We believe in God’s gospel.
Our identity is centered on God’s evangel, the gospel of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to give us eternal life. To God’s glory, the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. Our fundamental theological convictions are aspects of this gospel.
We believe:
- GOD
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This one God, all-knowing and all-powerful, has, in love and grace, purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to restore His fallen creation for His own glory. Rom. 1:1; 15:16; 2 Cor. 11:7; 1 Thess. 2:8,9; 1 Tim. 1:11; 1 Pet. 4:17; Gal. 1:11-17; Jn. 17:20-24; Eph. 1:11; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 1:2; 1 Pet. 1:20; Rev. 13:8; Rom. 8; Rev. 21,22.
- THE SCRIPTURES
We believe that God has spoken through the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments. They are the verbally inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority that stands over every realm of human knowledge and endeavor. Therefore, the Bible is to be believed in all that it affirms, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises. 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Rev 22:18-19.
- MAN
We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned through the temptation of Satan, corrupting that image. As a result, all humanity is alienated from God and under His wrath and can be rescued, reconciled, and restored only through God’s gracious work in Jesus Christ. Gen. 3; Rom. 5:12-21; 1 Cor. 15:22, 45; Js. 3:9; Rom. 5:12, 15-19; 1Thess.1:10; Rom. 5:1, 2; Rom. 8:29, 30; Phil. 3:20, 21; 1 Jn. 3:2.
- JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ, Israel’s promised Messiah, is God incarnate, one Person in two natures, fully human and fully divine, having been conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of God the Father, He is now our High Priest and Advocate. Jn. 4:22; 1 Jn. 2:2; Heb. 1:3.
- THE WORK OF CHRIST—SALVATION
We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, died on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His shed blood and resurrection are the only ground for salvation, and it is through faith alone in Christ that anyone is justified before God. Rom. 3:21-26; Gal. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 2:14; 1 Jn. 3:8; Col. 2:15; Mk. 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:6; Tit. 2:14; 1 Pet. 3:21-23; Rom. 3:25; Heb. 2:17; 1 Jn. 2:2; 4:10.
- THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ by convicting the world, by regenerating sinners into union with Christ, and by indwelling, guiding, instructing, equipping, and empowering believers for Christ-like living and service. Jn. 16:14.
- THE CHURCH
We believe that the true church is composed of all those who have been saved by God’s grace through faith and regeneration by the Holy Spirit and are thereby united together in the body of Christ of which He is the Head. This church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of members of the true church. The two biblically-mandated ordinances of the church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, visibly and tangibly express this gospel, strengthening our faith. They are to be celebrated by the church in obedience to Christ, but are not a means of salvation.
- THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
We believe that God’s justifying grace in the gospel must not be separated from its sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves, acting with compassion toward the poor and needy, seeking justice for the oppressed. In fellowship
with one another, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil, especially with the Word of God and prayer. In all that we do, we are to bear witness to the gospel in word and deed, making disciples among all people. Mk. 12:29-31; Acts 10:38; Jn. 20:21; Gal. 6:9-10; Matt. 5:43-48; Deut. 15:11; Ps. 82:3, 4; Prov. 14:31; 29:7; Isa. 1:17; Mic. 6:8; Lk. 16:19-31; Js. 1:22; Mt. 28:19.
- FUTURE THINGS
We believe in the personal and glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with His holy angels, when He will establish His kingdom fully and exercise His role as Judge of all. This coming of Christ at a time known only to God requires constant expectancy and should motivate the believer to godly living, sacrificial service, and energetic mission. This is our blessed hope. Matt. 24:30, 31, 25:31; Mk. 8:38; Lk. 9:26; 1 Thess. 4:16; 2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Cor. 15:23-38; Mark 13:32; Matt. 24:36-51; Rom. 13:11-14; 1 Thess. 5:1-11; 2 Pet. 3:10-14; Rev. 3:3; Tit. 2:13; 2 Thess. 1:6-8.
- THE PERSONAL DESTINY OF EACH PERSON
We believe that God commands everyone to believe the gospel, turning to God in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that in the bodily resurrection of the dead, the unbeliever will face judgment and eternal conscious punishment, while the believer will experience eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen. 2 Thess. 1:8; Mt. 4:17: 11:20,21; 12:41; Lk. 13:3,5,7; 16:30; 24:47; Acts 2:38; cf. also 2Pet. 3:9; Acts 17:30; Acts 20:21; Acts 26:20; Mt. 25:46; Mt. 25:46; Rev. 21, 22; Rev. 20:11; Eph. 1:6.
COMMA Covenant
COMMA joins with other Christians and other denominations of like precious faith in common goals and ministries to accomplish the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. We believe that strength is in diversity; along with preserving our distinctives. We recognize that union in structure does not guarantee unity of spirit. Our foremost concern is unity of spirit with our Lord, with each other, and with other Christians.
COMMA members are in full agreement with the doctrinal statement of faith and will adhere to the spirit of COMMA, which is theologically non‑sectarian, not promoting any particular theological preference of doctrine or Biblical interpretation.