Statement of Faith
Cyrus Redemption Center encourages people of all beliefs and persuasions to investigate what the Bible teaches. There is no official membership at Cyrus Redemption Center. However, we consider a number of biblical doctrines to be central to our faith and vital to the integrity of all aspects of our ministry.
THE BIBLE
The Bible is the inspired word of God. The 66 books that 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 our church. (2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 5:18)
THE TRINITY
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 14:10, 26; 15:26)
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ, the Son, is fully God and fully human, born of the Virgin Mary, is true God, and true man. 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)
HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is God. He is that part of the Trinity that lives inside all believers. He indwells all believers immediately when we place our faith in Christ and 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
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance. Some people may not immediately speak in tongues at the time of conversion, but we believe that all people are enabled to speak in tongues. Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 2:4-10, 2:38; Acts; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 12:1-31
WATER BAPTISM
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe in Christ as our Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16
SALVATION
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)
HUMANITY
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 be satisfied only 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
The church is God's chosen instrument through which the message of salvation is spread to all people. The church is composed of all those who place saving faith in Jesus Christ (the body of Christ). The church's assignment is to reach the spiritually lost for Christ in accordance with the great commission, with signs, wonders, and miracles following; to proclaim, preserve, and display the gospel; to teach and to mobilize believers to accomplish God’s purposes in the world through discipleship. God wants all Christians to live out their spiritual lives in a corporate context of Christian love relationships, which is a crucial feature of our witness for Christ as it reflects God's character to the world. Mark 16:14-20; Ephesians 4:2-6, 5:23; Matthew 28:18-20
THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper points to Jesus Christ, whose body was given for us and whose shed blood established the new covenant. In sharing the bread and cup, each believer remembers the death of Jesus and God’s act of deliverance in raising Jesus from the dead. In this communion meal, we give thanks for all God’s acts of deliverance in the past and present, for the forgiveness of sins, and for God’s continuing grace in our lives. We renew our covenant with God and with each other. As one body, we participate in the life of Jesus Christ given for the redemption of humankind. Thus we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:24-26; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:15-20, 28-30
TITHING AND GIVING
The Bible tells us that tithing is a way to show God that we trust Him with our lives and our finances. We don’t have to tithe to earn God’s love—because we already have it. Each believer should give a generous, intentional, regular, proportional gift of his or her income to God, through the local church, as a spiritual discipline. Scripture gives us the tithe (one tenth) as the normal beginning point of giving for a believer. Malachi 3:10, 1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
HOLINESS
We believe holiness is necessary if one is to see God, and this is the work of the Holy Spirit in the surrendered life of a Christian, not a man-made holiness. Hebrews 12:14, Matthew 5:48, Romans 12:1
DIVINE HEALING AND DELIVERANCE
Jesus Christ died for the total redemption of man: spirit, soul, and body; therefore, divine healing and deliverance is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers through faith. Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16; Peter 2:24; James 5:13-15
SOCIAL ISSUES
There are many sins GOD desires to protect us from — racism, prejudice, gluttony, sexual promiscuity, adultery, etc. All human life is sacred and created by God in His image therefore we are called to defend, protect, and value all human life.
God creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Gender is assigned by God at birth, and the Holy Scripture does not permit an individual to alter their sexual identity physically or otherwise.
God created marriage to be exclusively the union between one man and one woman, and that sexual intimacy is to occur exclusively within that union. Genesis 1:27, 2:24; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 29:6, Isaiah 62:5, Leviticus 18:22, 20:13
SATAN
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
SECOND COMING
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
THE AFTERLIFE
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, while others will live under eternal judgment. Therefore, because eternal issues are at stake, there is an urgency to communicate the gospel. John 5:24; Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
THE BIBLE
The Bible is the inspired word of God. The 66 books that 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 our church. (2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 5:18)
THE TRINITY
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 14:10, 26; 15:26)
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ, the Son, is fully God and fully human, born of the Virgin Mary, is true God, and true man. 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)
HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is God. He is that part of the Trinity that lives inside all believers. He indwells all believers immediately when we place our faith in Christ and 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
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance. Some people may not immediately speak in tongues at the time of conversion, but we believe that all people are enabled to speak in tongues. Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 2:4-10, 2:38; Acts; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 12:1-31
WATER BAPTISM
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe in Christ as our Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16
SALVATION
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)
HUMANITY
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 be satisfied only 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
The church is God's chosen instrument through which the message of salvation is spread to all people. The church is composed of all those who place saving faith in Jesus Christ (the body of Christ). The church's assignment is to reach the spiritually lost for Christ in accordance with the great commission, with signs, wonders, and miracles following; to proclaim, preserve, and display the gospel; to teach and to mobilize believers to accomplish God’s purposes in the world through discipleship. God wants all Christians to live out their spiritual lives in a corporate context of Christian love relationships, which is a crucial feature of our witness for Christ as it reflects God's character to the world. Mark 16:14-20; Ephesians 4:2-6, 5:23; Matthew 28:18-20
THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper points to Jesus Christ, whose body was given for us and whose shed blood established the new covenant. In sharing the bread and cup, each believer remembers the death of Jesus and God’s act of deliverance in raising Jesus from the dead. In this communion meal, we give thanks for all God’s acts of deliverance in the past and present, for the forgiveness of sins, and for God’s continuing grace in our lives. We renew our covenant with God and with each other. As one body, we participate in the life of Jesus Christ given for the redemption of humankind. Thus we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:24-26; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:15-20, 28-30
TITHING AND GIVING
The Bible tells us that tithing is a way to show God that we trust Him with our lives and our finances. We don’t have to tithe to earn God’s love—because we already have it. Each believer should give a generous, intentional, regular, proportional gift of his or her income to God, through the local church, as a spiritual discipline. Scripture gives us the tithe (one tenth) as the normal beginning point of giving for a believer. Malachi 3:10, 1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
HOLINESS
We believe holiness is necessary if one is to see God, and this is the work of the Holy Spirit in the surrendered life of a Christian, not a man-made holiness. Hebrews 12:14, Matthew 5:48, Romans 12:1
DIVINE HEALING AND DELIVERANCE
Jesus Christ died for the total redemption of man: spirit, soul, and body; therefore, divine healing and deliverance is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers through faith. Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16; Peter 2:24; James 5:13-15
SOCIAL ISSUES
There are many sins GOD desires to protect us from — racism, prejudice, gluttony, sexual promiscuity, adultery, etc. All human life is sacred and created by God in His image therefore we are called to defend, protect, and value all human life.
God creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Gender is assigned by God at birth, and the Holy Scripture does not permit an individual to alter their sexual identity physically or otherwise.
God created marriage to be exclusively the union between one man and one woman, and that sexual intimacy is to occur exclusively within that union. Genesis 1:27, 2:24; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 29:6, Isaiah 62:5, Leviticus 18:22, 20:13
SATAN
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
SECOND COMING
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
THE AFTERLIFE
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, while others will live under eternal judgment. Therefore, because eternal issues are at stake, there is an urgency to communicate the gospel. John 5:24; Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
