We believe in the statement of faith formulated in the Nicene Creed in AD 325 to express the basis tenets of what Christians believe. We love the Nicene Creed because it is still a valid statement of the historic faith of believers in Jesus Christ. We also believe in the Apostles’ Creed which is a formulation of core Christian beliefs prior to the Nicene Creed.
The Apostles’ Creed
- I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
- I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
- I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen!
The Nicene Creed
- We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
- And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.
- And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Our Personal Statement of Faith:
The Bible
The Bible comprises the Old Testament and the New Testament and is God’s word to all humanity. It is a compilation of writings over several centuries by human authors, but done under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for all life and godliness. Because the Bible is inspired by God, it is true and accurate without any error.
God
God is the Creator and Ruler and Father of the entire universe which he created with love and power out of nothing. He exists eternally as the triune God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are in complete unity. God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. He is morally and in every way good and without fault or failure.
Humanity
Humanity is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in moral character, if not in essence. We are the supreme object of God’s creation; we were created like God to have a free will and to choose the good. However, since the fall of humanity when our first ancestors, Adam and Eve, sinned, we have become totally depraved in the sense that we may not always be as bad as we could be but we are never as good as we should be. This state of sinfulness eternally separates us from God.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is co-equal and –co-existent with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. To atone for the sinfulness of humanity and motivated by his love for us his creation, Jesus entered time and space as a man and lived a sinless human life. He offered Himself willingly and fully as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity by dying on The Cross. He arose from the dead in bodily form after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again in bodily form to judge every human, those alive and those who have died.
Salvation
The only way that humans can be saved from the penalty of our sin is by putting our faith in the finished work of Jesus on the Cross. He paid the price that we could never pay. We cannot save ourselves. We can be saved because of the grace of God in sending Jesus and our faith in his death and resurrection on our behalf.
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal and co-existent with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world now to make us aware of our need to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. He lives in every believer in Jesus from the moment we put our faith and trust in Jesus. He applies all the benefits that the Cross of Jesus avails to those who believe. He gives spiritual gifts to the believer so that we can be fruitful in life and ministry.
Eternity
Humanity was created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God, because of our sinfulness, or in union with God because of our faith in the voluntary and complete sacrifice which Jesus Christ made on the Cross. To be eternally separated from God is referred to as being in Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is referred to as being in Heaven. One day Jesus shall return to judge the living and the dead and reign forever with believers as his co-heirs.
Some Scripture References:
II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5; Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14; Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2; Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1; John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 1:8; Matthew 2:44, 46.