Christ Fellowship of Central Arkansas Statement of Faith

     Our statement of faith (SOF) is subservient to the Scriptures. The SOF should never be viewed as having an authority equal to that of the Bible. It is authoritative only in a limited sense, meaning only as far as it accurately reflects the intent of Scripture. The SOF is also not an exhaustive reference of all that Scripture teaches, nor is it necessarily inclusive of all that we teach or all the doctrinal or practical understandings on which our elders (pastors) must collectively agree.  We view it as merely a device to promote, achieve, and maintain doctrinal understanding, purity, and harmony within our fellowship. 

     Additionally, our SOF will be a helpful introduction to the doctrines we will teach, giving you assurance that we will remain solidly biblical in our convictions. Likewise, those convictions are consistent with historical and orthodox creeds and confessions of the past on doctrines about God, man, Christ, and salvation. While we strongly believe that the doctrines set forth in our SOF are an accurate summary of biblical truth, we do not require everyone joining our church to understand and affirm the statement at every point. We would expect dialogue with the prospective member before joining with us to ensure a mutual understanding of those essential doctrines necessary for one’s eternal salvation and an accurate representation of God’s glory.

     Embedded in our statement of faith that follows are five critical Christian doctrines that arose out of the Protestant Reformation.  Those 5 doctrines are listed here for your reference:

1. SOLA SCRIPTURA (SCRIPTURE ALONE)

The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured.

2. SOLA GRATIA (BY GRACE ALONE)

In salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by His grace alone. God’s spontaneous and unmerited favor is granted through the calling and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit who releases us from our willful bondage to sin and enables us to repent and believe in Christ.

3. SOLA FIDE (THROUGH FAITH ALONE)

Justification is by grace alone through faith alone. Justification can never be the reward or result of human works or merit, nor does it grow out of an infusion of Christ’s righteousness.

4. SOLUS CHRISTUS (BECAUSE OF CHRIST ALONE)

Our salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of Christ alone. His sinless life and substitutionary death alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father.

5. SOLI DEO GLORIA (FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ALONE)

God glorifies Himself in all that He does. Therefore, we should acknowledge His highest purpose and live for His glory alone

CFCA STATEMENTS (Scripture references are provided at the end of the SOF)

     1. The Holy Scriptures - God has revealed himself in creation generally, and in His written word specifically. Consisting of the 66 books of the Bible, scripture alone is the final authority in all matters of life and doctrine as it is inerrant and infallible, written under the inspiration of God working through human authors. 

     2. God and the Trinity - There is one true and living God who exists in three eternally distinct persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one in being, united in purpose, and equally worthy of glory and adoration being the same in substance, glory, and power. God is invisible, eternal, omni-present, almighty, all-knowing, unchanging, dependent upon none, sovereign, righteous, holy, just, gracious, loving, merciful, patient, and good. 

     3. Creation - God created all things in 6 days and rested on the 7th. All that God created was good. Out of all living creatures only man was created in Gods image and was granted dominion over all living things. God made Adam perfect, holy, and upright, appointing him as representative head of humankind. 

     4.  The Fall of Adam and Its Effects - Adam fell from his original righteousness into sin when he disobeyed God’s command. By his sinful act, Adam brought all people into a state of death and condemnation, passing to each one of them a corrupt sinful nature. Though no man in outward appearance is as sinful as he could be, yet being under the dominion of sin, man is totally depraved, being unable to respond to God or the commands of God as he was created to do. Until man is born again and made spiritually alive, he possesses neither the desire nor the ability to love God, to keep His laws, to understand the gospel, to repent of sin, or to trust in Christ. 

     5. Christ, His Work and His Righteousness - God sent His Son into the world to save His people from their sins. Conceived of the Holy Spirit and being born of the virgin Mary, Jesus Christ in a single, inseparable person was and is both truly God and truly man. Being the only mediator between God and man, he was tempted in all things yet without sin, living the perfect life of righteousness on behalf of His people.

     6. Atoning Death of Christ - Christ died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin once and for all, forever finishing the substitutionary work of atonement for His people.

     7. Resurrection of Christ - On the third day, Jesus rose bodily from the grave. The resurrection affirms the deity and authority of Christ and assures believers of their future bodily resurrection.

