Church
Christian Science First Church
Christian Science (Metaphysical Restorationism) · Glendale: a neutral profile of what this congregation describes about its beliefs.
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Public details for this congregation.
TraditionChristian Science (Metaphysical Restorationism)About →
Sourcing statusFrom their statement of faith
Beliefs on file332 positions
Statement of faithPublished →
Where they stand
Each position below is labelled by how it was sourced, so you can weigh it for yourself.
VerifiedConfirmed by the church
From their statement of faithEstimated, not verified
Tradition defaultEstimated, not verified
Showing 69 of 332 positions across 18 topics. Expand any topic to see the rest.
God & the Trinity16 positions
- Arian Son First CreatureStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Son is the first and highest created being, brought into existence by the Father before all else, and therefore had a beginning.Estimated, not verified
- Exhaustive Foreknowledge FutureAffirmsTradition defaultGod infallibly and exhaustively knows the entire future, including all future free choices, as settled certainties.Estimated, not verified
Christ37 positions
- Assumed Unfallen Human NatureStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithChrist assumed an unfallen, sinless human nature, untouched by original sin/corruption.Estimated, not verified
- Bodily Resurrection Same BodyStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithJesus rose bodily in the same (transformed) body that was crucified.Estimated, not verified
Sin & the fall24 positions
- Adams Sin Brought Physical DeathStrongly affirmsTradition defaultPhysical death entered the human race as a consequence of Adam's sin; humans were not originally subject to death.Estimated, not verified
- All Sins Equal Before GodStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithBefore God all sins are fundamentally equal: there are no greater or lesser sins.Estimated, not verified
Salvation35 positions
- Assurance Grounded In Christ AloneStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithAssurance rests on Christ's finished work and God's promise, not on the believer's own works or sacramental performance.Estimated, not verified
- Assurance Of Salvation PossibleRejectsTradition defaultA believer can have a settled present assurance that they are saved.Estimated, not verified
- Atonement Heals Human Nature TheosisStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe atonement's deepest purpose is to heal and divinize human nature (joining humanity to God), more than to settle a legal account.Estimated, not verified
- Atonement Is Unlimited UniversalStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithChrist died for all people without exception, making salvation available to everyone (unlimited/general atonement).Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Is Symbolic OnlyRejectsTradition defaultBaptism is a symbol/ordinance that publicly signifies a salvation already received by faith and does not itself convey saving grace.Estimated, not verified
- Christus VictorStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe atonement is principally Christ's victory over sin, death, and the powers of evil, liberating humanity from bondage.Estimated, not verified
- Eternal Conscious TormentStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithThe finally unsaved suffer conscious punishment in hell that never ends.Estimated, not verified
- Eternal Security Once SavedStrongly rejectsTradition defaultA person who is genuinely saved can never lose their salvation ("once saved, always saved").Estimated, not verified
- Explicit Faith In Christ NecessaryStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithConscious, explicit faith in Jesus Christ is necessary for salvation; there is no salvation for those who never come to such faith.Estimated, not verified
- Faith Plus Works RequiredAffirmsTradition defaultBoth faith and good works (cooperating with grace) are jointly necessary as the means by which one is finally justified before God.Estimated, not verified
- Free Grace Faith Alone No WorksStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithSaving faith is simple trust in Christ's promise of eternal life; repentance-as-turning and any ongoing obedience are not conditions of receiving salvation.Estimated, not verified
- God Wills All To Be SavedStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithGod genuinely desires the salvation of every single person without exception.Estimated, not verified
- Good Works Necessary For Final SalvationStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithGood works/holiness are necessary not merely as evidence but as a real condition of final salvation.Estimated, not verified
- Inclusivism Other MeansStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithPeople who never explicitly hear of Christ can nevertheless be saved through Christ on the basis of responding to the grace/light they have.Estimated, not verified
- Justification Is ForensicStrongly affirmsTradition defaultJustification is a forensic, declarative act in which God legally pronounces the sinner righteous, distinct from the inner process of being made holy.Estimated, not verified
