What We Believe

July 14, 2024

‍1. The Word of God ‍We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct [1]. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31,32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32 Note: For further clarification of our beliefs regarding the bible, please refer to #appendix-a.‍ ‍ ‍2. The Trinity ‍We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. Genesis 1:1,26; John 1:1,3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19,20; Ephesians 4:5,6 ‍ ‍3. God the Father ‍We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Luke 10:21,22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:1,2 & 2:5,6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6; John 8:16-18; John5:36, 37; Mark 9:7; Mark 13:32 ‍ ‍4. Jesus Christ ‍We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal, only begotten Son of God. We believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin named Mary. We believe that Jesus was born with a human body and sinless nature; and, having never ceased being God is rightly referred to as God in flesh. We believe that His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings are all manifestations of His Divinity. We believe in His propitiatory, substitutionary, atoning death on a cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection from death in the same body in which He died, yet glorified. We believe Jesus to be the only way provided for mankind to receive salvation, which is available to all, but obtainable only by those who repent, confess and believe in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. We believe in His ascension into Heaven, His perpetual intercession for His people as the only Mediator between God and mankind. We believe in His personal, visible return to earth to make a final end to sin and death in judgement, and then to establish His Kingdom. Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:26–38; John 1:1-2, 1:14, 1:18, 20:27-28; Romans 9:5, 8:32; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21–23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6–8 &6:9-10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:28; I Timothy 3:16; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 3:21-26; Romans 10:9-10; John 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; 15:25-26; 15:50-57; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 7:25; 2 Peter 3:7; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 20:12- 21:1. 5. The Holy Spirit ‍We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; and, to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit is eternal and that He interacts with believers and is not merely an impersonal force or manifestation of God’s will. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. John 14:16,17,26 & 15:26,27; John 16:9–14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; Galatians 5:22–26 ‍6. Mankind ‍We believe man was created by God as male and female in His own image to have fellowship with God; and, that man sinned against God and thereby incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal death, which is separation from God. As a result, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and, therefore, under condemnation and in need of salvation. Genesis 1:26, 2:17, Genesis 3 Rom 3:23; Rom5:12; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Psalm 51:5 ‍ ‍7. Salvation We believe that those who repent and forsake sin and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior through His atoning, sacrificial work on the Cross are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation, and receive eternal life. John 5:24; 8:12, 10:26; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14; Romans 3:19, 5:19; 5:21-24; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9; John 3:16-21, John 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1,5-8 ‍8. The Church ‍We believe in the universal church: We believe that upon confession and repentance of sin and placing one's faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, the believer becomes a part of the Body of Christ, a living spiritual body of which Jesus Christ is the head, and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church: We believe that Scripture commands all believers in Jesus Christ to gather locally. This local body consists of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship under the watchful care of a plurality of elders. We believe that a healthy body requires the functioning of all its parts and that every local body of Christ will only stay healthy through the development, nourishment, and use of the talents, spiritual gifts and continual discipleship of all its members. We believe that unity within the local body is important and that those who come forth to be received as members should express adherence to the statements of faith and concurrence with the beliefs set forth in Clovis Christian's Mission, Vision, and Statements, as well as agreement with any attached articles of belief. We further maintain that while encouraging heartfelt debate on non-essential church doctrines and traditions, it is imperative that we do not waver on the essential doctrines of the church as set forth in the Scripture as the foundation and source of these statements and beliefs adopted by Clovis Christian Church. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world for His glory and the salvation of those lost in sin, and that this task is given to all those in the local and universal Body by Jesus' command in Matthew 28:18-20, referred to as 'The Great Commission'. Ephesians 2:19–22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19–21; Acts 2:37-42; Hebrews 10:23–25; Acts 15: 4-6; 15:23; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 1 Timothy 6:3-5, 6:20; 1 Corinthians 11:17-19; Revelation 7:9-10  9. The Ordinances ‍We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:18–20; Romans 6:3–5; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ‍ ‍10. Christian Conduct ‍We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow men; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. We further believe that God has saved us ‘to do good works…’ (Eph. 2:10); not as a means of obtaining salvation, but rather, as the natural outcome of salvation and the Spirit-led desire among believers. 