     8. Ascension of Christ - Jesus ascended into heaven to appear in the presence of God as our perpetual High Priest, presenting Himself as the only acceptable sacrifice for sin.  He is the one and only Mediator between God and men, and Head of His church.  He intercedes forever on behalf of His people and rules over all things for their sake.

     9. God’s Election, Calling, And Regeneration- Before the foundation of the world, God elected a great multitude of men and women to eternal life as an act of His free grace alone. This election was in no way dependent upon His foresight of human faith, decision, works, or merit.  To accomplish God’s redemptive purpose in election, the Holy Spirit works effectively through the word of the gospel of Christ, regenerating elect sinners and drawing them irresistibly to repentance and saving faith. 

     10. Role of Human Responsibility - In the unsearchable realm of God’s sovereign will, all remain responsible beings, subject to God’s commands to repent of their sins and turn to Christ in faith to be saved, and if not, they are accountable to God for their rebellion, impenitence, and rejection of Christ.

     11. Justification - The elect are declared righteous in the sight of God because of Christ’s perfect life, His substitutionary death, and the imputation of (being credited with) His righteousness. Justification can never be the reward or result of human works or merit, nor does it grow out of an infusion of Christ’s righteousness. It is granted through faith alone in the person and work of Christ alone.

     12. Progressive Sanctification - According to God’s purpose in predestination, the justified are progressively conformed to the image of Christ.  All true believers direct their will and affections toward this purpose, putting to death the desires and deeds of the flesh by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit as God’s Word is more fully understood and applied. While sinless perfection will never be attained in this life, the direction of the believer’s walk will be towards holiness, and that holiness being the believer’s future certainty when they are glorified in heaven. 

     13. Perseverance - All who are chosen, called, regenerated, and justified shall persevere in faith and never finally fall away. Perseverance in this sense is not a human accomplishment but a work of God through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit who creates, sustains, and nourishes a living, growing, transforming, and enduring faith in all true believers.

     14. Return of Christ - The Lord Jesus Christ shall come again to raise the dead bodily, both righteous and unrighteous. The justified shall enjoy everlasting life in the presence of God in heaven, while the unjustified shall eternally endure God’s wrath in hell. 

     15. The Church and One Another - The local church is a group of believers in the habit of frequently gathering together to share in the life of Christ with one another, to devote themselves to prayer, to holiness, to the breaking of bread and communion, and to the apostolic doctrine found in His written word. As a buttress and pillar of the truth, the church sacrificially proclaims His gospel and makes disciples of all nations. Although Christ shepherds and rules over His church as her singular Head, qualified elders are appointed to shepherd and rule as His subordinates. Qualified deacons may be chosen to assist the elders in serving the body as needed. A necessary fruit of all genuine believers is a love for Christ’s body that overflows into spiritual service to one another in the church. Each member of the church is uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit to edify the body. A local church expression must also recognize and fellowship with the universal body of Christ, in which all genuine believers are a part, being made visible in the form of other true local churches.

     16. Baptism – Baptism is an initial sign of the believer’s fellowship with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and the newness of the believer’s life as Christ’s obedient disciple. Baptism is administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, by way of immersion in water, and only to those who profess repentance towards God and faith in Christ.

     17. The Lord’s Supper – The supper was instituted by the Lord on the night in which he was betrayed and is to be observed regularly by the churches until He comes. By breaking and eating the bread and drinking the cup, believers commemorate the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross. Through the Lord’s Supper, they affirm and celebrate their oneness and equal share in life together, their separation from the world, and their fellowship with Christ in the New Covenant.

     18. The Glory of God in All Things - Christians must live for God’s glory alone through their awareness and enjoyment of His Person, submission to His authority, and reliance upon His goodness.  In truth, all things that have or will transpire, serve to glorify God as their highest purpose.

