We Believe . . .

 

• The sixty-six canonical books of the Bible as originally written, which point to Jesus as the Savior, were inspired of God, hence free from error. They constitute the only infallible guide in faith and practice.

• There is only one God, who exists in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

• God is the creator of everything that exists.  Adam and Eve were historical persons originally created by God as pure, holy people.  However, they rebelled against God’s will and brought sin into the world.  Since then, all people have inherited sin and commit sin where we do not live according to God’s will in thought, word and deed.

• We affirm that God created us male and female, and it is God’s will and intention that human sexual expression and fulfillment take place only within the boundaries of marriage between one man and one woman.

• People cannot restore themselves to God by their good works or restore themselves to a right relationship with Him.

• God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world.  He is both true God and true man.  He lived to fulfill God’s law for us, died on the cross to pay the penalty our sins deserved, and rose from the dead so we might have eternal life.  He ascended into heaven, where He now sits and rules at the right hand of the Father.

• Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, God declares a person who believes in Him as their Savior to be righteous and forgiven.  The believer is justified by faith apart from keeping God’s law.

• Faith in Jesus is a gift of God, given by the power of the Holy Spirit; thus all the glory for our salvation belongs to God.

• The ways God communicates His undeserved love to us are the Word of God, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  By these means, the merits of Jesus’ perfect life and atoning death are personally conveyed to all who believe in Jesus as their Savior.

• Jesus will come again to take all believers to Himself.  On the final day, all the dead will be raised.  Those who are still alive will be bodily transformed.  At that time the final judgment will take place.  Unbelievers will go into eternal damnation, and believers into eternal life.

• The true Christian church is made up of all believers of all times who believe in the Triune God and in Jesus as their only Savior.

• Christians are called to tell others that the only way of salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ, and to show their faith by their deeds of love towards others.