Statement of Faith

THE BIBLE is God's message to man, recorded without error in the original manuscripts. The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for the author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. It reveals the principles by which God judges us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human contact, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ. 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet.1:20-21; Ps. 19:7-13; Ps. 119; Mt. 24:35; Mt. 5:18; Jn. 17:17

THAT GOD exists in three distinct persons who are the same in nature but distinctive in functions: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributed, but being without division of nature, essence, or being. God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all-powerful, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.  Gen. 1:1 Mt. 28:19 Psalm 139:1-12, Is. 6:1-7 Psalm 136  I John 4:8  Romans 8:14-16

THAT MAN is created in the image of God, yet he is fallen in his sinfulness. 

Human beings are made in God's spiritual, moral, reasonable, and emotional image. Mankind is the supreme creation of God, created to know, love, and be like God in character. Every Human is precious and valuable to God from the moment of conception.  However, sin entered the human race through Adam.  Sin corrupts us all and leads us into sinful acts. Sin separates us from God and from eternal and abundant life. Every person is separated from God by the sin nature and by choice. Genesis 1:27; Ps. 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23

THAT JESUS CHRIST, the eternal Son of God was born of a virgin, literally rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, is undiminished deity and perfect humanity permanently united in one person. It was through His sacrificial death on the cross that He removed once and for all the barrier of sin between God and man. Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself the demands and necessities of human nature and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, partaking of the nature of God and of man, and in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.  Col. 1:15-20, 2:9; John 1:1-5; Mt. 1:22-23; Is. 9:6; Heb. 1:1-3, 2:18, 4:14-15; 2 Cor. 5:21; I Cor. 15:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; Rev. 17:14, 19:11-16

SALVATION is the unearned gift from God to any man who will receive in dependence the provision that Christ's death is the sufficient and necessary requirement for eternal life. Man was created by the special act of God, in His own image, and is the crowing work of His creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by His Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence; whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin, and as soon as they are capable of moral action become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that Christ died for man; therefore every man possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love. Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the cause of Christ, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.  Eph. 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; Jn. 14:6; Romans 5:1; 8:1,38-39; Titus 3:5; John 3:16; Eph. 1:13

THE HOLY SPIRIT is a person who permanently indwells every believer from the moment of salvation. He provides every believer with gifts for service and with the fullness of God's power to make him adequate for living. As he acts in dependence upon the Spirit, he will progressively grow into maturity. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convict of sin, of righteousness and of judgement. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.  Jn.14:16-17; Ro. 8:9; I Cor. 2:12; Jn. 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; Eph.1:13-14; Eph. 5:18; Gal 5:22-25

THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH is the visible expression of God's kingdom in this age and is distinct from Israel. Membership in it is based solely upon a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

THE LOCAL CHURCH is an assembly of believers gathering together in communion with each other to give visible expression of Jesus Christ's body to their community and to stimulate growth in each other's lives.

THE ORDINANCES are to be observed commemorating Christ's works for the church: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is practiced by individuals as a symbolic expression of personal identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The Lord's Supper is practiced corporately as a symbolic reminder of His provision for salvation for the church.

THAT Baptism is an act of obedience to Christ that symbolizes our identification with His death, burial, and resurrection. As such it is reserved for those who have expressed their desire to be followers of Jesus Christ.  Baptism is by immersion in order to illustrate the death burial and resurrection of Christ. Mt. 3:13-17, Mk. 1:9-11, Lk. 3:21-22, Mt. 28:19-20; Acts 18:8; I John 2:3; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41

IN the Security and Perseverance of Believers Those who have truly placed saving faith in Christ are born spiritually and are kept secure by the promise and power of God.  Their security is not based on their continued self-effort. While true believers may from time to time fall into sin or out of fellowship and ministry because of neglect of their spiritual life or other circumstances, the reality of their salvation will be shown by positive response to the loving discipline of Christ and the church.  All who are truly saved will persevere in their faith in Christ until the end. Romans 8:38-39;  John 10:28-29

HISTORY is controlled by the sovereign rule of God and will culminate in the establishment of His kingdom upon earth .... A kingdom ruled by His Son and those who have placed their faith in Him.

Church Organization

Christ-Centered -- Everything at Our Church is geared around our mission to reach the lost, and help the saved grow.  We do this by "encouraging non-Christians to become Christians and Christians to become more like Christ."

Elder/Lay Pastor-Led -- The Elders and Lay Pastors of Cowboy Fellowship lead by example. They help the Pastor and Staff set, cast, and complete the vision and mission of the church. These men are extensions of staff at Cowboy Fellowship

Staff -- The staff is responsible for setting the example for all to follow and seting the vision and direction of the church.

Members Involved -- Our Church offers a variety of opportunities for its members to get involved in service and church life from lay leaders to volunteers.

Church Membership
To become a member of Cowboy Fellowship, candidates are asked to:

• Attend a Saddle up Seminar