- Justification Is Once For AllStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithJustification is a single, completed, non-repeatable act at the point of faith, not a status that is repeatedly gained and lost.Estimated, not verified
- Justified By Faith AloneStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithA person is justified by faith alone (sola fide), apart from any contribution of their works to the ground of justification.Estimated, not verified
- Lordship SalvationStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithSaving faith necessarily includes submission to Christ as Lord and a commitment to repent/obey, not mere intellectual assent.Estimated, not verified
- Lost Salvation Can Be RegainedStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithSomeone who has fallen from grace can repent and be restored to salvation.Estimated, not verified
- No Human Merit At AllStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithNo human work has any merit before God; salvation and reward are entirely of grace.Estimated, not verified
- Penal SubstitutionStrongly rejectsTradition defaultOn the cross Christ bore the penalty/punishment that sinners deserved, satisfying God's justice in their place (penal substitution).Estimated, not verified
- Prayers For Dead Affect SalvationStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithPrayers, Masses, or almsgiving by the living can benefit the salvific state of the dead.Estimated, not verified
- Repentance Required For SalvationStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithRepentance (a real turning from sin) is required for salvation.Estimated, not verified
- Righteousness ImputedStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe righteousness by which a believer is justified is Christ's own righteousness credited/imputed to them, external to and not produced by the believer.Estimated, not verified
- Salvation Can Be LostStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithA genuine believer can fall away and forfeit salvation (apostasy / conditional security).Estimated, not verified
- Salvation Is Lifelong ProcessStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithSalvation is fundamentally a lifelong process of being saved rather than a single completed event.Estimated, not verified
- Salvation Is MonergisticStrongly rejectsTradition defaultSalvation is accomplished by God alone working in the person (monergism); the human will does not cooperate in the new birth.Estimated, not verified
- Salvation Is SynergisticStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithSalvation involves a genuine cooperation between God's grace and the human will (synergism).Estimated, not verified
- Sanctification Is ProgressiveStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithAfter conversion the believer grows in holiness gradually over a lifetime (progressive sanctification).Estimated, not verified
- Soul Sleep Until ResurrectionStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithThe dead are unconscious ("sleep") until the resurrection rather than immediately experiencing reward or punishment.Estimated, not verified
- Theosis DeificationStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe goal of salvation is theosis/deification: the believer becoming "partaker of the divine nature," really sharing in God's life.Estimated, not verified
- Treasury Of Merit IndulgencesStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithThe Church can apply the superabundant merits of Christ and the saints (the "treasury of merit") to remit temporal punishment, e.g. through indulgences.Estimated, not verified
- Union With Christ Is CentralStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithSalvation is best understood as participation/union with Christ, from which both justification and sanctification flow, rather than as a primarily legal transaction.Estimated, not verified
- Word Is Chief Means Of GraceStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe preached/read Word of God is the primary means by which saving grace is given, with sacraments subordinate or secondary.Estimated, not verified
- Works Are Fruit Not GroundStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithGood works are the necessary fruit and evidence of saving faith but contribute nothing to the ground of one's justification.Estimated, not verified
The Holy Spirit28 positions
- Assurance Is Normal For BelieversStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithSettled assurance of salvation is normal and to be expected for genuine believers in this life.Estimated, not verified
- Blasphemy Against Spirit UnforgivableStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere is a specific sin against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable.Estimated, not verified
The Church30 positions
- Apostolicity Is Doctrinal Not SuccessionalRejectsTradition defaultApostolicity consists primarily in fidelity to apostolic DOCTRINE, not in an unbroken chain of ordinations from the apostles.Estimated, not verified
- Bishop Of Rome Has Universal PrimacyStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe bishop of Rome (the pope) holds a divinely instituted primacy of jurisdiction over the whole church.Estimated, not verified
Sacraments & ordinances19 positions
