What We Believe

We believe that God has made all things for his glory, including and especially, humanity. He is the Almighty God and the Creator, ruling over all the things that he has made, and he has revealed himself as one God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
– Romans 11:36

“It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.”
– Jeremiah 10:12

We believe that the world is broken because of sin. Man is sinful and is therefore separated from God. We are all born sinful and everything is tainted by that sin.

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
– Romans 5:12

We believe that Jesus Christ was sent so that we can know God. He was and is fully God and fully man. He came to this world to die as a substitute, paying for our sin. He lived the perfect life, free from sin, and died a criminal’s death. After three days, he rose again from the dead, and he still lives today. True life is found in following Jesus and living for him.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
– John 3:16

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
– Colossians 1:19-20

We believe that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live in the hearts of believers, empowering us for obedience and ministry.

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”
– John 15:26

We believe that the Bible is inspired by God, completely true and without error, and the ultimate authority for faith and practice. The Bible is how we understand God, ourselves, and all of life. With this in mind, we highly value preaching in the worship service, along with spending time together reading and studying the Bible.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
– 2 Timothy 3:16

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
– Romans 10:17

We believe that God is calling people into his family, called the Church, and that local churches are where he calls us to grow, learn, serve, worship, and minister. Our church is just one expression of the universal Church, which is comprised of all those churches throughout the world that profess the true gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe that in church Jesus has called us to preach, to pray, to sing, and to participate in the sacraments. Sacraments are visible representations of the good news about Jesus. The two sacraments he gives us are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

“In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
– 1 Corinthians 11:25-26

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
– Colossians 3:15-16

We believe that God has a mission for the Church, commonly referred to as the Great Commission, where we are to go into the whole world sharing good news, baptizing, and teaching so that people from every tribe, tongue, and nation will continue to come into God’s family.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:18-20

We believe that Jesus is going to return to make all things new, bringing about full justice and righteousness as he rules and reigns in the new heavens and the new earth for all eternity.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ And he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.'”
– Revelation 21:1-7

The Westminster Confession of Faith

Cross Park Church is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Our church, along with all the other churches in our denomination, accept the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms as a faithful and accurate summary of the Bible’s teachings.