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DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

This declaration of our = faith is a=20 synopsis of our faith in God and belief in the life,
death, and = resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The doctrine of the Church = of=20 Christ agrees with the holy scripture. It is not good
enough = for us to=20 accept a statement of faith independent of scripture. The totality of = the scripture supports our belief.

Note: God is no respecter = of=20 persons, and neither is God's Church. In this
statement; = the use=20 of male pronouns also includes women in references to members
of the=20 Church as well as to members of the ministry. There is no male or female = in the work of the Lord, "for [we] are all one in Christ Jesus" = (Galations=20 3:28).

THE FOUNDER-JESUS=20 CHRIST=20
&nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ;
We=20 believe that Christ Himself instituted His Church and that He received = full=20 authority from God
to do so (Mark 9:7). In Matthew 16:18, Jesus = tells=20 His disciples that the Church would be built on
Him, and = because of=20 this Satan would have no lasting power over=20 it.

THE=20 MOTIVATION-LOVE

The Church is founded on = the love of=20 God (John 3:16). This is an unchanging love, a love that cares
tenderly=20 for a person even when she or he is wrong. God's love loves the sinner, = but=20 hates the sins
in the person's life. "But God commendeth his = love=20 toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for = us=20 (Romans 5:8).

THE = NEW TESTAMENT=20 CHURCH

The Church of Christ = Disciples of=20 Christ is a New Testament Church. This does not in any way
preclude our=20 belief in the Old Testament, for it served as a schoolmaster to bring us = to=20 Christ. But
after faith is come, we are no longer under a = schoolmaster=20 (Galations 3:23-26). We believe the
entire Bible from Genesis = to=20 Malachi and Matthew to Revelation; to be the revealed Word of God. = We are a New Testament Church because our salvation, hope, and = eternal life=20 came through
Christ Jesus.

THE MEMBERS=20 "DISCIPLES"

We believe that Christ = designated a=20 name by which His followers are to be called. That name is "Disciples" (Matthew 10:42; Luke 14:26; John 8:31). We = believe that=20 because Christ chose this
name for His followers, it should be = held in=20 reverence.

THE = EMBLEM-THE=20 FISH

Among=20 the first Disciples of Christ nearly 2000 years ago, it is said that in = the=20 struggle of the
Church with the civil authorities, the early = Disciples=20 used the sign of the fish as a secret code to
protect their = identity in=20 the midst of their enemies. The Church of Christ Disciples of Christ
carries that same emblem today.

THE PERSONS OF THE=20 GODHEAD

The Doctrine of = God

We believe=20 that God created all existence and without God was not anything made. We = believe=20 that
there is but one God, who is infinitely perfect, existing=20 externally in three Persons: Father, Son,
and Holy=20 Spirit.

THE = WORD OF=20 GOD
We believe that the = doctrine of the=20 Church of Christ is scripturally and spiritually based on the
Word of=20 God (Matthew 16:18, Acts 1:8). We believe that the revealed word = of God=20 (scripture) is the
only authority by which Disciples of Christ = are to=20 be governed. We believe that all claims of
spiritual = knowledge=20 must be supported by the Bible). We believe that the word of God = is the=20 final
revelation in their faith from God (Isaiah 8:16; = Revelation=20 22:18-19). We believe the word of God is
complete, and = was made=20 complete when Christ redeemed us from the sentence of hell by offering = Himself as a ransom for our sins (Romans 5:8).

The word of = God is=20 the sword of the Spirit (Heb. 4:12). The Spirit is quick = (effective and=20
fast-acting), powerful (alive and active), sharp (piercing, to = the=20 point, dagger sharp), and discerning
(revealing). We believe = all=20 scripture is given by inspiration of God (revealed), and is profitable = for doctrine (teaching), for reproof (criticism), for correction = (righting=20 wrong or discipline), for
instruction in righteousness = (direction for=20 holy living) and (2 Timothy = 3:16).

