We believe in God Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. He revealed Himself as one God in three infinitely excellent and loving Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person of the Trinity is fully, simultaneously, and eternally God, united in one purpose. God is supremely joyful as He relates in the fellowship of the Trinity. From the fullness of His love He created all things and ordains all things for His glory, revealing Himself in the world and in His Word. The Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the infallible Word of God, verbally inspired by God, and the final authority of truth.
We believe that God made man in His image to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. God formed man, both male and female, from conception, to bear His image in relationships, with Him and others, as well as in terrestrial responsibilities. God mandated that humans obey Him and reflect Him, which ordinarily includes multiplying (in marriage between one man and one woman, followed by childbearing and parenting), and taking dominion over the earth (creating and stewarding things on earth as persons in community).
We believe that the first man, Adam, although created morally upright, disobeyed God in the garden. Because of his sin God judged mankind with death, immediate spiritual death, eventual physical death, and ultimately eternal death in hell. All men are guilty in Adam, corrupt in nature, and unable to desire God, delight in God, or obey Him. Though no man sins as much as he could, neither can any man do anything other than sin apart from God. Therefore, every man deserves God’s righteous wrath in death.
We believe that God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, eternally begotten of the Father, being of one substance with the Father, Jesus Christ our Lord. By the power of the Holy Spirit the Son became incarnate from the virgin Mary. He is now recognized in two natures, truly God and truly man, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation. For our sake and in every respect He was tempted as we are, lived in perfect obedience to God’s law, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures for the forgiveness of sins. This is the good news, the evangel.
We believe that all people who repent from their sins, who trust in His sacrifice, and who confess Jesus Christ as Lord are saved to eternal life. We are declared righteous by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and reconciled to fellowship with God. The fruit of obedience inevitably grows from those with living faith. Disciples obey the Lord in baptism and are transformed into Christlikeness as they behold His glory. Disciples proclaim the gospel to their neighbors and practice the gospel by dying to bring life, forgiving one another, and hoping in all of God’s promises.
We believe in the holy catholic church consisting of true believers from every generation, from every tribe, language, people, and nation, both male and female, young and old. The Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, regenerates the elect and baptizes God’s children into one Body with Christ Himself as the Head. The Lord will return to earth physically in power and great glory to receive His Bride, raise the dead, judge the nations, and establish His kingdom.