CCDOT Doctrine

Doctrinal Similarities

BMK - Salvation

As Christians we all have something in common. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. This is Basic Minimum Knowledge (BMK). Relative to salvation, CCDOT believes

That the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.
That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
That the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
That God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Doctrinal Differences

Declaration of Faith

Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Conditions to Salvation

Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life.

The Evidence of Salvation

The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit.

The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness.

In the Spirit

However, CCDOT recognizes that the CCD Program will be taught in facilities of every denomination. The purpose of the CCD Program is basic evangelism. Therefore, such terms as "baptized in the Spirit", "Slain in the Spirit", "Faith Healing", "Speaking in tongues", and practices related to those terms, will not be demonstrated in teaching the CCD Program. We all agree on the way to salvation, be we do not all agree on some "post graduate" areas. Areas of disagreement can cause confusion and disillusionment, thereby harming the cause of Christ. It may even cause some prison officials to cancel the CCD Program. We will therefore, leave the "post graduate" areas to the new believer, and the Holy Spirit -- without our assistance. Any questions regarding these areas should be referred to the Chaplain or Pastor.

Power of God

Step 11 of CCD includes the idea of "praying . . . for the power". The course text includes the statement, "Ask the Holy Spirit for help and guidance." This is not an open invitation to teach the "post graduate" areas described in the previous paragraph. Not only should we all agree on the way to salvation, we should all recognize the role of the Holy Spirit in salvation and in giving us the power to overcome temptation. Therefore, we accept the teaching of 'praying for the power of God.'

Denominationalism

We are here to lift up the name of Jesus Christ so He can set the Captive free. We are not here to promote our 'denomination' or to demote other denominations. We will not tolerate the "We're right and they're wrong" attitude. We will not discourage anyone from attending any type of Christian church. The body of Christ is divided enough without our help. Our attitude should be this: Let's make Baptists better Baptists, Pentecostals better Pentecostals, Presbyterians better Presbyterians, Church of God members better Church of God members, Lutherans better Lutherans, and so on. Get it? 1 Corinthians 1:12,13 --- "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?"

Let's do what we can to remove doubt and confusion from our students. Don't let our doctrinal differences make God's Word of none effect.