The Christian and Missionary
The Christian and Missionary Alliance - http://www.cmalliance.org/
(C&MA) is an evangelical denomination with
a major emphasis on world evangelization. It maintains a “big tent” stance in
reference to many doctrinal matters, encouraging believers of diverse
backgrounds and theological traditions to unite in an alliance to know and
exalt Jesus Christ and to complete His Great Commission.
Denomination Head
Quarters - http://www.cmalliance.org/
C&MA Doctrinal Statement -
http://www.cmalliance.org/whoweare/doctrine.jsp
C&MA Mission Statement - http://www.cmalliance.org/whoweare/president/strategy.jsp
C&MA History -
http://www.cmalliance.org/whoweare/history.jsp
Pacific Northwest District - http://www.pnw-cma.org/
Who Jesus Is: A C&MA Distinctive
Jesus Christ—The
person and work of Jesus Christ is summed up in a name given to Him before
birth: “Immanuel which means “God with us” (Matthew
It is written of Him: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (John 1:1). As “God with us,” He became the full revelation of God expressed fully in human form, while losing none of His characteristics as God. In the words of Scripture: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John1:14).
While there are many ways to
describe how Immanuel relates to people of all generations, Dr. Albert B.
Simpson, founder of the C&MA, summarized “God with us” as Christ, our
Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King.
Savior—Jesus said
of Himself: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me” (John 14:6). This testimony concerning Himself was
verified by the miracles He did, the absolutely impeccable life He lived, and
by the historically accurate record of His resurrection. His challenge:
“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at
least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves” (John
He is not just one way, but
the only way to know God and eternal life. Once doubting, His disciples became
totally committed to this: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts
This biblical absolute is one
of the driving forces of
Sanctifier—Sanctification
is a one-two step. It means being separated
from that which is contrary to God’s holy will, and separated to that which pleases Him. This quality of spiritual life is provided for as fully in salvation by Christ as is the forgiveness of sins: “For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified,” was Christ’s prayer to the Father before going to the cross (John 17:19).
Sanctification is both a crisis and a process. While it may be part of the initial experience of salvation, the sanctified life usually begins when the believer, struggling to meet God’s expectations, realizes there is no way he can do so in his own strength: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord”! (Romans 7:24).
Sanctification becomes a
quality of life through a two-way relation-ship: the believer in Christ, and
Christ in the believer: “It is because of [God] that you are in Christ Jesus,
who has become for us wisdom from God that is, our righteousness, holiness and
redemption” (I Corinthians
Healer—Salvation in Christ impacts every part of the person, including physical health and bodily well-being. Disease is a result of sin and therefore must be dealt with in the sacrifice of Christ to free the believer from sin and all its consequences: "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
Christ as our Healer personifies one of the “I am’s”
characterizing God in the Old Testament:” I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus
The power to heal in His name was passed on to His followers. The first recorded miracle after Pentecost was the healing of a paralytic by Peter, when he said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6). Christ continues to heal the sick because He is the same “. . . yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
But divine healing is a
blessing not to be taken for granted or automatically assumed. While His
healing is available to all, His Divine will and purpose may not include
healing in particular circumstances. Like all other aspects of God’s perfect
salvation, it is a mystery wrapped in the loving ways of a wise and good God,
who does not always give when asked, because His ways are as high above ours as
the heavens are higher than the earth.
Coming King—Christ
is coming again. It is an irrefutable fact supported repeatedly in the Bible.
His life on earth concluded with an event His disciples witnessed: “He was
taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight” (Acts
1:9). It was neither the end nor the beginning of the end of His relation to
earth. As the disciples stared at the sky, “suddenly two men dressed in white
stood beside them. ’Men of
Christ is now seated at the
right hand of the Father, waiting for that moment in time when He will come
again. When will that happen? No one knows the day or hour, but one indication
is: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a
testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
http://www.pnw-cma.org/