What We Believe

"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" Col. 1:9-10

Basic Beliefs

The Triune God

We believe there is only one, true, and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:9).  This one God exists in three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19; Matthew 3:16; Acts 1:4-5; 1 Peter 1:2).  Each of these Persons is fully God (Ephesians 1:2-3; John 20:27-29; Colossians 2:9; Acts 5:3-4).  We believe God the Father sent the Son so that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:16-17); we believe that the Son was sent by the Father and obeyed Him (John 1:14; John 17:18); we believe that, after Jesus accomplished the work the Father sent Him to do, the Father gave Jesus the Holy Spirit to anoint His Church (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:32-33).

The Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ existed as the Eternal Son of God and is now also fully human.  When Jesus became man, He did not cease to be divine.  He continues to be both fully God and fully man in two distinct natures and one Person forever (John 1:1-3, 14; Colossians 1:19-20; 2:9).

The Bible

The Bible, which is the Old and New Testaments, is God’s self-revelation to us.  In the Bible, God answers all of our worldview questions (for example, how did everything begin (Genesis 1:1)? where did we come from (Genesis 1:26-27)? what is our purpose (1 Corinthians 10:31)? etc.).  The main goal of the Bible is to show us our need for a Savior and to show us that God the Father has provided such a Savior (Galatians 4:4-7; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).  In particular, the Scriptures talk about the necessary sufferings of Jesus Christ and His subsequent glorification for the sake of all who will believe in Him and repent of their sins (Luke 24:25-27, 44-48; 1 Peter 1:10-11).

The Church

We believe in one, holy, universal Church founded on the Apostles (Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:4-6; Ephesians 2:20).  The Church is described by several metaphors in the New Testament: the body of Christ (Romans 12:4-5), the Bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25, 31-32), the Temple of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22; 1 Peter 2:4-5), etc.  Jesus Christ is the only Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18 and Her cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20), which brings alignment to all she believes and practices.  All authority structures and positions in the Church are given by Christ for the sake of the Church and derive their authority from Him (Ephesians 4:7-14).  Ordained leaders are accountable to the One who purchased the Church with His blood (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17).  In light of Jesus’ promise that He would build His Church and that the gates of hell will not prevail against Her (Matthew 16:18), we believe the Church has never ceased to exist in history.

Creeds

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,

and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell*; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there 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.


* “hell” = the realm of the dead | ** “catholic” = universal