WE SEEK                          
UNITY in essentials
LIBERTY in non-essentials
and LOVE in all we do!

In the eight essentials of our Doctrinal Statement we must have unity.
"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." 1 Corinthians 1:10

In non-essential beliefs where the evangelical church has not been in agreement we practice liberty.
"All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained."  Philippians 3:15-16

In all these matters we practice love, which requires respect and discipline.
"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2

At Community Church of Chesapeake subscribes to the following declaration of the fundamental doctrines of biblical faith:

1. THE BIBLE
The Bible, consisting of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, the complete and final written revelation of Himself to mankind, given without error in the original manuscripts through Spirit-empowered men. It is the absolute, sole authority for our faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2Pet. 1:21, Luke 24:25)

2. THE TRINITY
God has revealed Himself as triune: one God manifest in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who are co-equal and co-eternal. (Genesis 1:26, Deuteronomy 6:, 4Matthew 28:19, Romans 15:6, Romans 9:5, Acts 5:3-4)

3. CREATED IN HIS IMAGE / ACOUNTED AS SINNERS
Mankind was created by God in His own image as immortal, morally responsible beings whose purpose is to serve, glorify and enjoy God with undivided affection. Adam chose rather to rebel and pursue selfish goals and thus all are accounted sinners, both by nature and by choice, needing individual reconciliation to God. (Genesis 1:26, 1 John 1:3, Romans 5:12)

4. SALVATION IN JESUS
Salvation offered: God has provided the only means of reconciliation through the incarnation and virgin birth of His Son, Jesus Christ, who by His shed blood and substitutionary death, paid the penalty for sin, satisfying fully the demands of God’s holy law, as evidenced by Christ's bodily resurrection from the grave. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:17)

7. THE CHURCH
The Church is a divinely-ordained, spiritual organism with certain very important privileges, assignments, obligations and disciplines relating to our love and worship of God, to the world's great need to hear the gospel and to the growth of Christians. (Ephesians 3:10, 1 Timothy 3:15)

The Universal Church is "the Body of Christ," and is composed of those in heaven and on earth whom He has redeemed with His blood and over whom He exercises ownership and Lordship, as Head of the Church. It finds its unity in the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers individually and as a body. (1Corinthians 1:2)

Local churches are the earthly, visible expression of Christ's Body, made up of professing believers wherever they are to be found throughout the world. The word "community" expresses both our desire to be salt and light in the local community, as well as, our unity in the midst of our own diversity. (1 Corinthians 16:19)

8. THE RETURN OF CHRIST
Second coming of Christ. The Lord, Jesus Christ, shall return visibly and bodily to this earth to resurrect the dead, both the just and the unjust, to claim His own people, to vindicate Himself, to punish eternally in hell all who are under His condemnation, including Satan and his demons, and to restore all things. (1 Thessalonians 4:13, 2 Thessalonians 1:7)