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1–3; Hebrews 12:1–2; John 14:15,23-24; 1 John 2:3-6; 2 Corinthians 9:6–9; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 1:9–10 ‍Note: For further clarification of our beliefs regarding human sexuality, gender and roles, please refer to #appendix-b. 11. The Last Things ‍We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgement, the eternal blessings and joy of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked. Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; Revelation 20:4–6,11–15 ‍ [1] The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Clovis Christian Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Elders are Clovis Christian Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application. [2] Clovis Christian Church recognizes the gifts of the Holy Spirit that have been set forth by scripture as essential to the functioning and equipping of the Church body. The gifts of the Holy Spirit can be found in Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30; Ephesians 4:11; and 1 Peter 4:9-11. We understand that there will be differences of interpretation concerning these gifts between members of Clovis Christian; however, these differences should not lead to disunity or division in the body when measured against the teaching of scripture and are discussed or displayed in a spirit of love. We will take no stance further than scripture allows by insisting that any one gift is a necessary evidence of regeneration, nor shall we take a stance that is less than scripture and deny any gifting that is used in accordance with the teachings and commands set forth in scripture. We will have varied experiences of the gifts within the church but these experiences shall not be construed as equal to scripture but shall in all ways be subject to scripture and always be used as a beneficial part of Clovis Christian Church and never in a manner that would be a distraction, a stumbling block, or otherwise be divisive in nature. Romans 14:13-14; 1 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 12,13,14; Ephesian 4:1-6; 2 John 1:9 ‍ Appendix A ‍CCC Statement Regarding Biblical Inerrancy [1] A ShortStatement 1. God, who is Himself Truth and speaks truth only, has inspired Holy Scripture in order thereby to reveal Himself to lost mankind through Jesus Christ as Creator and Lord, Redeemer and Judge. ‍ 2. Holy Scripture is God's witness to Himself. Holy Scripture, being God's own Word, written by men prepared and superintended by His Spirit, is of infallible divine authority in all matters upon which it touches: it is to be believed, as God's instruction, in all that it affirms; obeyed, as God's command, in all that it requires; embraced, as God's pledge, in all that it promises. ‍ 3. The Holy Spirit, Scripture's divine Author, both authenticates it to us by His inward witness and opens our minds to understand its meaning. 4. Being wholly and verbally God-given, Scripture is without error or fault in all its teaching, no less in what it states about God's acts in creation, about the events of world history, and about its own literary origins under God, than in its witness to God's saving grace in individual lives. 5. The authority of Scripture is inescapably impaired if this total divine inerrancy is in any way limited or disregarded, or made relative to a view of truth contrary to the Bible's own; and such lapses bring serious loss to both the individual and the Church.  Articles of Affirmation and Denial   ARTICLE 1 We affirm that theHoly Scriptures are to be received as the authoritative Word of God. We deny that the Scriptures receive their authority from the Church, tradition, or any other human source.ARTICLE 2 We affirm that theScriptures are the supreme written norm by which God binds the conscience, and that the authority of the Church is subordinate to that of Scripture. We deny that Church creeds, councils, or declarations have authority greater than or equal to the authority of the Bible.ARTICLE 3 We affirm that the written Word in its entirety is revelation given by God. We deny that the Bible is merely a witness to revelation, or only becomes revelation in encounter, or depends on the responses of men for its validity.ARTICLE 4 We affirm that God who made mankind in His image has used language as a means of revelation. We deny that human language is so limited by our creatureliness that it is rendered inadequate as a vehicle for divine revelation. We further deny that the corruption of human culture and language through sin has thwarted God's work of inspiration.ARTICLE 5 We affirm that God's revelation in the Holy Scriptures was progressive. We deny that later revelation, which may fulfill earlier revelation, ever corrects or contradicts it. We further deny that any normative revelation has been given since the completion of the New Testament writings. ‍ ARTICLE 6 We affirm that the whole of Scripture and all its parts, down to the very words of the original, were given by divine inspiration. We deny that the inspiration of Scripture can rightly be affirmed of the whole without the parts, or of some parts but not the whole.ARTICLE 7 We affirm that inspiration was the work in which God by His Spirit, through human writers, gave us HisWord. The origin of Scripture is divine. The mode of divine inspiration remains largely a mystery to us. We