The Bible
We believe that the sixty-six books of the Bible, which tell God’s story of salvation, are without error. The Bible is the complete Word of God, the revelation of God to humanity, and the final authority in all matters of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; The Larger Westminster Catechism [7.113-114)]; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Psalm 119:11, 105).
God
We believe in one true and living God, who exists eternally in three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are one in essence and equal in power and glory (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19).
God the Father
We believe that God the Father orders and directs all things according to his own purpose and grace (Westminster Confession of Faith [6.011-012]). As the only absolute, holy, and omnipotent ruler in the universe, God the Father (2 Corinthians 6:18) is sovereign in creation, providence and redemption. He continually sustains, directs, and governs all creatures and events (Psalm 103:19; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12). He saves from sin all who come to him in repentance and faith through Jesus Christ (Galatians 4:4; 5a; Acts 20:21).
God the Son
We believe that the eternally pre-existent Son became incarnate without human father, by being born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:23). Thus in the Lord Jesus Christ, divine and human natures were united in one Person (Colossians 2:9), both natures being whole, perfect and distinct. To affect salvation, He lived a sinless life for our righteousness and died on the cross as the sinner’s substitute (Romans 5:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21), shedding His blood for the forgiveness of sins. On the third day He rose from the dead for our justification in a glorified body which had been laid in the tomb (Mark 16:5-6; Romans 4:24-25). He ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He intercedes on our behalf (Hebrews 7:23-28; 1 John 2:1) and is the cornerstone of His Church (1 Peter 2:4-8). He shall come again triumphantly, personally and visibly, to complete His saving work and to consummate the eternal plan of God (Daniel 7:13-14).
God the Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Triune God (Nicene Creed 1.3). The Holy Spirit convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). He indwells believers, baptizes us into the body of Christ, and seals us unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13). He applies to human beings the work of Christ through justification and adoption, whereby we are given a right standing before God (Titus 3:4-7). Through regeneration, sanctification and glorification He renews our nature. By God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, the sin corrupting our lives can be confronted and resisted (Romans 6:1- 23; 8:1-17; Hebrews 12:1).
Sin and Salvation
We believe human beings, created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), through disobedience fell from their sinless state at the suggestion of Satan. This fall plunged them into a state of sin and spiritual death, and it affected the entire human person to the core and the entire created order (Romans 3:10-18; 5:12-14; Genesis 3:17-19; Jeremiah 17:9-10).
Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ and is a free gift of grace alone through faith alone, not works (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9).
We believe that having turned to God in penitent faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the believer is accountable to God for living a life separated from sin and characterized by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Peter 2:1-3).
We believe that we are to glorify God and enjoy him forever (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 1).
The Church
We believe that all who put their faith in Jesus Christ immediately become members of the church universal, the Body of Christ, of which He is the head. (1 Corinthians 12:12; 1 Peter 2:4-8). As signs and seals of the covenant relationship between God and His people, we observe and celebrate the sacraments of baptism (John 3:3; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16), and the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).
We believe that the community of faith — those who profess Jesus as Savior and Lord — is bound together to love and serve each other (Romans 12:4-5).
We believe in the sanctity of human life (Psalm 139:13-14; Isaiah 49:5; Jeremiah 1:5; Galatians 1:15).
We believe God created us male and female and gave us marriage, which is a covenant between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24; Second Helvetic Confession, 5.246) who are called to live in love and fidelity — a lifelong commitment to each other, publicly witnessed and acknowledged by the community of believers.
We believe worship is central to our faith (Psalm 95:6-7). In worship God makes known His love in Jesus, His claim upon our lives, and His abiding presence. In worship, we proclaim His truth by magnifying and cherishing His greatness and His goodness and by expressing our love for Him. Christ confronts us in Scripture, sacrament, preaching and teaching, so that we are moved by the Holy Spirit to respond in obedience to Him.
Christian Call
We affirm the call of every believer to discipleship through faith, character, and dependence upon God’s grace (Hebrews 11:6), holy living (1 Peter 2:1-3; Leviticus 19:2), honest relationships (Proverbs 11:1; Matthew 7:12), and service (John 15:13- 14). We believe that all who put their faith in Jesus Christ are called to serve Christ and one another with their time, talents, and financial resources with eagerness and humility (Matthew 6:21).
We believe that evangelism is central to discipleship. As members of the body of Christ we are called to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).
We believe we are called into servanthood (Mark 10:43-45). We work together, using the various gifts that God gave us, to further His kingdom by sharing the love of Jesus Christ with our community and the world, thus cultivating a deeper experience of community as members of one body in Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16).
The Consummation
We believe at the end of the age the bodies of the dead shall be raised (1 Corinthians 15:42-44), the righteous shall enter into full possession of eternal bliss in the presence of God, and the wicked shall be condemned to eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29).
(Statement of Faith adopted by Session July 2011)
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