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Statement
of Faith
God
In the one God, creator and sustainer of all things, infinite in love,
perfect in judgments and unchanging in mercy. God exists eternally in
three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
Scripture
In the divine inspiration, truthfulness and authority of both the Old
and New Testaments, the only written Word of God, without error in all
it affirms. The Scriptures are the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
The Holy Spirit preserves God's Word in the church today and by it speaks
God's truth to peoples of every age;
Humankind
That human beings were created in the image of God. This image was marred
in every part through the disobedience of our first parents, and fellowship
with God was broken. God, by His prevenient grace, restores moral sensibility
to all humankind and enables all to respond to His love and to accept
His saving grace, if they will;
Jesus
Christ
That Jesus Christ is God's Son incarnate, born of the Virgin Mary. He
died for the sins of all, taking on Himself, on behalf of sinful persons,
God's judgment upon sin. In His body He rose from the grave and ascended
to the right hand of the Father where He intercedes for us;
Holy
Spirit
That the Holy Spirit is God present and active in the world. The Holy
Spirit was given to the church in His fullness at Pentecost. By the Spirit,
Christ lives in His church, the gospel is proclaimed and the kingdom of
God is manifested in the world;
Justification
That God graciously justifies and regenerates all who trust in Jesus Christ.
Believers become children of God and begin to live in holiness through
faith in Christ and the sanctifying Spirit;
Entire
Sanctification
That God calls all believers to entire sanctification in a moment of full
surrender and faith subsequent to their new birth in Christ. Through sanctifying
grace the Holy Spirit delivers them from all rebellion toward God, and
makes possible wholehearted love for God and for others. This grace does
not make believers faultless nor prevent the possibility of their falling
into sin. They must live daily by faith in the forgiveness and cleansing
provided for them in Jesus Christ;
Assurance
of Believers
That believers are assured that they are children of God by the inward
witness of God's Spirit with their spirits, by faith in the gracious promises
of God's Word, and by the fruit of the Spirit in their lives;
Christians
in Society
That Christians are called to live in daily witness to the grace which
comes to us in Jesus Christ, to preach the gospel to every person according
to the command of Christ, and to declare God's insistence upon righteousness
and justice in all relationships and structures of human society;
The
Church
That the church is the people of God composed of all those who believe
in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The church is Christ's body; it is
visible in the world wherever believers, in obedience of faith, hear the
Word, receive the sacraments, and live as disciples;
Return
of Christ
In the personal return of Jesus Christ, in the bodily resurrection of
all persons, in final judgment, and in eternal reward and punishment;
God's
Ultimate Victory
In God's ultimate victory over Satan and all evil, and the establishment
of His perfect kingdom in a new heaven and a new earth.
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