After nearly 2 years of prayer, study and hard work, we have written a Statement of Faith, which represents the fundamental beliefs and values of our church.  It was approved by a vote of our congregation on Sunday, April 14.   We’ve included it on a post so as to give everyone an opportunity to understand what we hold to as the people of God and what draws us together as a local congregation.   The new Statement will be posted else where on our website with proof texts available. Center Hill Community Church Statement of Faith It has been the practice of Christian churches for centuries to declare fundamental beliefs in creeds, confessionals and statements of faith. We as a local congregation, by virtue of being drawn together by a common purpose and certain beliefs, do set forth the following cornerstones of truth as our Statement of Faith. It is our intention that all who wish to join in membership in this local congregation agree with this statement and thereby place themselves under responsibility to believe and live in accordance with it.  1. One True God – We believe that there is one living and true God, holy, infinitely perfect, eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit; having limitless knowledge, sovereign power and bringing about all things for His glory.  2. Scriptures – We believe that the Scriptures were inspired by God, written by human authors and are without error in their original manuscripts. The Bible is a heavenly treasure of perfect instruction which will never lead us astray, is the ultimate authority for all matters of faith and godliness; and by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. 3. Condition of man – We believe that God created man sinless in His image, but he disobeyed God when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, all human beings are spiritually dead and sinners both by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Being in such state, condemns man to separation from God both now and in eternal torment. Man’s only hope from this condition is for God to provide a way of salvation. 4. Salvation – We believe salvation is the gracious provision of God, according to which He chooses, regenerates, justifies and glorifies sinners. It is the glorious gift and sovereign work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Man must repent of his sin and believe by placing his trust in the person and the finished work of Jesus Christ who provided the way of salvation by his substitutionary death on the cross. His death satisfied God’s demand of a perfect sacrifice as the only payment for man’s sin. Christ living a sinless life fulfilled the requirements of God’s law thereby providing the only acceptable sacrifice for all who believe. All who truly repent and believe are saved and will endure in their faith and deeds to the end. Salvation is the glorious display of God’s sovereign grace and excludes our boasting and demands our humility. 5. Christian Walk – We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow men; this walk in holiness is progressive, leading us to ever-increasing Christ-likeness, and can only be accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit. It is man’s responsibility to study God’s Word and obey it. This obedient walk involves a high commitment to a local body of believers, identification with Christ through believer’s baptism and regular fellowship in the Lord’s Supper.  6. The Church – We believe the Church is comprised of all who have been justified by God’s grace. Its mission is to disciple people from unbelief to spiritual maturity in Jesus Christ. All of the endeavors of the local church, including the administration of the ordinances of believer’s baptism and the Lord’s supper, are to be guided by multiple leadership and supported by the wise stewardship of God’s people.  7. Christ’s return – We believe in the personal and bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ at a time known only to God the Father. God will raise the dead from the grave and bring all to judgment, believers unto eternal jubilation and unbelievers unto eternal torment. His return demands our constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates us to energetic Christ-likeness. As adopted and approved by membership of Center Hill Community Church on April 14, 2013 soli deo gloria