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Our basic philosophy concerning the teaching of ECCC is as follows:
In essential beliefs - we have unity.
In non-essential beliefs - we have freedom.
In all our beliefs - we show love.
The Essentials We Believe:
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 coequal and are one God. Genesis 1:1,26-27, 3:22, Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2Cor 13:14
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is coequal with the Father. Jesus came down from heaven, was born of the virgin Mary, 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. 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 coequal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for 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 gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. 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 Scripture
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. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
About Human Beings
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 us from God. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
About Salvation
Salvation is God's free gift to us but we must recieve Jesus Christ to 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. We will then turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith as a consequence of our being saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus into his life by faith. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; John 3:115-17
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. John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 1:8, 2:44-46
We affirm Reformed Theology which maintains that the Protestant Reformation of the Sixteenth century was desperately needed in an age when God's word had been so neglected, and that it is just as desperately needed today. Churches often succumb to the tendency to neglect the teaching of God's word, addressing people's felt needs instead. However, if we are going to address their greatest need of all, we must be faithful to teach God's message of salvation revealed in the Bible.
The Reformers provided us with the following five principles, which will hold us accountable to faithfully address people's greatest need of all, a new heart for a new life in Christ, while giving all glory to God, who alone can meet that need:
1. Sola Scriptura: (Scripture Alone) The Scriptures alone revealed in the sixty-six books of our biblical canon are our sole authority for understanding God, man, and the way to salvation (I Timothy 6:3-4, Galatians 1:6-9, I Timothy 1:3-4, II Timothy 3:14-17).
2. Solus Christus: (Christ Alone) Jesus Christ is the sole mediator between God and man. He alone is responsible for accomplishing salvation and granting us right standing before God (I Timothy 2:5, Romans 3:19-27, John 14:6).
3. Sola Gratia: (Grace Alone) The grace of God alone is able to regenerate our hearts, bringing our souls out of a state of death, and into spiritual life. Understanding God's grace proves that we love God only because he first loved us and granted us this gift of grace to open our blind eyes (I Corinthians 15:10, Ephesians 2:8-9).
4. Sola Fide: (Faith Alone) Faith alone in Christ's perfect life and atoning death on the Cross is able to justify us and reconcile us before a holy God (Genesis 15:8, Romans 4:4-8).
5. Soli Deo Gloria:(The Glory of God Alone) Everything God created was created for His glory and His pleasure alone. St. Augustine helps us understand our design as humans when he writes , "Thou hast made us for thyself, and our hearts are restless until we find rest in thee." We were created for no other reason than for God's own pleasure and glory (Revelation 4:11, Isaiah 43:6-7).
We also affirm The Doctrines of Grace (TULIP)
1. T Total (or Radical) Depravity
Because of the fall, man is unable of himself to savingly believe the gospel. The sinner is dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and desperately corrupt. His will is not free, it is in bondage to his evil nature; therefore, he will not--indeed he cannot--choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently, it takes much more than the Spirit's assistance to bring a sinner to Christ--it takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God's gift of salvation--it is God's gift to the sinner, not the sinner’s gift to God.
Genesis 2:15-17, Romans 5:12, Psalm 51:5, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 3:10-18, Jeremiah 17:9, John 6:44, Ephesians 2:1-10
2. U Unconditional Election
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response or obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God's choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner’s choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
Romans 9:10-21, Ephesians 1:4-11, Ephesians 2:4-10, Romans 8:29-30, Acts 11:18, Acts 13:48
3. L Limited (or Particular) Atonement
Christ's redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was a substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ's redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith which united them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, thereby guaranteeing their salvation.
Matthew 1:21, Romans 5:12-21, Romans 3:21-26, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5-6, Philippians 1:6, John 10:11-30, John 17:6-12, Romans 8:28-30, John 6:44, Acts 20:28
4. I Irresistible (or Efficacious) Grace
In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call (which is made to all without distinction) can be, and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected, it always results in conversion. By means of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man's will, nor is He dependent upon man's cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. God's grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.
John 3:16, Matthew 22:14, Acts 17:29-31, Matthew 23:37-39, John 6:44, Romans 8:28-30,
John 1:12-13, John 3:1-8, Ephesians 2:8-10
5. P Perseverance of the Saints
All who were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end.
John 3:16, John 6:35-40, John 6:44, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:12-13, Jude 24-25,
