Beliefs

The Creeds

We believe the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds to be summaries of the beliefs of the historic Church of Jesus Christ.  We recognize the confessions of those who have gone before us. Such were determined through mediation, prayer, and dialogue amongst those who followed the leading of the Spirit in line with the teaching of the apostles.  These creeds have served the Church for the majority of its existence, and we affirm them as dedication to the historic Christian faith.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.  For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.  On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.  We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.  We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

In addition, we believe…

God the Father

Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 1:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:3-8; 1 John 1:3

+  Additionally, we believe: God the Father, united with the Son and the Holy Spirit, is one, and is the dynamic, eternal, holy, perfect, righteous, just, sovereign, always present, all-knowing, and all-powerful Creator. The Father’s love for his Creation is demonstrated in sending his only begotten Son to the world, in order to reconcile all Creation to himself.  While the Father is distinct from creation, he is not distant, but is present amidst the joy and pain of humanity.

God the Son: Jesus the Christ

John 1:1-18, John 3:16, Romans 1:1-6, 1 John 3:8

+  Additionally, we believe: Jesus the Christ, the Truth and incarnate Word of God, united with the Father and the Spirit, is the Lord of all creation, through which the Father reveals himself and his love to humanity, and Christ is our great moral example in both his teaching and his life, and in his death on the cross and resurrection. Jesus is the great victor over Death, who has been given all authority over the entire cosmos, and who will reign eternally. The Scriptures testify of him, and we believe Christ’s message of love is the good news of God’s kingdom, is available to all—those in the margins and mainstream—and is a direct challenge to the systems of oppression in our society.

God the Holy Spirit

John 7:37-39; Romans 8:18-27; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18

+  Additionally, we believe: The Holy Spirit, united with the Father and the Son, is equally God, given as a gift from the Father, and leads the Church into all truth. In an act of grace, the Spirit provides individuals within the Church certain gifts in order to advance the good news of Jesus Christ. The Spirit comforts, is the seal of salvation, and is present within the Church—individually and corporately. The Spirit also guides us in hope and longing as we await the renewal of God’s Creation.

Salvation

John 1:12-13; Romans 10:9-10, 11:29; Ephesians 2:8-9

+  Additionally, we believe: God, by his grace, gives salvation to those who receive it through belief and confession in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We understand salvation to be  the holistic deliverance of individuals from the grip of death and the transferring of such into the community of Christ, his Church. Through grace, God grants the forgiveness of sin, the purification of the believer and the Church, and the assurance of eternal relationship with God. Beginning with the moment of salvation, the believer comes into Eternal Life. Salvation will be fully and finally realized when Christ returns, our bodies are resurrected, Creation is renewed, and the people of God live and reign with God forever.

The Church

Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

+  Additionally, we believe: The Church, comprised of followers of Jesus Christ, is sent into all the world to witness to the reign of Christ.  The Church is to be the aroma of Christ and a foretaste of the coming Kingdom of God. The Church proclaims the Word of God and takes up the ministry of reconciliation in order to reshape the world and to be in the midst of its pain. While the Church is sent into the world it is also set apart from the world In her commitment to the values of the gospel. The Church is called to uphold unity and truth, and to remain in faith, hope, and love; the greatest of these is love.

Eschatology

Romans 8:18-27; 1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 20-21:1-5

+  Additionally, we believe: The kingdom has already begun, but it has yet to be completed. The completion of the future hope of the world is found in the final coming of Christ, the renewal of all creation, the resurrection of believers, the redemption of their bodies, and the Triune God’s dwelling on earth with redeemed humanity.

The Bible

John 5:39; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

+  The Bible, as the Word of God, testifies of Christ, is God-breathed, authoritative for the Church in all things, and used by the Holy Spirit to transform the Church into the Image of God..

An additional word on doctrine

Psalm 144:9; Romans 11:33-36; 1 Corinthians 13:12

We believe in the statement of the Reformers – Ecclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda – The Church Reformed and Always Reforming. The above statement of our local church’s doctrine is not a static document and will be open to change and development as God moves in our congregation. We do not yet see God face to face, and the God we worship is not fully knowable in this life. We also rejoice that we worship the living God who is incarnated new in every time and every place through the body of Christ. Therefore, we will seek to listen to the voice of the Spirit and be faithful to the God who leads us to constantly sing a new song.