Here, at Connexus Community COG, we strive to be a CONNEXION point between Christ and communities. We realize that we live in a fallen and dying world, so we exist to help others find Christ in the chaos.
Because this is our passion, Connexus Community has agreed to the set of beliefs outlined by the Church of God Cleveland, Tennessee to help us fulfill the missional mandate that Jesus Christ gave in Matthew 28.
Connexus Community Church of God is a part of the International Church of God Cleveland, Tennessee, which serves as our covering and governing body. Therefore, we have adopted the Declaration of Faith and Teachings of the International Church of God as part of our core beliefs. The International Church of God believes the whole Bible to be completely and equally inspired and that it is the written Word of God. The Church of God has adopted the following Declaration of Faith as its standard and official expression of its doctrine.
We Believe:
- In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
- In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
- That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
- That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
- That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
- Holiness to be God's standard of living for His people.
- In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
- In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
- In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
- Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.
- In the Lord's Supper and washing of the saints' feet.
- In the pre-millennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
- In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.
CORE BELIEFS
The following are the core beliefs of Connexus Community Church based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teachings and ministries are rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines and truths.
THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD
The Old and New Testament are verbally inspired by God, the only written revelation from God to man. The Bible is infallible and the authoritative rule of faith and conduct for mankind (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13 & 2 Peter 1:21).
THE FALL OF MAN
Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory (Genesis 2:26).. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin and appointed as caretakers of the rest of God's creations.
By a voluntary act of the will, Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3:6). When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time.
That first sin had several repercussions: Man was excommunicated from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23), a curse was pronounced (Genesis 3:14-19), the process of physical death began (Genesis 2:17) and man died spiritually (Romans 5:12-19).
Sin separated humankind from God (Ephesians 2:11-18) and left man in a fallen and sinful condition (Romans 3:23).
THERE IS ONE TRUE GOD
God is called by many different names because of the different dimensions of His personality, but God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). God is super-dimensional and eternally self-existent (John 8:54-59). God is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1 & 2). He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.
God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. While God is one, He chose to reveal Himself in three distinct, yet equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself.
THE SALVATION OF MAN
The only means of salvation is Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12 & John 14:6). Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin. He died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins (1 Peter 2:24). He offers each of us a pardon for our sins (Hebrews 9:26) and wants us to become children of God (John 1:12).
Upon God raising him from the dead, we now, by grace, have been offered a free gift. It's the gift of eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.
When we put our faith in Christ, it triggers a spiritual chain reaction. We become the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 3:5). We become citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20-21). We are given eternal life (John 3:16). We are adopted and become children of God (Gal. 4:4-7). Our sins are forgiven and forgotten (Heb. 8:12). We are credited with the righteousness of Christ (Rom. 4:4-5). We are born again (John 3:3). God takes ownership of us (I Cor. 6:20). We receive an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14 & 1 Peter 1:3-5).
The evidence of salvation is two-fold. The internal evidence is the direct witness of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16). The external evidence is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23). We become a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) and are transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).
Upon God raising him from the dead, we now, by grace, have been offered a free gift. It's the gift of eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.
When we put our faith in Christ, it triggers a spiritual chain reaction. We become the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 3:5). We become citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20-21). We are given eternal life (John 3:16). We are adopted and become children of God (Gal. 4:4-7). Our sins are forgiven and forgotten (Heb. 8:12). We are credited with the righteousness of Christ (Rom. 4:4-5). We are born again (John 3:3). God takes ownership of us (I Cor. 6:20). We receive an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14 & 1 Peter 1:3-5).
The evidence of salvation is two-fold. The internal evidence is the direct witness of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16). The external evidence is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23). We become a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) and are transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).
THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION
The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) and has a three-fold purpose: to spread the gospel the world (Acts 1:8 & Mark 16:15-16), to worship God (1 Cor. 12:13) and to equip the body of Christ for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16 & 1 Cor. 12:28, 14:12).
The Church is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) and has a three-fold purpose: to spread the gospel the world (Acts 1:8 & Mark 16:15-16), to worship God (1 Cor. 12:13) and to equip the body of Christ for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16 & 1 Cor. 12:28, 14:12).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The nine fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) are the by-product of a Spirit-filled life and evidence of spiritual maturity. The nine gifts of the Spirit are different manifestations of the Spirit to build up the body (1 Cor. 12:1-11). We are instructed to diligently seek the gifts (1 Cor. 12:31, 14:1), but they must be exercised in an orderly way (1 Cor. 14:26-33) in the context of love (1 Cor. 13:1-13).
THE FINAL JUDGEMENT
Jesus Christ is returning one day to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth. This final judgment will be where the living, the resurrected, and the dead will be judged according to their works (Matt. 25:31-46 & Romans 2:1-9).
Everyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life, along with the Devil and his angels, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15). Those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be resurrected and stand at the Bema seat of Christ to be rewarded for their good deeds (1 Cor. 4:5).
Everyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life, along with the Devil and his angels, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15). Those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be resurrected and stand at the Bema seat of Christ to be rewarded for their good deeds (1 Cor. 4:5).