What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of Crossway Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Deuteronomy 6:4  ||  Mark 12:29
Isaiah 43:10, 11  ||  Matthew 28:19

God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself.
 Colossians 1:15-20  ||  John 8:12

Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers as a free gift eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone. God provides salvation for all who believe and accept His free offer of forgiveness.
Luke 24:47  ||  John 3:3,16,17  ||  Romans 8:16; 10:13-15
Ephesians 2:8,9; 4:24  ||  Titus 2:11-12; 3:5-7

By the power of the Holy Spirit we strive to obey the command, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." Sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God's Word.
Hebrews 12:14  ||  1 Pet. 1:15, 16
1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24  ||  1 John 2:6

Jesus Christ is returning one day to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth.
John 11:25  ||  1 Thessalonians 4:14  ||  Romans 8:11

All Christians who have died will one day rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air. Christians who have not yet died will be raptured or caught up with them, to be with the Lord.
Romans 8:23  ||  1 Corinthians 15:51-52
1 Thessa­lonians 4:16-17   ||  Titus 2:13

Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin and appointed as caretakers of the rest of God's creations.
Genesis 1:26-27  ||  Genesis 2:27  ||  Genesis 5:2  ||  Matthew 19:4

When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time.
Genesis 1:26-31  ||  Genesis 3:17  ||  Romans 5:12-21

The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:24-25  ||  1 Corinthians 12:12

Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.
Isaiah 53:4,5  ||  Matthew 8:16,17  ||  Mark 16:18  ||  James 5:14-16

All believers are entitled to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and therefore should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. The baptism of Christians in the Holy Spirit is accompanied by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues (unlearned languages) as the Spirit of God gives them audible expression.
Joel 2:28-29  ||  Luke 24:49  ||  Acts 1:4  ||  Acts 1:8
Acts 2:4  ||  Acts 10:44-46  ||  Acts 11:14-16  ||  Acts 15:7-9
1 Corinthians 12:1-31  ||  1 Thessalonians 5:23  ||  Romans 6:1-14

The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters .
Hebrews 2:4  ||  Romans 1:11, 12 :4-8  ||  Ephesians 4:16
2 Timothy 1:5-16, 4:14  ||  1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40
1 Peter 4:10

The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, the salvation of national Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ on the earth are Scriptural promises and our hope.
2 Thessalonians 1:7  ||  Revelation 19:1l-16
Romans 11:25  ||  Revelation 20:l-7

The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
Revelation 19:20; 20:10-15

We, as promised in the Scriptures, look for a new heavens and a new earth wherein righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:13  ||  Revelation 21,22

The ordinance of baptism by burial with Christ should be observed (as commanded in the Scriptures) by all that have repented of their sins and in their hearts have believed on Christ as their Savior and Lord. In doing so, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they have also been released to walk with Him in newness of life.
Matthew 28:19  ||  Romans 6:4

The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements, bread and fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing in a memorial to His suffering and death, and a prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined to all believers "until He comes".
John 6:48,51,53-57  ||  Luke 22:19,20
2 Peter 1:4  ||  1 Corinthians 11:25