deny that inspiration can be reduced to human insight, or to heightened states of consciousness of any kind. ARTICLE 8 We affirm that God inHis Work of inspiration utilized the distinctive personalities and literary styles of the writers whom He had chosen and prepared. We deny that God, in causing these writers to use the very words that He chose, overrode their personalities. ARTICLE 9 We affirm that inspiration, though not conferring omniscience, guaranteed true and trustworthy utterance on all matters of which the Biblical authors were moved to speak and write. We deny that the finitude or fallenness of these writers, by necessity or otherwise, introduced distortion or falsehood into God's Word.ARTICLE 10 We affirm that inspiration, strictly speaking, applies only to the autographic text ofScripture, which in the providence of God can be ascertained from available manuscripts with great accuracy. We further affirm that copies and translations of Scripture are the Word of God to the extent that they faithfully represent the original. We deny that any essential element of the Christian faith is affected by the absence of the autographs. We further deny that this absence renders the assertion of Biblical inerrancy invalid or irrelevant.ARTICLE 11 We affirm thatScripture, having been given by divine inspiration, is infallible, so that, far from misleading us, it is true and reliable in all the matters it addresses. We deny that it is possible for the Bible to be at the same time infallible and errant in its assertions. Infallibility and inerrancy may be distinguished, but not separated.ARTICLE 12 We affirm thatScripture in its entirety is inerrant, being free from all falsehood, fraud, or deceit. We deny that Biblical infallibility and inerrancy are limited to spiritual, religious, or redemptive themes, exclusive of assertions in the fields of history and science. We further deny that scientific hypotheses about earth history may properly be used to overturn the teaching of Scripture on creation and the flood.ARTICLE 13 We affirm the propriety of using inerrancy as a theological term with reference to the complete truthfulness of Scripture. We deny that it is proper to evaluate Scripture according to standards of truth and error that are alien to its usage or purpose. We further deny that inerrancy is negated by Biblical phenomena such as a lack of modern technical precision, irregularities of grammar or spelling, observational descriptions of nature, the reporting of falsehoods, the use of hyperbole and round numbers, the topical arrangement of material, variant selections of material in parallel accounts, or the use of free citations. ARTICLE 14 We affirm the unity and internal consistency of Scripture. We deny that alleged errors and discrepancies that have not yet been resolved vitiate the truth claims of the Bible.ARTICLE 15 We affirm that the doctrine of inerrancy is grounded in the teaching of the Bible about inspiration. We deny that Jesus' teaching about Scripture may be dismissed by appeals to accommodation or to any natural limitation of His humanity.ARTICLE 16 We affirm that the doctrine of inerrancy has been integral to the Church's faith throughout its history. We deny that inerrancy is a doctrine invented by ScholasticProtestantism, or is a reactionary position postulated in response to negative higher criticism.ARTICLE 17 We affirm that theHoly Spirit bears witness to the Scriptures, assuring believers of the truthfulness of God's written Word. We deny that this witness of the Holy Spirit operates in isolation from or against Scripture. ARTICLE 18 We affirm that the text of Scripture is to be interpreted by grammatical-historical exegesis, taking account of its literary forms and devices, and that Scripture is to interpretScripture. We deny the legitimacy of any treatment of the text or quest for sources lying behind it that leads to relativizing, de-historicizing, or discounting its teaching, or rejecting its claims to authorship.ARTICLE 19 We affirm that a confession of the full authority, infallibility, and inerrancy of Scripture is vital to a sound understanding of the whole of the Christian faith. We further affirm that such confession should lead to increasing conformity to the image of Christ. We deny that such confession is necessary for salvation. However, we further deny that inerrancy can be rejected without grave consequences, both to the individual and to the Church. [1] Statement is taken from the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals 1978. Appendix B ‍CCCStatement Regarding Human Sexuality, Gender and Roles [1] ARTICLE 1 We affirm that God has designed marriage to be a covenantal, sexual, procreative, lifelong union of one man and one woman, as husband and wife, and is meant to signify the covenant love between Christ and his bride the church. We deny that God has designed marriage to be a homosexual, polygamous, or polyamorous http://relationship.we also deny that marriage is a mere human contract rather than a covenant made before God. ARTICLE 2 We affirm that God’s revealed will for all people is chastity outside of marriage and fidelity within marriage. ‍We deny that any affections, desires, or commitments ever justify sexual intercourse before or outside marriage; nor do they justify any form of sexual immorality. ARTICLE 3 We affirm that God createdAdam and Eve, the first human beings, in his own image, equal before God as persons, and distinct as male and female. We deny that the divinely ordained differences between male and female render them unequal in dignity or worth. ARTICLE 4 We affirm that divinely ordained differences between male and female reflect God’s original creation design and are meant for human good and human flourishing. We deny that such differences are a result of the Fall or are a tragedy to be overcome. ARTICLE 5 We affirm that the differences between male and female reproductive structures are integral to God’s design for self-conception as male or female. We deny that physical anomalies or psychological conditions nullify the God-appointed link between biological sex and self-conception as male or female.  