Statement of Faith

(Currently in Revision by the General Council of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Some statements below as indicated are still being revised)

There is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), Creator of all things (Revelation 4:11), who is infinitely perfect (Matthew 5:48), existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). 

Jesus Christ is the true God and true man (Philippians 2:6–11). He was sent by the Father (John 20:21), conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin, Mary (Luke 1:34–38). He died on the cross, the Just for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18), as a substitutionary sacrifice (Hebrews 2:9), and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood (Romans 5:9). He rose from the dead according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on High as our great High Priest (Hebrews 8:1). He will come again to establish His Kingdom of righteousness and peace (Isaiah 9:6–7). 

The Holy Spirit is a divine person (John 14:16–18), sent to indwell, guide, teach, gift, empower, and bear His fruit in every believer (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 11; Acts 1:8; Galatians. 5:22–23). He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:7–11). 

The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for our salvation. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice (2 Peter 1:20–21, 2 Timothy 3:15–17). 

(The following statement is waiting to be ratified in 2025. The original statement is below)

Man and woman, created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27), fell through disobedience, incurring both physical and spiritual death (Romans 6:23). Therefore, everyone is born with a sinful nature (Romans 5:12), is separated from the life of God (Ephesians 4:18) and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:25).

(Original Statement) 

Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27) he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death (Romans 6:23). All men are born with a sinful nature (Romans 3:23), are separated from the life of God and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). The portion of the impenitent and unbelieving in existence forever in conscious torment (Revelation 21:8); and that of the believer in everlasting joy and bliss (Revelation 21:1-4).

Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all people (1 John 2:2). Those who repent and believe in Him are justified by grace through faith (Romans 3:21–24), born again of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4–7), delivered from the dominion of darkness, transferred into the Kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13), granted the gift of eternal life, and adopted as the children of God (Romans 8:14–16, John 1:12). 

(still in revisions, up for review in 2025, currently proposed statement)

It is the will of God that in the indwelling Christ (Colossians 1:27) each believer be sanctified wholly (1 Thessalonians 5:23), being separated from sin, fully dedicated to God (Romans 6:13), and filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service (Acts 1:8). Positional Sanctification occurs at conversion while experiential sanctification follows and involves both decisive points of complete surrender (Romans 12:1), and a progressive experience (Galatians 5:16, 25) through which Christ is formed in the life of the believer by the Spirit (Galatians 4:19; Romans 6:1–14). 

(Original Statement) 

It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly (1 Thessalonians 5:23), being separated from sin and the world, and fully dedicated to the will of God Thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service (Acts 1:8). This is a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of a believer subsequent to conversion (Romans 6:1–14). 

Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the whole person (Isaiah 53:4–5, Matthew 8:16–17). Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures (James 5:13–16) as privileges for the Church in this present age (Acts 4:30). 

(The following statement is waiting to be ratified in 2025. The original statement is below)

The Church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, (Ephesians 1:22–23, Col 1:18) which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world making disciples of all peoples. (Matthew 24:14, 28:18–20)

The local church is a body of believers in Christ (Ephesians 5:30) who are called to love (1 Thessalonians 3:12), and joined together for the worship of God, edification through the Word of God, prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel through word and deed (Luke 4:18-19), and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. (Acts 2:41–47).

(Original Statement) 

The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, 27 which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations.28

The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.29 (27Ephesians 1:22–23, 28Matthew 28:19–20, 29Acts 2:41–47)

(The following statement is waiting to be ratified in 2025. The original statement is below)

There will be a bodily resurrection of all people (Acts 24:15). Our Lord Jesus Christ will judge with perfect justice (Acts 17:31, John 5:28–30) as the unrepentant and unbelieving are raised to the conscious anguish of eternal separation from God (Revelation 20:15, 21:8, 2 Thessalonians 1:9), and repentant believers are raised (John 6:40) to the unending joy of eternal life with God (Psalm 16:11, Revelation 21:1–4). 

(Original Statement) 

There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life (1 Corinthians 15:20-23); for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment (John 5:28-29).

(The following statement including the preamble below is waiting to be ratified in 2025. The original statement is at the bottom of this window)

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and King (Revelation 19:16), is imminent (Hebrews 10:37, Revelation. 22:20) and will be sudden (1 Corinthians 15:52), personal, visible, and premillennial (Acts 1:11, Matthew 26:64, Luke 1:27, Revelation 2:1-7). This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth which calls us to holy living, intentional witness, and faithful service (Titus 2:11–14). 

This preamble paraphrases the words of our founder Dr. A.B. Simpson, penned in 1887. They are found in the preamble and body of the first constitution of what was then known as The Christian Alliance. We continue to embrace this spirit within the Christian and Missionary Alliance (The Alliance) today. 

The Alliance is a family of believers who share in common the fullness of Jesus in His present grace and coming glory. The Alliance is not intended to be sectarian in a way that would divide it from the broader body of evangelical churches. Rather, it is the intent of The Alliance to fellowship and partner with all Christians, churches, and denominations who, like us, cling to “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3).

We understand that some will desire to be members and official workers in The Alliance who are in agreement with our mission and our doctrinal principles with the exception that they may not fully embrace the doctrine of the premillennial return of Jesus Christ. Such people may be received into membership and licensed for ministry so long as they embrace all the other tenets of our Statement of Faith and are willing to give the matter of premillennialism their honest and prayerful consideration.

(Original Statement) 

The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent32 and will be personal, visible, and premillennial.33 This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.34 (32Hebrews 10:37, 33Luke 21:27, 34Titus 2:11–14)