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The purpose of this Congregation shall be to Honor and Glorify God, seeking out and bring all people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior, resulting in responsible Spirit-filled church members.
God exists eternally as one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
We believe the historic Christian doctrine of the Trinity as taught in the Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds. This is a profound mystery we can never fully comprehend.
Matthew 28:19 2 Corinthians 13:14
God created the world and everyone in it
God brought the entire universe into existence by his command. All three persons of the Trinity were active participants in God’s work of creation. God still preserves his creation, and provides for his creatures every day.
Genesis 1:1-3 John 1:1-3 Psalm 145:15-17
God has made himself known to us in his Word
The Bible is God’s self-revelation to all people through his prophets and apostles, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Because the Bible is God’s Word it is without error, and the only infallible rule and norm for our faith and life.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 2 Peter 1:21
God loves us and wants to live in a personal relationship with us
Every human being is sinful by birth and nature, and as a result, is separated from a perfect God by sin. We deserve his anger and punishment. In his mercy, God chose to reconcile us to himself through the death of his Son Jesus Christ, who is true God and true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus offered his life as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all, and rose bodily from the dead for our salvation.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 Romans 3:23 Colossians 1:21 Ephesians 2:1-2 Romans 4:25 1 Corinthians 15:3-6
God saves us by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone
There is nothing we can do to make ourselves right with God. In Christ, God has done everything necessary for our salvation. When we put our faith in Jesus, his righteousness is credited to us and our sins are forgiven for his sake.
Ephesians 2:8-9 Romans 3:21-26 Romans 4:23-24
God’s Holy Spirit works in our lives through the Means of Grace
God’s Word teaches both Law and Gospel. In the Law, God restrains sin by threat of punishment, reveals our sin in contrast to his perfect will, and guides believers into good works. In the Gospel, God reveals the good news of our salvation, offers forgiveness of sins, works faith and enables us to do the good works that please him. We celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is God’s means of grace, giving new birth to both children and adults. The Holy Spirit also works through the Lord’s Supper to strengthen faith and give the forgiveness of sins.
Romans 3:20 John 1:16-17 1 Peter 1:23 John 3:3-6 Acts 2:38-39 Titus 3:4-7 1 Corinthians 11:23-27
God’s desire is for us to become like Jesus
Through faith in Jesus Christ we are born again as new creations. By the work of the Holy Spirit, Christ lives in us and we live in him, so that day by day we are transformed into the image of God’s Son. This life-long process of sanctification is not complete until we get to heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Romans 8:28-30 2 Corinthians 3:18 Ephesians 2:10
God works in and through the Church
The Church consists of all true believers in Christ wherever they are found all over the world. Believers come together as the Church in local congregations gathered around the Means of Grace (Word and Sacrament). The church is the Body of Christ and is called to worship and serve him. Christ created his church to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations.
Ephesians 4:4-6 Matthew 18:20 Luke 24:47 Matthew 28:18-20
God’s Son will come again to judge the world
After Jesus finished his work on earth he ascended to heaven where he rules all things for the sake of his Church. On the last day Christ will come again to judge all mankind. Those who trust in him will live with God eternally in heaven. Whoever does not believe will be separated from God eternally in hell.
The Bible is God's Word
The Bible is inerrant in the original writings because it was God-breathed. It is the complete and final authority for faith and practice.
