Statement of Faith

The following is a summary of the doctrinal statement of Community Baptist Church of Oshawa.

The Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scripture (the Authorized Version of the Holy Bible) is inspired in all parts and therefore wholly without error and is the preserved Word of God. It is inspired, infallible, inerrant, indestructible and are the very words of God. It is altogether sufficient in itself as our only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice. We will not and cannot use any other version apart from the KJV ( Ps. 119:160; Prov. 30:5; II Tim. 3:16,17; II Peter 1:19-21 ).

The One True God

We believe in the One True God who is an intelligent, sovereign, spiritual and personal Being. He is perfect, infinite, and eternal in His being, holiness and love, wisdom and power. God is absolutely separate from and above the world as its Creator yet everywhere present in the world as the Upholder of all things. He is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three distinct persons but without division of nature and essence of being, each having a distinct ministry in God’s relation to His creation and people.

The Lord Jesus Christ

We believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ; that He alone is the Head of the Body of Christ, into which all true believers are immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit; that all members of this one spiritual body should assemble and identify themselves in local churches (I Cor.12:13; Eph. 1:22,23; 4:11-15; Gal.1:22).

We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who is the second Person of the Triune God, the eternal Word and Only Begotten Son; that without any change in His divine Person, He became man by miracle of the Virgin Birth, thus to continue forever as both true God and True Man, one Person with two natures; that as Man He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin; that as the perfect Lamb of God He gave Himself in death upon the cross, bearing there the sin of the world, and suffering its full penalty of divine wrath in our stead; that He arose from the grave in a glorified body; that as our great High Priest He ascended into Heaven, there to appear before the face of God as our Advocate and Intercessor. (Jn. 1: 14; 3: 16; Matt. 1: 18-25; Gal. 4:4,5; Phil. 2:6-10; I Cor. 15:3-7; Heb. 4:14-16; I Jn. 2:1,2).

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit who is the Third Person of the Trinity, and the Divine Agent in nature, revelation and redemption; that He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment; that He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, seals and anoints all who become children of God through Christ; that He further empowers, guides, teaches, sanctifies and fills believers who daily surrender to Him.

The 2nd Coming of Christ

We believe that the end of the age of Grace is approaching. I believe in the imminent, personal, pre-tribulation, pre-millennial, Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We believe that Christ will return in the air for His Bride, the Church, at the event known as the Rapture. We believe that at His coming He will take the Church to the Judgment Seat of Christ, while upon the earth God’s righteous judgment will be poured out (the Tribulation). At the close of the Tribulation, Christ will return personally and visibly with His church to the earth (the Revelation) to establish His glorious and literal Kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years (the Millennium). At the end of the Millennium, the judgment of sinners takes place (The Great White Throne Judgment) (Titus 2:13; I Thess. 4:13-18; Rom. 14:10; II Cor 5:10; Rev. 19:7-14; Acts 1:11; Jude 14; Rev. 20:1-7; II Peter 3:7; Rev. 20:10-15; Rev. 21:1-3).

Life after Death

We believe in future life, bodily resurrection and eternal judgment; that the spirits of the saved at death go immediately to be with Christ in Heaven; that their works shall be brought before the Judgment Seat of Christ for the determination of rewards which will take place at the time when Christ comes for His own; that the spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately into Hell where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment (Great White Throne Judgment), at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave; that they shall be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire, the place of final and everlasting punishment (I Cor. 15; II Cor. 5:8-10; Luke 16:19-23; Rev. 20:11-15).

Separation of Church & State

We believe in the separation of Church and State, with each having definite and distinct spheres of responsibility. I believe that the civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of human society and that magistrates are to be prayed for and conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our only Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of conscience and the Prince of the Kings of the earth (Rom. 13: 1-7; Matt. 22:21; Acts 5 :29; Matt. 23: 10).

The Church and State must be separate. The State owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom, no ecclesiastical spiritual group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. The church must not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The Gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends.

Priesthood of Believers

We believe in the Priesthood of all believers; that Christ is our Great High Priest and through Him every born-again person has direct access into God’s presence without the need of a human priest; that the believer has the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Scriptures, guided by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:6; Heb. 4:16; II Tim. 2:15; I Peter 2:1,5,9).

Two Ordinances

We believe Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believers death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in the newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. As a Church Ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church and other church members of like faith through partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine, memorialize the dying love of Christ and anticipate His Second Coming. The partaking is to be preceded always by solemn self-examination (Matt. 3:13-17; Jn. 3:22-23; Acts 2:41-42; Rom. 6:3-5; I Cor. 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Col. 2:12).

The Lords Day

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and by refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from secular employments–works of necessity and mercy only being excepted (Matt. 12:1-2; 28:1; Mark 16:1-7; Luke 23:1-3, 33,36; Jn. 4:21-24; 19:28; Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:1-2; Col. 2:16; 3:16; Rev. 1:10).

Local Church

We believe in the importance of the local church, that a New Testament Church is a local assembly of born-again baptized believers united in organization to practice New Testament ordinances, to meet together for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching and a united testimony, and to actively engage in carrying out the Great Commission (Acts 2:41,42; I Cor. 11:2; Matt. 28:19,20).

Autonomy of the Local Church

We believe in the independence and autonomy of the local church; that each New Testament Church is free to govern itself without ecclesiastical interference, and should cooperate with other New Testament churches as the Holy Spirit leads; that it is responsible to follow the pattern of the New Testament Church and is directly accountable to God ( Matt. 18:17; Acts 7:1-5; 13:1-3; 15:22,23).

Missions

Because all men everywhere without Christ are lost and bound for the eternal punishment, and because men cannot believe in Him of whom they have not heard, We believe that we are debtors to all men and have the responsibility of giving them the Gospel. Jesus left us the command that we should all be witnesses by life and word to tell all lost men about Christ, and we must support by prayer and financial aid those who go out under sound Baptistic missionary agencies or local churches to represent us in other parts of the world ( Rom. 1:18-20; 10:14; Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15).

Stewardship

We believe that God is the source of all blessings, temporal and Spiritual, and all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtor ship to the whole world, a Holy trusteeship in the Gospel and a binding Stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions, and should recognize that all these are entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should tithe and contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth through the local church ( Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27:2-32; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 6:19-21; Matt. 23:23; 25:1-29; Acts 20-35; Rom. 12:1-2; I Cor.4:1-2; 6:19-20; 16:1-4).

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