At Crosswinds Church, there are two primary things that we believe are true.
- First, we believe that God wants all people to be in a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ
- Second, we believe true satisfaction in life comes in a relationship with God!
We believe these things because of two things Jesus said.
He said, "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). God loves every man, woman, and child. He showed it by sending Jesus to save us from the punishment we deserved because of our sins. Jesus died on the cross in our place, and three days later, the Father raised his Son from the dead to show his power over both sin and death. Those who believe this are forgiven of their sins and will live forever in a relationship with God as their heavenly Father.
Jesus also said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10). Sickness and trouble certainly rob us of satisfaction. Our possessions and achievements may provide some level of satisfaction, but these always leave us wanting more, and it only gets harder to reach the next level. Without a significant sense of purpose, we will wander from one activity to the next, looking for meaning. With God as our heavenly Father, we don't feel alone or empty, and our lives are filled with meaning and purpose. Life becomes better and more full than we ever thought possible.
Our Doctrines
About God: God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Scripture: Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
About Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Scripture: Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13
About the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He give every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
About the Bible: The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. Since God’s Word is the only completely reliable and truthful authority, we accept the Bible as our manual for living. Our first question when faced with a decision is “What does the Bible say?” We encourage the practices daily Bible reading, Bible study, and scripture memorization. The Bible is the basis for all we believe.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:15-16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
About People: People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.
Scripture: Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
About Salvation: Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Scripture: Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
About Eternal Security: Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.
Scripture: John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
About the Church: Christ is the recognized head of the church - not any person, group, or religious organization. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians, we believe every local church should be self-governing and independent from any denominational control. The primary role of the church is to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth, disciple believers, promote Christian fellowship, minister to needs, and honor the Lord in corporate worship.
Scripture: Matthew 16:15-19; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 21:2-3
About Baptism and Lord’s Supper: Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Jesus. The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby believers, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the sacrificial death of Christ and anticipate His second coming.
Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 26:26-30; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 8:35-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12
About Eternity: People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
Scripture: John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9