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Cheney Baptist Church

What We Believe
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Statement of Faith

DECLARATION OF FAITH  

1. OF THE SCRIPTURES  

We believe that the HOLY BIBLE was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction: that it has GOD for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which GOD will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christianity, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.  

2. OF THE TRUE GOD  

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true GOD, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.  

3. OF THE FALL OF MAN  

We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but choice, being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.  

4. OF THE WAY OF SALVATION  

We believe that salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of the Godhead. The Father chose a people, the Son died for them, and the Holy Ghost quickens the elect into faith and repentance, thereby causing them to willingly obey the gospel. We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, which is both elective and saving; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God; who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon him our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by his personal obedience, and by his death made a full atonement for our sins; that having risen from the dead he is now enthroned in heaven; and uniting in his wonderful person mercy and judgement, he is every way our suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Saviour.  

5. OF JUSTIFICATION  

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in him is Justification; that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood; by virtue of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.  

6. OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION  

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to receive them by a penitent, and obedient faith.  

7. OF GRACE IN REGENERATION  

We believe that, sinners must be regenerated or born again; that regeneration is giving life to one dead in trespasses in sins; by the power of the Holy Ghost. That the Holy Ghost teacheth spiritual things to the quickened spirit in man for the natural man can not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him. This regeneration will produce evidence that appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.  

8. OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH  

We believe that Repentance and Faith are also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby, being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour.  

9. OF GOD’S PURPOSE OF GRACE  

We believe that Election, which encompasses foreknowledge, foreordination, and predestination is the eternal purpose of God, according to which he graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners.  

10. OF SANCTIFICATION  

We believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are chosen and set aside by God as His people by His work alone. We also are made partakers of his holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means, especially the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.  

11. OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF SAINTS  

We believe in the eternal security of the believer because it is God that saves us, and it is God that reserves our salvation in heaven for us.  

12. OF THE HARMONY OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL  

We believe that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of sovereign design; that it is holy, just and good; and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin. Following the law can never deliver them from the condemnation that each of us have earned. Grace is the only thing that can restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned faith in the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ. The law is our schoolmaster to show us our need for a saviour. 


13. OF A GOSPEL CHURCH  

We believe that the church is a visible congregation of baptized believers, associated by the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by his laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by his word; that its only Scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, Elders Deacons, and Teachers whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the epistle.  

14. OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER  

We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; to show forth, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. The church is also to partake in the Lord’s Supper; in which the members of the church, by the instruction of scripture are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by a solemn self-examination.  

15. OF THE LORD’S DAY 

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day in observance of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We meet and worship Him on this day as our tradition carried out through the years from the apostles.  

16. OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT  

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.  

17. TONGUES  

We acknowledge that God is sovereign, and could give the gift of tongues whenever He pleases. However, we believe that God’s Word teaches that the sovereignty of God has always been exercised within the framework of His purposes. God used the gift of tongues to authenticate the Gospel of Grace as divinely originated and commissioned, until the completed canon of Scripture could be appealed to for proof of the authenticity of the message. We believe that the present “tongues movement” is not the scriptural practice that we see in the Word of God.  

18. THE FAMILY  

God had ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.  

Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church, and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, and the channel for sexual _expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.  

The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.  

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.  

19. OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED  

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in his sight wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death.  

20. THE LORD’S RETURN  

We believe that Christ Jesus is coming back to earth again; that His return shall be personal, audible, visible, and bodily; that it shall mark the advent of the "Day of the Lord" and usher in the millennium; and that He shall in that day turn the tables on Satan, take up the throne of His Father David, put down all His enemies, rule with a rod of iron, triumph over sin, and give the world and example of righteous government during His thousand years of personal reign on earth.  

21. THE RESURRECTION  

We believe that Christ Jesus arose bodily from the grave on the first day of the week, that His miraculous emergence from the tomb forecasted alike bodily resurrection for every member of the human race; that the dead in Christ shall rise first and in glorified bodies like His; that they shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air; that the dead in trespasses and sin, and the dead not written in the Lamb’s book of life shall rise at the close of the millennium; and that they shall be brought before the Great White Throne Judgement and there face the judgement and be cast away forever.

e-mail Pastor Lane eleazarsonofdodo@gmail.com