Appendix: Scripture References

1. The Holy Scriptures

Psalm 119:9; Matthew 4:4; Acts 20:32; Romans 1:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; James 1:21; 2 Peter 1:2-4; 3:15-16; Psalm 19:7-9; 119:160; Proverbs 30:5; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Psalm 138:2; Proverbs 30:6; Galatians 1:8-9; 1 Timothy 1:3; 6:3-5, 20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 John 9-11

2. God and The Trinity

Deuteronomy 4:39; Isaiah 44:6; Matthew 16:15-16; Matthew 28:19; Titus 3:4-6; Matthew 3:16-17
The Father: Matthew 3:16-17; 6:9; John 17:1, 5, 11, 21, 24-25; The Son: Matthew 1:23; 3:16-17; John 1:1, 14; 5:19-23; 8:58 (cf. Exodus 3:14); John 10:31-33; 17:1, 5, 11, 21, 25; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:5-6; Colossians 2:9; Titus 2:13; 3:4, 6 (cf. Isaiah 43:11; 45:21); Hebrews 1:1-4; 2 Peter 1:1; The Holy Spirit: Matthew 1:18 (cf. Luke 1:35); John 14:16-17; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12; 12:11; Hebrews 10:15-17 (cf. Jeremiah 31:33-34); Genesis 1:26-27; 3:22-24; Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 42:1; 48:16; 61:1-3; Matthew 28:19; John 5:19, 30; 14:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Titus 3:4-6; Matthew 12:31-32; John 5:23; 17:5; Hebrews 1:6; 10:29; Revelation 4:11 (cf. Psalm 104:30); Revelation 5:12-14; invisible—John 1:18; 4:24; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 John 4:12; eternal— Genesis 21:33; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17; omnipresent—Psalm 139:7-12; Proverbs 15:3; almighty—Psalm 62:11; 65:6; Isaiah 40:15, 28; Psalm 115:3; all-knowing—Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 40:13-14, 28; 66:18; Romans 16:27; unchanging—Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17; dependent upon none—Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:25; sovereign—1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Psalm 47:2; 115:3; Proverbs 21:1; Lamentations 3:37-38; Isaiah 46:9-11; John 19:10-11; Ephesians 1:11; 1 Timothy 6:15; righteous—Ezra 9:15; Nehemiah 9:8; Psalm 89:14; 92:15; John 17:25; Hebrews 1:8-9; holy—Leviticus 11:44; Psalm 99:3, 5, 9; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; just—Psalm 89:14; Romans 3:26; 1 Peter 3:18; gracious—Exodus 34:6; Jonah 4:2; Ephesians 1:5-8; 2:4-7; 1 Peter 2:3; loving—John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 John 3:1; 4:8-10 (cf. Malachi 1:2-3; Romans 9:10-15; Hebrews 12:5-8); merciful—Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 136; Lamentations 3:22-23 (cf. Exodus 33:19; Romans 9:15); patient—Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18; Jonah 4:2; Romans 2:4; 9:22-23; 2 Peter 3:9; good—Exodus 34:6; Psalm 34:8; Luke 18:19

3. Creation

Genesis 1; Exodus 20:11; 31:17; Acts 17:24; Romans 4:17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11
Psalm 33:6, 9; Jeremiah 10:12-13; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2; Genesis 1:1-2, 26-28; 

Psalm 104:30; Psalm 8:3-8; Colossians 3:10; James 3:9; 

4. The Fall of Adam and Its Effects

Romans 5:12; John 8:34, Romans 6:17; Romans 3:9-18; Jeremiah 17:9; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-2; 

John 3:3; John 1:13, 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1; Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13; Matthew 16:17

5. Christ, His Work and His righteousness

John 1:29; 3:16-17; 1 John 3:5; 1 Timothy 1:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:26-35
John 1:1,14; 20:28-31; Romans 5:15, 18-19; 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:47-49; Philippians 2:7-8; 1 Timothy 2:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2:17; Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:46; Hebrews 4:15; 7:26-28; 1 John 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 4:4-5

6. The Atoning Death of Christ

Mark 15:37,44-45; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Revelation 1:18; Romans 10:9; Hebrews 2:10; 9:9-14; 10:10-14; John 19:28-30; Romans 3:23-25; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Hebrews 7:23-27; 1 John 2:2; 4:10
John 10:14-16; 15:12-14; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:28-34; Ephesians 5:25; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18; Hebrews 2:17

7. The Resurrection of Christ

Matthew 28:5-7; Luke 24:5-8, 39, 42-43; Romans 1:4; John 2:19-21 (cf. 5:21, 26); Acts 2:29-36; 17:31; Ephesians 1:20-22; Philippians 2:8-11; Hebrews 1:3-4; Romans 6:5-9; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:12-19, 22; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Philippians 3:20-21; Col 2:12; Col 3:1-4; Acts 2:24; Acts 3:15; Acts 13:30-31, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

