We ascribe to the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 and the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.
As a church, we emphasize the divine inspiration, inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency of the Scriptures, holding that the Bible alone is the ultimate and trustworthy guide for faith and practice.
Divine Origin—The Holy Scriptures are given by the inspiration of God.
Inerrancy—The Bible is without error, containing the pure truth of God.
Clarity—The central teachings of the Bible are straightforward and can be understood by all through the Holy Spirit.
Sufficiency—The Scriptures are necessary to know God's will and obtain salvation. They contain everything needed for God's glory, salvation, faith, and life.
Authority—The Bible is the ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice.
Canonical Recognition—The books of the Old and New Testaments are recognized as canonical, and no other writings are considered Scripture.
We believe in the unity and distinct roles of the three persons of the Trinity: The Father as Creator and Sustainer, the Son as Redeemer and Mediator, and the Holy Spirit as Regenerator and Sanctifier.
Creator and Sovereign—God the Father is the creator of heaven and earth and rules with sovereign authority and power.
Providence—He is involved in the world, sustaining and governing all creatures and events.
Gracious and Just—The Father is loving, gracious, merciful, and just, providing for the redemption of humanity through Jesus Christ from His wrath of condemnation.
Divine Nature—Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully divine and fully human.
Incarnation—He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, taking on human nature.
Life and Ministry—He lived a sinless life, performed miracles, and taught about the Kingdom of God.
Atoning Death—He died on the cross to atone for the sins of humanity, providing salvation.
Resurrection and Ascension—He rose from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the Father's right hand.
Mediation and Return—He intercedes for believers and will return in glory to judge the living and the dead.
Divine Person—The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, fully divine.
Work in Salvation—He regenerates, sanctifies, and indwells believers, guiding and empowering them for Godly living.
Giver of Gifts—The Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts to believers for the church's edification.
Presence and Comfort—He is the believer's Comforter and Advocate, providing assurance, strength, and guidance.
Humanity was created in the image of God, yet chose to sin, and suffered the consequences. Only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ can man be redeemed and restored to God.
Creation and Purpose—Man is the special creation of God, made in His image to glorify Him with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness.
Adam and Eve—The first humans, Adam and Eve, were commanded by God to obey Him, with the freedom to choose.
Gender and Marriage—God created them, male and female, establishing the family as the foundational institution of human society.
The Fall—Adam's disobedience brought sin and death into the world, affecting all his descendants, resulting in separation from God and the corruption of human nature.
Original Sin—All people inherit a sinful nature due to Adam's fall and are under the just wrath of God unless redeemed by Jesus Christ.
Redemption and Restoration—Salvation is made possible by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, leading to justification and the promise of eternal life.
Salvation is a work of God's grace alone, encompassing God’s call, regeneration, faith and repentance, justification, sanctification, and glorification.
Calling—Through preaching the Gospel, the Holy Spirit calls individuals to salvation, drawing them to Christ.
Regeneration—By the Holy Spirit, individuals are born again, given a new heart and renewed will. This is the work of God's grace, where believers are made new creatures in Christ.
Repentance and Faith—Salvation involves genuine repentance (turning from sin) and having faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Justification—Believers are declared righteous before God based on Christ's righteousness and the work of the cross, imputed to them by faith alone, not by any work of man.
Adoption—Believers are adopted as children of God and made heirs with Christ.
Sanctification—Sanctification is the ongoing transformation by which the believer is set apart and grows in holiness and the likeness of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Perseverance—True believers will persevere in faith and holiness until the end, assured of their salvation.
Glorification—The ultimate completion of salvation, where believers are fully conformed to Christ and enjoy eternal life with God.
Baptism by immersion symbolizes the believer’s union with Christ in His death and resurrection.
Ordinance of Christ—Baptism is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, instituted by Him for the believer. It is a public act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in Jesus Christ, the cleansing of their sins, and their commitment to live a new life.
Immersion—Baptism is to be performed by immersion, reflecting the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Admission to the Church—Baptism is necessary for admission into the visible church and participation in communion.
Communion is a memorial and proclamation of Christ’s sacrifice, providing spiritual nourishment and unity for believers.
Ordinance of Christ—The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ for His disciples to observe.
Spiritual Nourishment—It serves as a means of spiritual nourishment, an opportunity for spiritual examination, and growth in grace for believers.
Elements and Significance—The bread and fruit of the vine symbolize Christ's body and blood, and partaking in them is an act of faith, remembering Christ’s sacrifice, and proclaiming His death until He returns.
The church may be viewed in two ways: invisible and visible. The invisible church encompasses all believers who are saved and in Christ. The Holy Spirit often works to reveal this among God’s elect. The visible church is a local community of believers committed to Christ, observing the ordinances He established, and governed by congregational governance under the leadership of pastors/elders and deacons. Both the visible and invisible church's mission is evangelizing, discerning, and upholding Christ's teachings. Cross Hill Church's specific mission statement is that we exist to glorify God and make disciples by loving others, serving our community, and boldly proclaiming God's Word.
Marks of the True Church—The church is marked by preaching the Gospel, administering the ordinances, prayer, and practicing church discipline.
Ordinances—The church observes two ordinances, baptism and communion. These are acts of obedience, following Christ's example.
Church Government—The church is governed by Christ as its head, with congregations practicing congregational governance, overseen by elders and served by deacons.
Membership (Visible Church)—Membership in the local church involves a credible profession of faith and commitment to live according to the teachings of Christ. One also ought to be baptized.
Unity and Fellowship—The church is called to maintain unity, love, and fellowship among believers, supporting one another in faith and practice.
We believe in the church’s responsibility to evangelize, make disciples, and teach the commands of God, relying on the authority and presence of Jesus and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Mandate from Christ—The Great Commission is Jesus Christ's mandate to His followers to make disciples of all nations. It is the duty of every believer and the church to spread the Gospel and make disciples.
Means of Grace—The preaching of the Word, baptism, and communion are means through which God accomplishes His redemptive purposes.
Authority of Christ—The Great Commission is carried out under the authority of Christ, who commands and empowers His followers to evangelize. The church is responsible for sharing the Gospel, baptizing new believers, and teaching them to observe Christ’s commandments.
Global Mission—The mission extends to all people groups, emphasizing the importance of global evangelism and missions.
Empowerment by the Holy Spirit—Believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill this mission, relying on His guidance and strength. They are assured of Christ’s presence with them as they go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching in His name.