ARTICLE 6 We affirm that those born with a physical disorder of sex development are created in the image of God and have dignity and worth equal to all other image-bearers. They are acknowledged by our Lord Jesus in his words about “eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb.” With all others they are welcome as faithful followers of Jesus Christ and should embrace their biological sex insofar as it may be known. We deny that ambiguities related to a person’s biological sex render one incapable of living a fruitful life in joyful obedience to Christ. ARTICLE 7 We affirm that self-conception as male or female should be defined by God’s holy purposes in creation and redemption as revealed in Scripture. We deny that adopting a homosexual or transgender self-conception is consistent with God’s holy purposes in creation and redemption. ARTICLE 8 We affirm that people who experience sexual attraction for the same sex may live a rich and fruitful life pleasing to God through faith in Jesus Christ, as they, like all Christians, walk in purity of life. We deny that sexual attraction for the same sex is part of the natural goodness of God’s original creation, or that it puts a person outside the hope of the gospel. ARTICLE 9 We affirm that sin distorts sexual desires by directing them away from the marriage covenant and toward sexual immorality— a distortion that includes both heterosexual and homosexual immorality. We deny that an enduring pattern of desire for sexual immorality justifies sexually immoral behavior. ARTICLE 10 We affirm that it is sinful to approve of homosexual immorality or transgenderism and that such approval constitutes an essential departure from Christian faithfulness and witness. We deny that the approval of homosexual immorality or transgenderism is a matter of moral indifference about which otherwise faithful Christians should agree to disagree. ARTICLE 11 We affirm our duty to speak the truth in love at all times, including when we speak to or about one another as male or female. We deny any obligation to speak in such ways that dishonor God’s design of his image bearers as male and female. ARTICLE 12 We affirm that the grace ofGod in Christ gives both merciful pardon and transforming power, and that this pardon and power enable a follower of Jesus to put to death sinful desires and to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. We deny that the grace ofGod in Christ is insufficient to forgive all sexual sins and to give power for holiness to every believer who feels drawn into sexual sin. ARTICLE 13 We affirm that the grace ofGod in Christ enables sinners to forsake transgender self-conceptions and by divine forbearance to accept the God-ordained link between one’s biological sex and one’s self-conception as male or female. We deny that the grace ofGod in Christ sanctions self-conceptions that are at odds with God’s revealed will. ARTICLE 14 We affirm that Christ Jesus has come into the world to save sinners and that through Christ’s death and resurrection forgiveness of sins and eternal life are available to every person who repents of sin and trusts in Christ alone as Savior, Lord and supreme treasure. We deny that the Lord’s arm is too short to save or that any sinner is beyond his reach.  [1] Taken from the Nashville Statement, A Coalition for Biblical Sexuality 2017

Our Vision

Worship – Offering our lives back to God through Jesus You were Created to Worship, You are Healed in Worship, You Live out of Worship Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Our Spiritual Worship is to offer our whole lives back to God as a “Living Sacrifice.” This means our Body, Mind and Will. Discipleship – Following Jesus and becoming increasingly like Him. (Christlikeness) Consider the Call, Count the Cost, Commit to Grow. We know very clearly from Mt. 28 that our instruction as a church is to go and make disciples. A disciple is someone who has made a purposeful decision to become a follower of Jesus. Did you know that Discipleship is the weakest link in churches today? Churches can gather crowds, but churches today in our nation struggle to make disciples…True followers of Jesus! Why is that? It is because discipleship is a road that YOU must choose to travel! We cannot force or manipulate discipleship. But as a church we MUST purpose to make disciples of all those who choose to follow Jesus. And we must purpose to inspire people to look to Jesus for life. This is why Discipleship is our 2nd pillar of responsibility. Worship is the first because it comes first. If we first choose to Worship God with every breath of our life then becoming a follower of Jesus is a natural decision and a joyful decision. Mission – Extending the Mission (The Redemptive Purposes) of God through the activities of his people. Go…I am Sending You!, Love…Empowered by the Holy Spirit!, Share…The Forgiveness of God. When we turn our hearts and eyes to God in true worship and when we consider the call, count the cost, and commit to grow in discipleship we will then begin to live out and extend the redemptive purposes of God in and through the activity of our life. You now see the victory of life in Christ AND you are walking in it. We become Missional! John 20:19-23 (NIV) 19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” This is God’s vision for the church. We are to be a missional church! We are to extend the Peace of God to the world. John 14:27 (NIV) 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Followers of Jesus produce Followers of Jesus. We are to go and make disciples.