8. The Ascension of Christ

Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 7:23-27; 9:11-14, 24; 10:4, 10-14; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24
Matthew 16:16-18; Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18; Isaiah 53:12; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:23-25; 1 John 2:1; 1 Corinthians 15:24-26; Ephesians 1:18-23; Philippians 2:9-11

9. God’s Election, Calling, And Regeneration

John 17:2; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
Romans 9:10-16; 11:5-10; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 1:9;; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 1:16; 10:14-17; 1 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 1:13; 3:3-8; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; John 6:37, 44-45, 65; 10:16; Acts 2:39; Romans 8:30; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; Hebrews 9:15

10. Role of Human Responsibility

Mark 1:15; John 3:36; Acts 17:30-31; Romans 1:18-21; 2:4-5; 9:19-22; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Deuteronomy 29:29; Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 11:33-34; 1 Corinthians 2:16

11. Justification

Isaiah 53:11; Romans 4:5-8, 11, 16, 20-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 8:9; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Romans 3:20-21, 27-28; 4:1-5; 10:1-4; Galatians 2:15-16; 20-21; 3:10-14; Titus 3:4-7; Romans 4:1-8; 5:12-19; Hebrews 10:14
Genesis 15:6; John 1:11-12; Romans 1:17; 3:20, 26-28; 4:5, 20-24; 5:1; Galatians 2:15-16, 20-21; 3:2-3, 5-9, 11-13; 5:1-6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:9; John 3:14-18, 36; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 2 John 9; 1 Corinthians 16:22

12. Progressive Sanctification

Proverbs 4:18; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 5:23-24; Matthew 5:6; 7:21; John 14:15, 21; Hebrews 12:14; James 2:14-26; 2 Peter 1:5-11; 1 John 2:3-6; 3:3; 3 John 11; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:24; Philippians 3:14; Colossians 3:1-11; Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 8:8-14; Philippians 2:13; Psalm 1:1-3; 19:7-8; 119:9, 11, 133; Proverbs 2:1-9; John 17:17; Acts 20:32; Ephesians 5:26; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; James 1:21-25; 1 Peter 2:1-3; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Philippians 3:12-14; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8,10
1 Corinthians 13:9-12; Ephesians 5:27; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 John 3:2; Jude 24; Revelation 21:27

13.  Perseverance

John 5:24; 10:27-29; Romans 8:1-2; 28-39; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Hebrews 3:14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 2:19
Romans 1:16-17; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12;2 Timothy 1:8-13; Jude 24

14. The Return of Christ

John 5:28-29; 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:28 Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; Hebrews 9:27-28; Revelation 20:11-21:8; 22:3-5; 14-15; Matthew 3:12; Mark 9:42-48

15. The Church And One Another

Acts 2:42; Rom. 12:10; 1 Cor. 11:18, 20, 33; Heb. 10:23-25; 1 Cor. 14:23-25; 1 Tim. 3:15; 2 Tim. 4:1-4; Titus 2:11-15; John 6:68; 14:15, 21; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 9:21; 2 Thess. 1:8; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23; Col. 1:18; Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:2-4; Acts 6:1-4; 1 Tim. 3:8-13; Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:7, 11; 14:12, 26; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Ecc. 4:9-12; Gal. 3:26; 2 Cor. 11:28; Col. 4:16

16. Baptism

Matthew 28:19; 16:31-34; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 41; 8:36-38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:14-15, 31-34; 18:8; 19:3-5; 22:16; Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; John 3:23; Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 2:11-14; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 10:22 

17. The Lord’s Supper

Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26; Matthew 26:27-28; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 21

18. The Glory of God in All Things

Leviticus 10:3; Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 1:9-11; 1 Peter 4:11; Psalm 23:4; 46:1; 139:7-10, 17-18; Proverbs 15:3; Jeremiah 16:17; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5-6; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Micah 6:8; John 15:14-16; Hebrews 12:28-29; Psalm 23; 18:1-3; 34:7-10; Isaiah 41:10; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Matthew 6:25-32; Luke 11:11-13; Acts 17:24-25, 28; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Philippians 4:6-7; James 1:17; Psalm 46:10; 86:9; Malachi 1:11; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 1:3-14; 3:20-21