- Anointing For Healing PracticeStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe church should anoint the sick with oil and pray over them for healing (per James 5).Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Mode Immersion RequiredStrongly affirmsTradition defaultValid baptism requires full immersion of the body in water.Estimated, not verified
Worship & liturgy13 positions
- Contemporary Worship Music EmbracedRejectsTradition defaultContemporary worship music (CCM, praise-and-worship bands, modern choruses) is fitting and desirable for the gathered church.Estimated, not verified
- Healing Ministry In ServiceStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithPraying for and expecting miraculous physical healing should be a regular feature of worship.Estimated, not verified
Last things17 positions
- Apocalyptic Prophecy Read Literally FuturisticallyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe prophecies of Daniel and Revelation should be read primarily as literal predictions of still-future events.Estimated, not verified
- Christ Returns Before The MillenniumAffirmsTradition defaultChrist returns bodily before the millennial kingdom and personally inaugurates it on earth.Estimated, not verified
Scripture7 positions
- Authority Sola ScripturaStrongly affirmsTradition defaultScripture is the sole infallible rule of faith and practice for the Church.Estimated, not verified
- Canon Protestant 66Strongly affirmsTradition defaultThe canon of Scripture consists of exactly the 66 books of the Protestant Bible.Estimated, not verified
Revelation, creation & science15 positions
- Biblical Miracles Actually HappenedStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe miracles recorded in Scripture (e.g., the parting of the sea, Jesus' healings, walking on water) actually occurred as described.Estimated, not verified
- Creation Ex NihiloStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod created the universe out of nothing (ex nihilo), not from pre-existing matter.Estimated, not verified
Life & bioethics19 positions
- Abortion Gravely Wrong In PrincipleStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithDeliberately ending a pregnancy by killing the unborn is in itself a grave moral wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Abortion Permitted To Save Mothers LifeAffirmsTradition defaultAbortion is morally permissible when continuing the pregnancy would directly threaten the mother's life.Estimated, not verified
Sexuality & marriage17 positions
- Church Should Bless Same Sex UnionsNo firm positionTradition defaultThe church should liturgically bless and solemnize same-sex unions.Estimated, not verified
- Gay Christians Called To CelibacyNo firm positionTradition defaultChristians who experience exclusive same-sex attraction are called to lifelong celibacy or to a mixed-orientation marriage with the opposite sex.Estimated, not verified
Society & politics27 positions
- Active Nonviolent Resistance ObligatoryStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithChristians should actively resist injustice through nonviolent means (protest, civil disobedience, noncooperation), not merely abstain from violence.Estimated, not verified
- Almsgiving Is A Binding ObligationStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithGiving to the poor is a binding moral obligation, not optional charity, and to withhold from the needy is a sin.Estimated, not verified
Angelology Demonology12 positions
- Angelology Must Be Strictly BiblicalStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBeliefs about angels and demons should be limited to what Scripture plainly teaches, rejecting speculative hierarchies, named extra-biblical angels, and elaborate demonologies.Estimated, not verified
- Angels Are CreatedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAngels are created beings, made by God, and are not eternal or self-existent.Estimated, not verified
Anthropology6 positions
- Body Essential To PersonStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe body is essential to being a complete human person, not an accidental or dispensable container for the soul.Estimated, not verified
- Historical AdamStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAdam and Eve were real, historical individuals who are the biological ancestors of all humanity.Estimated, not verified
Covenant Law Israel3 positions
- Dietary Food Laws No Longer BindingAffirmsTradition defaultThe Old Testament clean/unclean food laws are no longer binding, and all foods are permitted.Estimated, not verified
- Full Torah Observance For BelieversRejectsTradition defaultFollowers of Jesus, at least those of Jewish background, should continue to observe the full Torah (dietary law, festivals, Sabbath, circumcision).Estimated, not verified
Mariology Saints7 positions
- Christ Sole MediatorStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere is exactly one mediator between God and humanity (Jesus Christ) and no creature shares in that mediating office.Estimated, not verified
- Immaculate ConceptionStrongly rejectsTradition defaultMary was preserved free from the stain of original sin from the very first moment of her own conception.Estimated, not verified
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