Both the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (II Tim. 3:15 I Thess. 2:13; II Peter 1:21)

The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth, and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4; Is. 43:10; Matt. 28:19; Luke 3:22)

He is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:

A. His virgin birth (Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:31,35

B. His sinless life (Heb. 7:26; I Peter 2:22)

C. His miracles (Acts 2:22 / 10:38)

D. His substitutionary work on the cross (I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21)

E. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matt. 28:6; Luke 24:39)

F. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11/2:33; Phil.2:9-11; Heb. 1-3)

Man was created good and upright, for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, man, by voluntary transgression, fell and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Gen. 1:26,27 / 2:17 / 3:6; Romans 5:12-19)

Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

A. Conditions to Salvation (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Eph. 2:8; Titus 2:11 / 3:5-7)

1. Repentance toward God

2. Faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ

B. Evidence of Salvation

1. Direct witness of the Spirit confirmed by the Word of God (Romans 8:16; John 1:12)

2. An outward evidence of a life of righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24; Titus 2:12)

Cross & Crown recognizes only two (2) bona fide ordinances as being clearly laid out in Scripture.

A. Baptism by immersion (wherever and whenever possible) is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior are to be baptized. This is an outward confession and profession to the world of an inward confirmation of the work of God that the believer identifies with the death of Christ and has been raised with him to walk in newness of life. (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4)

B. The Lord's Supper, consisting of bread and the fruit of the vine, is a symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:4); a memorial of his suffering and death (I Cor. 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (I Cor. 11:26), and is enjoined on all believers, "till He come."

All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early church. The purpose of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is for the enduement of power for life and service in exercising the gifts in the work of the ministry. (Acts 1:4,8; I Cor. 12:1-31; Luke 24:49)

This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17 / 10:44-46 / 11:14-16 /15:7-9). With the Baptism in the Holy Spirit comes such experiences as:

1. An overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8)

2. A deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Heb.12:28)

3. An intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42)

4. A more active love for Christ, His Word, and for the lost (Mark 16:20)

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives us utterance (Acts 2:4). The speaking in other tongues is the same in essence, but different in purpose and use, as the gift of tongues as found in I Cor. 12:4-10,28.

Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil and a dedication unto God (Romans 12:1,2; I Thess. 5:23; Heb. 3:12). The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." (I Cor. 10:13; I Peter 1:15,16)

Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection and by faith actualizing daily upon the facts of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 6:1-11,13 / 8:1,2,13; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 2:12,13; I Peter 1:15)

The church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn which are written in heaven (Eph. 1:22,23 / 2:22; Heb. 12:23). Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the priority reason for the being and mission of Cross & Crown is:

1. Evangelism (Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16)

2. Edification of the Body (Eph. 4:11-16; I Cor. 12:28: ICor.14:12)

3. Expression of worship to God (I Cor. 12:13)

4. Education (Matt. 28:19,20; 2 Tim. 2:2,15)

This is the Apostolic pattern; one purpose demonstrated in four ways. The church is all four or it does not conform to the New Testament pattern. An overemphasis on any part does not constitute this body as a New Testament church. Each aspect is fundamental, vital, and equally important.

A divinely ordained and called ministry has been provided by our Lord for the purpose of completing the aforesaid mission. (Mark 16:15-20; John 4:23,24; Eph.4:11-16)

As an integral part of the Gospel, deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement and is the privilege of all believers. (Is. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:16,17; James 5:14-16)

The bodily resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church. (I Thess. 4:16,17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; I Cor. 15:51,52)

The Second Coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth and establish universal peace for the period of one thousand years. (Matt. 24:27,30; Rev. 1:7 / 19:11-14 / 20:1-6)

There will be a final judgment in which all the wicked dead will be raised and judged. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire which is the second death. (Matt. 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20 / 20:11-15 / 21:8)

"According to His promise, we look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." (II Peter 3:13; Rev. 21,22)