What We Believe
The
program and activities governing the conduct of CHRISTIAN FAMILY CHURCH
INTERNATIONAL are based upon, and at all times shall be consistent with, the
following creed and beliefs:
1. THE SCRIPTURES:
The Bible is the inspired word of God, the product of Holy Men of old who
spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant as
recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters
pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (II Tim. 3:16. I Thess.2:13, II
Peter1:21).
2. THE GODHEAD:
Our God is One, but manifested in three persons, the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit, being co-equal.
God the Father is greater than all, the Source of the Word (Logos) and the
Begetter (John 14:28 , John 16:28 , John 1:14 ).
The Son is the Word of flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with
the Father from the beginning (John 1:1, John 1:18 , John 1:14 ).
The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is
eternal (John 15:16 ).
3. MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION:
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through
Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. "All have sinned
and come short of the glory of God." "As it is written, there is none
righteous, no not one." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to
undo the work of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem
and restore man back to God. Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:10, John
3:8).
Salvation is a gift from God to man, separate from the works and the law,
and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing
works acceptable to God. (Ephesians 2:18).
4. ETERNAL LIFE AND NEW BIRTH:
Man's first step toward salvation is Godly sorrow that worketh repentance.
The new birth is necessary to all men, and when fulfilled, produces eternal
life. (II Cor.7:10, I John 5:12, John 3:3-5).
5. WATER BAPTISM:
Baptism in water is by immersion and is a direct commandment of our Lord,
and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's
identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. (Matt.
28:19, Romans 6:4, Col. 2:12, Acts 8:36 -39).
The following recommendation regarding the Water Baptismal formula is
adopted, to wit:
"On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
and by His authority, I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen."
6. BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Fire is a gift from God as promised by
the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received
subsequent to the new birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial
evidence of the speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit himself gives
utterance. (Matt.3: 11, John 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, Acts 2: 38-39, Acts
19:1-7, Acts 2:4).
7. SANCTIFICATION:
The Bible teaches that without Holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe
in the doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of
grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the
consummation of Salvation. (Heb.12:14, I Thess. 5:23, II Peter 3:18, II Cor.
3:18, Phil. 3:12-14, I Cor. 1:30).
8. DIVINE HEALING:
Healing is for physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power
of God through the prayer of faith, of the laying on of hands. It is
provided for in Christ's redemption for us, and it is the privilege of every
member of the church today. (Mark 16:18, James 5:14-15, I Peter 2:24, Matt.
8:17, Isa. 53:4-5).
9. RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN
OF OUR LORD:
The angels said, "This same Jesus shall so come in like manner." His coming
is imminent. When He comes, "The dead in Christ shall rise first; then we
which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." (Acts1: 1-11, I Thess. 4:16-17).
10. HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION:
The one who physically dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly and
eternally lost in the lake of fire and, therefore, has no further
opportunity of hearing the Gospel or for repentance. The lake of fire is
literal. The terms ?eternal? and ?everlasting? used in describing the
duration of the punishment of the damned in the lake of fire, carry the same
thought and meaning of endless existence as used in noting the duration of
joy and ecstasy in the saints in the presence of God. (Heb 9:27, Rev
19:20).
11. THE ORDINANCE OF THE LORD?S SUPPER:
The ordinance of the Lord's Supper shall be observed regularly as enjoined
in the Scriptures (Luke 22:19-20, I Cor. 11:23-26).