Our confession of faith at MCF is simply this:
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
The roots of our confession are:
What we believe:
We believe in the One True Living God, who is eternal, constant and unchanging (Psalm 41:13), who creates and sustains the universe, the world, all of life (Psalm 121, 146; John 1:1ff); who has absolute power, knowledge, wisdom and authority (Ephesians 1:20-22); who is intimate, personal and relational (Psalm 139, John 15: 9-17); who has been revealed in the flesh through Jesus and dwells with humanity through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
We believe in Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who came in the flesh to save the world (Matthew 16:16; John 3:16-17; Luke 2:11; John 10:30 & 20:28). As planned and foretold by God to redeem all of creation (Luke 24:25-27), Jesus was born of a virgin, was executed by crucifixion, buried for 3 days, and came back to life again (Romans 1:1-7). His death was the final atoning sacrifice (the ultimate act of reconcilitation between God and humanity) for our sins, and it is through Him that we have a reconciled relationship with God (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). He lives now, exalted and mediating for all of humanity at the right hand of God (Philippians 2:10-11; Hebrews 8:1-3).
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the dwelling presence of God in our lives existing as Helper/Counselor and Advocate/Advisor (John 14:16-17) given to us by God through Jesus as a gift for the purpose of our ongoing relationship with God (John 16:5-15) by interceding on our behalf to God (Romans 8). The Spirit enlightens our minds – awakening in us our need for a Savior. At the point of salvation, the Spirit indwells every believer – giving them eternal life, equipping them for personal growth and bearing the “fruit” of Jesus’ character (Galatians 5:22-23) for ongoing community relationships and for personal service/ministry within the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) and in the world (Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:8).
What we teach:
We teach that the Bible is God’s written word that contains the Divine Story of God’s unique actions toward and interactions with people and the world (2 Timothy 3:16-18; Hebrews 4:12-13). Also known as the Holy Scriptures, the Bible is recognized and preserved by the church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit throughout history (1 Cor 2:12-13); it is authoritative and true and is our rule/guide for faith and action in relationships (Romans 15:4).
We teach that salvation is totally dependent on the work of God. In salvation, a person experiences restored and renewed life and a reconciled relationship with God (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16); it is a free gift of love from God (John 3:16) made real through Jesus who died for the forgiveness of our sins. This gift can be received by believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior, repenting of sins, publically confessing Jesus as Savior, and submitting to Jesus as Lord – expressed through baptism and a life of following Jesus (John 20:31; Acts 2:22-41; Romans 2:7 & 10:9). Through Jesus we receive eternal life (John 10:27-29; 1 Timothy 1:16)
We teach an eternal destiny for everyone. For all people, there will be a resurrection of the body and a judgment that will reveal the fate of each individual (1 Corinthians 15:19). Based on one’s relationship with God during life, those in a reconciled relationship with God will be raised to eternal life with God (John 3:36, 6:39; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14, 5:10), and those who have rejected God will experience judgment and everlasting separation from God (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:29).
What we celebrate:
We celebrate the gathering of all believers in the name of Jesus, sharing and encouraging life together in our worship of God, love of Jesus and life in the Spirit. As adopted children of God (Romans 8), we celebrate both the Lord’s Supper and Baptism, which signifies the fellowship and identification with the Church – the visible body of Christ (Ephesians 3:5-7). We care for each other, we confess to one another in prayer and worship, and we experience re-creation in our activities of play and fun, so that in all we do, we do for the glory of God (Acts 2:37-47; 1 Peter 4:10-12; Hebrews 3:12-13 & 10:24-25).
We celebrate the Lord’s Supper openly with all who profess Jesus as Lord. It is the divine interaction of the presence and rememberance of Jesus, honoring and proclaming his promises made real through his crucifixion and resurrection (Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34). We also teach that the elements of communion are spiritually real as the representative of the flesh and blood of Christ (John 6:26-69), and that the Lord’s Supper is an actual communion with the risen Christ, who is present in a unique way, fellowshipping with His people (1 Corinthians 10:16). In the pattern of the early church, we offer the Lord’s Supper weekly (Acts 2:42-47 & 20:7).
We celebrate Baptism as a spiritually real act of obedience (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38-42) through the outward participation in the life, death (burial) and resurrection of Jesus based on the inward belief and submission to Jesus as Lord ––beautifully expressed through immersion in water (Mark 16:15-16; Romans 6:2-4; 1 Peter 3:18-22).
What we honor:
We honor singleness as a commendable lifestyle of relationship with others (1 Corinthians 7) and marriage as a sacred spiritual and social union between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Hebrews 13:4).
We honor the affirmation of a person’s faith commitment through personal Bible study and understanding, Christian Confirmation/education in the local church and corporate moments when we confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (John 20:19-31, Luke 24:31-35).
We honor the ordination of all believers who respond to the Spirit’s leading for ministry according to their gifts, skills and passions (Acts 13:2-3; 1 Corinthians 12 -13).
We honor the annointing of the sick as a means to come as a community, humbly before God requesting health and wholeness (James 5:13-15).
We are a fellowship supported by individuals who have a history and/or an existing relationship with MCF (Alumni and Friends of MCF). The churches that support MCF are of the 19th - Century Reformation movement in America (Christian Churches, Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ).
