We exist to mature in God’s Word and to share His Peace with all people.
To mature…
In our understanding of God’s Word:
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).
In our appreciation of God’s Word:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16)
In our application of God’s Word in the real world:
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
To share his Peace with all people…
In our homes, in our community, in the world:
“Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18-20)
We believe there is only one true God (Isaiah 44:6) who has revealed himself as three separate and distinct persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Godhead exists eternally in these three persons.
We believe that God has given the full revelation of himself in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God has revealed himself as the Savior-God, who “so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in every believer with Christ and never without (1 Corinthians 3:16). We acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s works through God’s Word and Sacraments to convict, regenerate, enlighten and empower believers for godly living.
We believe that God has revealed himself to us in nature and conscience. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). “Since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Also the requirements of the law are written on people’s hearts, so the consciences of people also bear witness that there is a God to whom they are accountable (Romans 2:15).
We believe that the Bible is inerrant and fully sufficient. It was written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit, who “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). The Bible makes us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” and it equips us for “every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Since God’s plan of salvation has been fully revealed in the Bible, we need and expect no other revelations (Hebrews 1:1-2).
We believe and accept the Bible on its own terms, accepting as factual history what it presents as history and recognizing as figurative speech what is evident as such. We believe that Scripture must interpret Scripture, clear passages throwing light on those less easily understood.
We believe the whole Bible is Christ-centered. The Old Testament repeatedly pointed towards the Messiah, the New Testament proclaims Jesus Christ is the Messiah, our deliverer from sin, death and hell.
We believe that the Bible presents a true, factual, and historical account of creation; and everything came into existence in the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth and all that are in them (Genesis 1,2). Further testimony to this event is found in other passages of Scripture (Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 11:3). The creation happened in the course of six consecutive days of normal length by the power of God’s almighty word.
We believe that God created Adam and Eve in his own image (Genesis 1:26-27); that is, holy and righteous. They lost their divine image when they yielded to the temptation of Satan and disobeyed God’s command. This brought upon them the judgment of God: “You will surely die” (Genesis 2:17). Since that time all people are conceived and born into a sinful condition (Psalm 51:5), as “flesh gives birth to flesh” (John 3:6).
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, one with the Father from all eternity (John 1:1-2). In the course of time, he took a true and complete, yet sinless, human nature to himself (Galatians 4:4) when he was conceived as a holy child in the virgin Mary through a miracle of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). God’s angel testified, “What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20). Jesus Christ is unique, for in him the true God and a true human nature are inseparably united in one person, the holy God-man. He is called Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
We believe that in Jesus all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). While his divinity was evident when he performed miracles (John 2:11), in life he humbled himself as a servant among mankind, endured much suffering, even humbled himself to a shameful death on the cross (Philippians 2:7-8). We believe that he rose again on the third day from the grave with a glorified body, ascended to heaven, and is exalted on high to rule with glory for eternity (Philippians 2:9-11).
We believe Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) and that “God reconciled the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them (2 Corinthians 5:19).” He came to bear “the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6), ransoming all people by his sacrifice for sin on the altar of the cross (Matthew 20:28). His righteousness is accepted by the Father as our righteousness, his death for sin as our death for sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). We believe that his resurrection gives full assurance that God has accepted the payment he made for all (Romans 4:25). The mercy and grace of God are all-embracing; the reconciliation through Christ is universal; the forgiveness of sins has been obtained for all people. Because of the substitutionary work of Christ, God has justified all people and has declared them to be not guilty.
We believe that God has justified all sinners and declared them righteous for the sake of Christ. It is a message relevant to people of all times, places, races and social levels; for “the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men” (Romans 5:18). All individuals need forgiveness of sins before God, and all individuals receive this free gift of forgiveness not on the basis of their own works, but only through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We believe that it is the Holy Spirit who gives people faith to recognize that “Jesus is Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:3). The Holy Spirit works this faith by means of the gospel (Romans 10:17). We believe that a person’s conversion is entirely the work of God’s grace. Rejection of the gospel is, however, entirely the unbeliever’s own fault (Matthew 23:37).
We believe that sinners are saved by grace alone. Grace is the undeserved love of God for sinners. This love led God to give sinners everything they need for their salvation. It is all a gift of God, people do nothing to earn any of it (Ephesians 2:8,9).
We believe God creates faith in Jesus Christ and strengthens that faith by working through his Word and his sacraments (his word connected with earthly elements):
In Baptism: The Lord points to the blessing of Baptism when he promises, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). In this sacrament of Baptism, God forgives all our sins and calls all who are baptized to turn from their sin and live a new life. Because all of the human race is sinful from birth, this promise of God’s grace and forgiveness extends to little children. We baptize infants who become part of God’s kingdom through Baptism.
In Communion: when the Lord instituted this sacrament, he said, “This is my body. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). Christ gives to communicants his body and blood together with the bread and wine. In this meal he forgives sins and strengthens faith.
We believe the Church is made up of all who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. God directs believers to acknowledge and confess oneness in faith with Christians who hold to all the teachings of the Bible (John 8:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). It cannot, however, be avoided that hypocrites might be mixed in a congregation, that is, those whose unbelief is not evident.
We believe that all Christians have been called to be “priests” before God (1 Peter 2:9). All believers have direct and equal access to the throne of grace through Christ, the mediator (Ephesians 2:17-18). God has given the means of grace to all believers. Therefore all Christians are called to live a life separate of worldly and sinful practices. Christians are called to declare the glories of God by living an upright life in their homes and community, making Christ known to every person by their words and actions.
We believe that Jesus Christ will come again “on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30), in the same way as his disciples saw him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).
We believe that no one can know the exact time of Jesus’ return, not even the angels in heaven (Matthew 24:36). Nevertheless, our Lord has given signs to his believers to keep them in constant expectation of his return (Matthew 24:4-14). He has told them to be alert and to watch so that day will not come upon them unexpectedly (Luke 21:34).
We believe that at Jesus’ return this present world will come to an end. “In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).
We believe in a real heaven and hell. We believe in the controlling and greater power of God over Satan, the great deceiver, who exists.
The Bible is the inerrant word of God and is the final rule and sole source of authority in a Christian’s life. As such, we take a firm Biblical stand on the following issues:
Sexuality: We believe God’s gift of sex is only to be used within marriage between one man and one woman. Any sex outside of marriage, homosexual or heterosexual, is contrary to God’s Word.
Evolution: We affirm God created the world in the course of six consecutive days of normal length by the power of his almighty word. The Bible presents a true, factual, and historical account of creation.
Abortion: We believe abortion is taking the life of another human being and is therefore murder.
Euthanasia: We believe that euthanasia, assisting with euthanasia and any form of self-murder is against God’s Word.