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History of Crosswinds Association About Crosswinds
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The Bible is the inspired word of God. The
66 books which constitute the Bible are entirely reliable and truthful, and the
Bible stands as the central authority over our lives, our faith and the
direction of the church. (2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 5:18)
Three persons eternally share the Divine
Nature. The Bible refers to these persons as the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit. God is both self-existent and personal. (John
Jesus Christ, the Son, is fully God and
fully human. Born of a virgin, He lived a sinless life, died for the sins of humankind,
was resurrected bodily on the third day, ascended into heaven and is coming
again as King and Judge.
Jesus Christ is the only provision that
God has given for people to be reconciled to Him. Jesus’ life on earth also
serves as the model for the Christian life. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)
The Holy Spirit is God. He indwells us at
the moment we place our faith in Christ. He empowers us to live an effective
Christian life by affirming our salvation, encouraging us and giving us the
strength to live a life that is pleasing to God and personally fulfilling. The
Holy Spirit also endows each believer with a unique spiritual ability to serve
the church and the world. (John 14:16; Ephesians 1:19-20; 1 Corinthians 12)
Salvation is reconciliation with God
through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. God offers us salvation by His grace
alone and we receive it as a gift through personal faith in the finished work
of Jesus Christ. This right standing before God must be received and cannot be earned.
God freely offers salvation to all people, and our salvation is secure.
(Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 8:38,39; Ephesians 1:13; 2:4)
Human beings are created in the image of
God. As such, we are unique among all of God’s creation. Through the abuse of
our God-given free will, we have turned against God and this has resulted in
spiritual death for all humankind. Humanity lives in a state of alienation and
profound need which can only be satisfied by reconciliation with God through
Christ. Without this reconciliation, all people stand under God’s righteous
judgment.
Humanity, although fallen, maintains the
image of God and is, therefore, still dignified and unique. God continues to
love us and reach out to us, even though we are hostile to Him. Believers in
Jesus Christ receive a new nature that becomes the foundation for a process of
transformation. (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
The church is composed of all those
throughout history who place saving faith in Jesus Christ. The church is not an
institution, but a people. God wants all Christians to live out their spiritual
lives in a corporate context. This context of Christian love relationships is a
crucial feature of our witness for Christ as it reflects God’s character to the
world.
The church is God’s chosen instrument
through which the message of salvation is spread to all people. This mission is
the central purpose for the church. We are to carry the good news locally and
worldwide and demonstrate the gospel by relevant social action. (John 13:34,
35; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Matthew 28:19)
Satan is the personal, spiritual adversary
of God and God’s followers. Satan actively opposes the work of the church and
the spiritual vitality of Christians. We therefore take seriously, but in a
balanced way, the reality of personal, spiritual opposition. Satan is doomed to
final defeat and judgment when Christ returns. (Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 20)
This age will conclude with the personal,
bodily return of Christ. At that time, He will complete God’s plan to
reestablish His just and righteous rule over all humanity. (Matthew 24:29-31;
Revelation 20)
At the final judgment, God will assign all
people their eternal destinies—either life or judgment. Those who have
responded to Jesus Christ with saving faith will receive the eternal life they
have already been promised (John
Therefore, because eternal issues are at
stake, there is an urgency to communicate the gospel. (Matthew 25:46; 2
Thessalonians 1:5-10)