We are the Body of Christ called to be Jesus in every neighborhood in our city and beyond.

Our Beliefs

God’s story is a story of love and redemption. The story or message that most clearly shows this redemptive love is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (John 3:16). Paul says this message is of “first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:3). As God reveals His nature through the stories of the Bible, the following teachings emerge as central doctrines. These teachings form the core of our beliefs at At the Cross.

God

There is one true God, eternally existing in three Persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These are equal and are one God. God created the world out of nothing and by His power. He sustains all He has created. (Romans 8:22-25; Ephesians 1:13-14).

Jesus Christ

Jesus was miraculously born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:35), and became flesh and blood (John 1:1-16; 29-34), without ceasing to be God. He lived a sinless life and performed many miracles to confirm His divinity. He died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice paying the debt for our sins (Mark 10:45). On the third day after His death He arose from the dead showing His victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). He appeared to His disciples and then ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God serving as our mediator.

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son. He makes people aware of their need for Christ (John 16:8-11, 2 Corinthians 6:11). He indwells and empowers the believer (1 John 4:13; Galatians. 5:16-26). His presence in our life is a seal and guarantee that we are God’s children (2 Corinthians 1: 21-22). The Holy Spirit gives believers spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Romans 12:4-8) to be used to help others.

Salvation

Salvation is a free gift of God. The death of Christ on the cross is the only sufficient payment for our sins. All have sinned, but all can be saved. This salvation is available for any who put their trust in Christ as Savior (Romans 3:23, 6:23; John 3:16). Those trusting Christ should repent of sin, confess their faith, and be baptized (Romans 10:9; Acts 2:38).

Baptism

Baptism is an outward demonstration of obedience to Christ by one who has declared his faith to others.

Communion

Jesus established the Lord’s Supper shortly before His death. On the evening before the crucifixion while sharing Passover with his disciples, “Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and gave thanks, and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it all of you. This is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’” (Matthew 26:26-28). Do this in remembrance of me (Luke 22:19).

The Lord’s Supper is a time to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. During this memorial remembrance, the bread symbolizes the body of Christ and the wine symbolizes the blood of Christ. When believers take the elements in an act of worship, gathering in His name, Christ’s presence is among them and felt (Matthew 18).

At the Cross invites all who believe in Jesus and have accepted His gift of salvation to participate in receiving communion.

Church

The church is the Body of Christ on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue the task of reaching the lost and discipling the saved, helping them become fully devoted followers of Christ (Ephesians 4: 1-16).

Bible

The Bible is the inspired word of God and is the final authority in life and doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16).

Christ’s Return

Christ will one day return and judge all people (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Believers will be welcomed into God’s presence in Heaven. Unbelievers will be in Hell, separated from God’s presence.

At the Cross sincerely tries to follow the Bible and its teachings. However, our ability to logically figure everything out is not the basis for our acceptability before God. Our salvation is based on what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. What we must be right about is the fact that we cannot be right about everything and are therefore completely dependent on God’s graciousness and mercy.

Marriage and Sexuality

We believe that the Bible defines “marriage” as one man, one woman for life (Mark 10:6-9). We further believe that intimate sexual activity is a sacred gift of God and intended to be celebrated only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4).

Kathleen in At the Cross3 years ago • To public

Kathleen
in
At the Cross
3 years ago • To public