What We Believe
Crossroads Christian Church, like the city of Palmetto and Parrish, is a community in progress. Just as Palmetto and Parrish are creating better roads and developing new homes, Crossroads Christian Church is creating easier access for people to travel on the ancient pathways that lead to home with God. As we move forward, Crossroads is uniting people from various backgrounds. Whether you are Catholic, Baptist, non-denominational, or unconvinced, we believe that God wants to include you. Because we are in progress, we do not pretend to have an exhaustive understanding of the Bible. Neither do we suggest that Christians must agree on all matters of faith. However, there are some things our church believes that can help you grasp where we stand. Please understand that God’s Truth is much bigger than the following statements. We welcome you to explore with us the meaning of life and how we can know and connect with God. If you are looking for deeper explanations we would love to hear from you.
In Essential Beliefs – Unity
“There is one Body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)
In Non-Essential Beliefs – Liberty
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters...Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls...So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God...So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” (Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22)
In All Our Beliefs – Love
“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2)
God Is the Creator and Ruler
We believe that God created the universe out of nothing. The fact that He is the Creator and ruler gives Him the right to establish the rules of life and gives Him ultimate authority. (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:18)
About Eternal & Temporary Things
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life in heaven. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence. (John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15
About Human Beings
the Bible say that every person naturally chooses to rebel against God and go their own way (sin). Because of that, every person is separated from God and destined to live for eternity without Him. However, those who completely depend on Jesus’ death to pay for the wrong things they have done and turn away from their own selfish desires will have a new relationship with God and will live with Him for eternity. (Jeremiah 17:9-10; John 1:12-13; Romans 5:6-8; Romans 6:9-10; Romans 8:8,13-14; Titus 3:5-7)
About The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us and the final authority for everything that has to do with our faith and our life. The Bible tells us the truth about God’s love, sinful humanity, and God’s provision to bring us into a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. (Psalm 19:7-11, Psalm 119:105, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21)
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, who created all things and lives eternally as God. He became fully human, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to a virgin named Mary. He lived a sinless life, taught the truth of God and performed great miracles. His death is the only possible payment to free us from sin. He has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven and will return someday to take us with Him. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; John 20:30-31; Acts 1:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
About The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and Jesus Christ as God. His purpose in the world is to help men know their need for salvation through Jesus Christ. He also indwells every Christian from the moment they receive salvation. He gives Christians the power to live a godly life, the ability to understand spiritual truth, and guidance to make choices that please God. People who have allowed Jesus to be their Leader and Forgiver will allow the Holy Spirit to direct each and every part of their lives. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:14-17; Romans 8:26)
About The Trinity
The Bible says there is one living and true God who lives forever as three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (The Trinity). These three persons are distinct in their roles, equal in their positions and unified in their actions and goals. (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3; John 4:24)
About Salvation & Becoming a Christian
Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty, eternal separation from God in hell. When we turn from our self-ruled life and become a follower of Christ, we have begun the journey of eternal life with God. To become a follower of Christ, one needs to admit to God that he is a sinner in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. He needs to pledge in faith that he wants to stop sinning and start living like Christ. Through faith he must accept that Jesus paid the penalty for his sin by dying on the cross and that he is being saved because Jesus came back from the dead. And just like the Bible says, he must be buried with Christ in baptism; and raised to live a new life as a Christian. In the Bible, every time a person accepted Christ, he or she was baptized (which means to submerge under water) as soon as possible. Since the Bible is our manual, we follow the same practice. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 3:26-29; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 22:16; Romans 5:1-2)
About The Church
The Bible says there is one worldwide spiritual family of God (The Church). It consists of all people who completely depend on Jesus’ death to pay for the wrongs they have done and who dedicate their lives to obey God. We also believe in smaller local spiritual families (The Local Church), these families are members of the worldwide spiritual family of God, and exist to praise God through beginning and deepening a relationship with Him, belonging to His family, becoming active in service and befriending others. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 2:19-22; Hebrews 10:24-25)
About Living as A Christian
God desires for people to live the best life possible and that best possible way is to live the Christian life. Once a person becomes a Christian, they start a life of total commitment to Jesus. We fall in love with Him and want to do the things that please Him. When we do those things we begin a process of getting rid of sin and becoming more and more like Jesus. However, the only way possible to live like a spouse of Jesus is through God’s power within us. So we seek to practice a daily dependence on God’s Spirit to enable us to do what is right. (Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 5:1-21)
|