Statement of Faith

Central States Church Extension (CSCE) is committed to historic, biblical Christianity as revealed in the Word of God. The following statement summarizes the core doctrinal convictions upon which this ministry is founded.

1. The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed.

Scripture References: 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12–13

2. The Godhead

We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and possessing the same divine attributes and perfections.

Scripture References: Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14

3. The Person and Work of Christ

The Incarnation

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful humanity.

The Atonement

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, substitutionary sacrifice, and that our justification is assured by His literal, bodily resurrection from the dead.

His Present Ministry

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where He serves as our Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate.

Scripture References: Romans 3:24–25; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; Acts 1:9–10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24; 1 John 2:1–2

4. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

His Ministry

We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; regenerates sinners; baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ; indwells them; and seals them unto the day of redemption.

His Work in Believers

We believe that the Holy Spirit guides believers into truth and that it is both the privilege and responsibility of every believer to be filled with the Spirit.

Scripture References: John 16:8–13; 1 Corinthians 12:12–14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13–14; Ephesians 5:18

5. The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that humanity was created in the image of God but fell through Adam's sin, inherited a sinful nature, became alienated from God, and is unable to remedy its lost condition apart from divine grace.

Scripture References: Genesis 1:26–27; Romans 3:22–23; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1–3, 12

6. Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God, received by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose shed blood provides forgiveness of sins.

Scripture References: Ephesians 2:8–10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19

7. The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers

Eternal Security

We believe that all who are redeemed are kept by God's power and are secure in Christ forever.

Assurance

We believe that believers may rejoice in the assurance of salvation through the testimony of God's Word while recognizing that Christian liberty is never to be used as an occasion for sin.

Scripture References: John 6:37–40; John 10:27–30; Romans 8:38–39; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11–15

8. The Two Natures of the Believer

We believe that every believer possesses both the old and new nature, and that victory over sin is provided through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Claims of complete eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural.

Scripture References: Romans 6:13; Romans 8:12–13; Galatians 5:16–25; Ephesians 4:22–24

9. Separation

We believe that believers should live in a manner that honors Christ and that separation from religious apostasy and sinful practices is commanded by God.

Scripture References: Romans 12:1–2; 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1; 1 John 2:15–17; 2 Timothy 3:1–5

10. Missions

We believe that every believer has the responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and bear witness to the truth of God's Word through both life and testimony.

Scripture References: Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19–20

11. The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts

A. We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; and, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today; and, that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established. 

Scripture References: 1 Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12.

B. We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted. John 15:7; 1 John 5:14, 15.

C. We believe that it is the privilege and responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gift and grace of God that is given to him.  Rom. 12:1-8; 1 Cor. 12; 1 Peter 4:10,11.

12. The Church

A. We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age. 

Scripture References: Eph. 1:22,23; 5:25-27; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2.

B. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. 

Scripture References: Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11.

C. We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free of any external authority of control. 

Scripture References: Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1-4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4.

D. We recognize the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s supper as a Scriptural means of testimony for the church in this age. 

Scripture References: Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 2:41, 42; 13:8; 1 Cor. 11:23-26.

13. Dispensationalism

We believe that the Scriptures interpreted in their natural literal sense reveal divinely determined dispensations, rules of life which define man’s responsibilities in successive ages.  These dispensations are not ways of salvation but rather divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose.  Three of these, the age of law, the age of the church, and the age of the millennial kingdom, are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. 

Scripture References: John 1:17; 1 Cor. 9:17; 2 Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10, 3:2-10; Col. 1:24, 25; Heb 7:19; Rev. 20:2-6.

14. The Personality of Satan

We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. 

Scripture References: Job 1:6, 7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10.

15. The Second Advent of Christ

We believe in that “Blessed Hope” the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom.

Scripture References: 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-6; 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10.

16. The Eternal State

A. We believe the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when the soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord.

Scripture References: Luke 23:43; Rev. 20:4-6; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil. 1:23, 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

B. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. 

Scripture References: Matt. 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25, 26; Rev. 20:5, 6, 12, 13.

C. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection when with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment. 

Scripture References: Luke 16:19-26; Matt. 25:41-46; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude vss. 6, 7; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 20:11-15.