THE DOCTRINE OF JESUS=20 CHRIST

In the Gospel of John, we = hear it=20 most directly: "The Word was with God, and the Word was God"
(John=20 1:1). Christ is not just a man, sent from God (like John the = Baptist). He=20 was not just a
prophet or an angel. He is Emmanuel, God = with us=20 (Matthew 1:23, John 14:8-11). We believe that
Jesus = Christ is the=20 only true Son of God. We believe that Christ was in the creation act = with God in=20
the beginning (John 1:1). We believe that Jesus was incarnated = through=20 the giving of birth by a
young virgin named Mary. Jesus came to = forgive=20 men and women of sin, heal of sickness, give
abundant life, = save of its=20 shortcomings, and to introduce the Holy Spirit. We believe Christ = died on=20
a cross in Calvary, and then He rose from both death and the = grave. We=20 believe that Christ is active
in the lives of all who worship = Him. We=20 believe that He is preparing a resting place for His Church
(John=20 14:3).

THE = DOCTRINE OF=20 THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit (Holy = Ghost) is a=20 Person. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God Himself, therefore
the=20 Holy Spirit is someone and not something. Receiving the Holy = Spirit brings=20 about conviction,
sanctification, regeneration, adoption, = salvation,=20 guidance, comfort, teaching, gifts, fruit, and
eternal life. = The Holy=20 Spirit, empowers the believer to manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit / = working of/ listed in Corinthians 12 and (word of wisdom, = word of=20 knowledge, faith, healing,
miracles, prophecy, discerning of = spirits,=20 tongue, interpretation of tongue, and the tenth gift, the
gift = of love=20 (to which Paul devotes the entire 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians). = Believers also=20 gain the
fruit of the spirit and fruit (love, joy, peace,=20 long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
and = temperance=20 listed in Galations 5:22-23..

THE ORDINANCES OF THE = CHURCH OF=20 CHRIST
THE GREAT COMMISSION

The=20 Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ International recognizes preaching = and=20 teaching the
Gospel as its first priority in obedience to the = command=20 given to the first disciples by Jesus
Himself. "Go ye = therefore, and=20 teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the=20 Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things = whatsoever I=20 have commanded
you" (Matthew=20 28:19-20).

WATER = BAPTISM

We believe that if one is = to follow=20 the path of righteousness of Jesus Christ, she or he must be
totally=20 submerged under water, which is known as "water baptism." Baptism=20 symbolizes death and
new life in Christ Jesus. "We are buried = with Him=20 by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from = the dead=20 by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of = life" (Romans 6:4).

THE = LORD'S=20 SUPPER

The Bread and the Fruit of = the=20 Vine

We believe that the observance of the Lord's Supper = (Communion) by=20 all believers is essential. The
Lord's Supper symbolizes God's = love for=20 us through Christ's suffering and death for our salvation.
We = believe=20 that as often as we keep this observance, we show forth (symbolize) His = death=20 and
suffering (John 13:15; John 13:1-7; Luke=20 22:19-20).

FEET=20 WASHING

We believe that, according = to=20 scripture, Christ demonstrated one of the greatest acts of humility,
love, and self-sacrifice by lowering Himself to wash His Disciples' = feet.=20 While we agree that feet
washing is not in and of itself = a=20 prerequisite to salvation, we do believe that all who confess
salvation=20 (baptism of the Holy Spirit) should partake in the ordinance of the = washing of=20 one
another's feet.

ON SALVATION AND=20 GRACE

We believe that men and = women are=20 carnal and, thereby, sinful. Because we are born in sin, there
needs to=20 be an atoning and redeeming process undertaken between Christ and the=20 individual. We
can only be restored to divine favor through = salvation.=20 This redemptive operation, which comes
only through the = initiation of=20 the Holy Spirit, is brought about by repentance (a change of heart) toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, which brings about=20 conversion and sanctification
(purifying) (Romans 10:8-13).

General Assembly Church of = Christ=20 Disciples of Christ, International

Church Doctrine