38; Romans 8:9; 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-13; 12:28-31; 14:1-33; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 3:1-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18)

COMPLEMENTARIAN RELATIONSHIPS

We believe in the fundamental spiritual and moral equality of male and female. We believe men and women are created in the image of God and possess equal dignity, value and worth and have equal access to God through faith in Christ. Men and women are together the recipients of spiritual gifts designed to empower them for ministry in the local church and beyond. Therefore, both men and women are to be encouraged, equipped and empowered to use their gifting in ministry, in service to the body of Christ, and through teaching in ways that are consistent with the Word of God.

Both husbands and wives are responsible to God for spiritual nurturing and vitality in the home, but God has given to the man primary responsibility to lead his wife and family in accordance with the servant-leadership and sacrificial love modeled by Jesus Christ. This principle of male headship should not be confused with, nor give any hint of, domineering control. Rather, it is to be the loving, tender and nurturing care of a godly man who is himself under the kind and gentle authority of Jesus Christ.

The Elders and Pastors of each local church have been granted authority under the headship of Jesus Christ to provide oversight and to teach and preach the Word of God in corporate assembly for the building up of the body. The offices of Elders and Pastors are restricted to men.

(Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18; Acts 18:24-26; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-7; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7)

THE MISSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

We believe that the mission of God has to be carried out by the local church. God himself became a missionary in Jesus Christ, entering our world, drawing near to rescue us. Likewise the local church and its members have a responsibility to embrace and pursue that missional responsibility; living as a sent people and ambassadors of Christ bringing the message of the Gospel to the world around them. Members of the local church must be missionaries where they live, where they work, where they play, and where they learn. We believe in the priesthood of all believers, carrying out the ministry of reconciliation.

Scripture gives a mandate to go into all the world and preach the Gospel; therefore, mission is not an optional program in the church but an essential element of the identity of the church.

(Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 10:5-25; 28:18-20; Luke 4:18-19; 24:46-47; Acts 28:31; Romans 10:14-15; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Galatians 2:10; Ephesians 3:10; 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10)