Summary of Doctrine

CBC is, unashamedly and unapologetically a Baptist church that holds the Bible to be the rule of church, personal and family life. Our practices and doctrines are grounded in the Holy Scriptures (2Timothy 3:16), and can be traced all the way back to the teaching of Jesus Christ and His Apostles (Ephesians 2:20).

Our family of churches (2John 1) have been identified by various names throughout the years - Christian, Montanist, Paulician, Waldensian, Albigenses, Anabaptist and Baptist, to name a few. Today, we are known as Independent Baptists, and trace our lineage and authority clear back to John the Baptist, himself authorised by God (John 1:6, 33).

CBC holds to the old paths that the Lord's churches have ever held to: independent, local, closed table, John's baptism, premillennial, separated, missionary, pretribulational and unaffiliated. Nonetheless, the Bible itself is the sole and final authority of all that we believe, and is not superseded by anything in this statement, direct or implied.

Our doctrines and practices are not Biblical because 'we believe them' - they are Biblical because they are found in the Bible. It is for this reason that you will not read the phrase 'we believe' in this summary.


Holy Scriptures

Inspired: The Holy Ghost guided men to write exactly what He wanted.
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. Exodus 31:18

Inerrant: There is no error, omission or addition in God’s Word.
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Psalms 12:6

Infallible: The Word of God cannot and does not teach error.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

Preserved: The Scriptures have been kept pure by God since the day they were penned, and for the English speaking people they have been preserved as the King James Bible, also known as the Authorized Version.
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Isaiah 40:8

Sufficient: The Word of God teaches us all we need to know for this life, not needing to be supplemented with dreams, visions, prophesies, tongues or special interpretations to understand it.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2Timothy 3:16-17


God

Singular: There is only one God. LORD is another of His Names.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 1Timothy 2:5

Triune: The Trinity, or the Godhood – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost – are thee Persons in One. They are equal in Godhood and Deity, and exist as One God.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2Corinthians 13:14
 

Jesus Christ

God & The Son Of God: Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God, having no beginning or ending. He is also God Himself.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1-2, 14

Mediator: Jesus Christ is the only intercessor between God and man. He reconciles the repentant sinner with God. No man, no saint, no priest, not even Mary the Mother of Jesus Christ's humanity can act as mediator.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 1Timothy 2:5
 
Saviour: Jesus Christ is the only Saviour.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

Virgin Born: Jesus Christ came into this world, taking on a human body, born of a virgin.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23
 
Resurrected: Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind, was buried for three days and nights, then rose physically and literally from the dead.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel … how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1Corinthians 15:1, 3-4
 
Glorified: Jesus Christ is currently seated in Heaven, presiding over the affairs of His Kingdom and this world
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. Hebrews 10:12-13


The Holy Ghost

Personal: The Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, is the third Person of the Trinity.
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1John 5:7

Divine: The Holy Ghost is co-equal, co-essential, and co-eternal, and co-active with the Father and the Son.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6

Ministry: The Holy Ghost was in time past active in the Creation and Inspiration of the Scriptures. He continues to convince men of their sin, regenerate the repentant sinner, teach and sanctify the believer, and work in and through churches for the honour of Jesus Christ.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13


Man

Created: Mankind is a Creation of God, created in the image of God Himself, higher in order than the plant and animal kingdoms, but a little lower  than the angels.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
​Genesis 1:27

Sinful: Every person is a sinner, inheriting Adam's rebellious nature and consequently willfully committing wrongs against God by transgressing His Commandments.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;. Romans 3:23

Lost: Every person is born in an unsaved state, estranged from a relationship with God. They are judged by God as guilty and condemned to an eternity of damnation in Hellfire.
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Romans 3:19


Salvation

Gracious: God Himself has prepared, offered and completed salvation in the spirit of every repentant sinner.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8

Free: Salvation cannot be purchased, bargained for or earned. It is gifted freely by God to man, unable to be purchased, bargained or worked for.
Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:9

Atoning: Jesus Christ, by substituting Himself for mankind upon the Cross, paid for the sin debt of all sins for all mankind and satisfied God's demands for judgment upon sin.
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:10-12

Conditional: A lost soul must repent toward God from sin and believe or trust on the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved.
Repentance: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, Acts 3:19
Faith: And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, Acts 16:31

Regenerative: At the point of salvation, a soul is born again. This new birth, wrought by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, places the believer into the Family of God as a new creature in Christ.
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1Peter 1:21-23

Everlasting: Salvation is everlasting or eternal. From the time of receiving eternal life at salvation, the believer shall never lose their salvation, being eternally secure. After this life, they will assuredly enter into Heaven for all of eternity.
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. John 10:28-29


Church

Local: A church is local and therefore visible. It can be visited and joined. In the New Testament, churches are identified by the town they are located in. The invisible, universal church theory is unscriptural.
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. Revelation 1:11

Assembly: The members of a church can gather together. A church must be able to gather for services, the Lord's Table and business meetings to occur.
When ye come together therefore into one place, 1Corinthains 11:20
Note: this verse is written to the church at Corinth - a local assembly found in a town, not the Family of God.

Baptism: Baptism is necessary for a believer to hold church membership. Baptism must be after evidence of repentance and salvation, by full immersion, for church membership and under the authority of a Scriptural church. This ensures that baptism continues to be in the lineage of John Baptist's baptism.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2:42

Communion: The Lord's Supper, along with baptism, is the 2nd of the two church ordinances. The Lord's Supper is open only for members of that particular church. The Lord's Supper can only be carried out under church authority.

Commissioned: Each church is commissioned to carry out the work of the Lord Jesus Christ in His absence. The threefold commission is: win souls to Christ, baptize them into church membership, continue to teach and instruct them.And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

Autonomous: A church is self-governing, under the Headship of Jesus Christ. The pastor is designated to take the oversight of the church.
Headship of Christ: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23
Oversight of pastor: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Acts 20:28

Sunday: The first day of the week is designated by Scriptural example for a church to gather together to carry out their duties of worship and service. Saturday is the sabbath given to Israel by Jehovah God, not for New Testament churches.
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 1Corinthians 16:1-2


End Times

Resurrection: Because Jesus Christ rose literally, bodily and physically from the dead, so too every believer will be resurrected physically and literally.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1Corinthians 15:51-55

Rapture: Every living believer will be caught up to meet Christ at His Return. This occurs at the beginning of the Tribulation. It is incorrectly called the rapture of the church.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Thessalonians 4:16-17

Tribulation: The 7 year period of the wrath of God upon the earth, Daniel's 70th Week, begins at the Rapture and ceases with Armageddon. The Rapture is therefore Pre-Tribulational. During the Tribulation, those in Heaven will both stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 1Thessalonians 5:9-10

Millennium: The literal 1000 year reign of Christ upon the earth follows the Tribulation. It starts at the end of Armageddon and finishes immediately prior to Gog & Magog.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. Revelation 2:4-8