About God

We believe and teach that there is one God and only one God. God is the Holy Trinity–one God in three persons–as revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures. God is the Father, who created and sustains all that exists, who gives us life, who loves us with an everlasting love, and who has acted in mighty ways throughout history to call, save, and restore us as his children. God is the Son, the Word through whom all things were made, who took on human form and was born of the virgin Mary, who died on the cross to save a fallen humanity, who rose bodily from the dead, ascended to heaven, and lives and reigns forever. We believe that he will come again in glory on the last day, when the dead will be raised, and the redeemed for whom he died will be gathered into his eternal kingdom. God is the Holy Spirit, who calls us through the Gospel, fills us with his gifts, and empowers us to serve God in word and action. One God in three Persons is a mystery that we cannot fully understand with our finite and imperfect minds, but we accept it by faith, because God has revealed himself to us in this way.

About the Church

We maintain that the Church of Jesus Christ includes all Christian believers. In our confession of faith we speak of it as the holy catholic Church, which means that all Christians are part of the Body of Christ, regardless of denominational ties. While there are many denominations of Christians throughout the world, with varieties of organization, practices, traditions and teachings, we remain united in one body because we believe and serve one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

About the Bible

The Bible is the inspired, infallible written word of God, the source of the life, faith and teaching of the Church, and the final authority in all matters of doctrine. The entire Bible–from Genesis to the Book of Revelation–points to Jesus Christ.

About Salvation

We believe and teach that man was created in the image of God, but fell from that grace under the power of sin and stands in need of salvation. Because of sin–man’s age-old rebellion against God–we are not able to save ourselves and restore our relationship with God. Only God can do that, and for that he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to proclaim the Gospel of God’s grace and to suffer the consequences of our sin by dying on the cross. Salvation comes from God, therefore, as a free gift of grace. Our response is to receive this gift in faith and to allow it to show forth in our lives.

About Faith and Good Works

We believe that we are saved only by the grace of our loving God and that Christ’s death on Calvary’s cross is the all-sufficient sacrifice for all sins. Faith in God is a gift received from the Holy Spirit. It is more than simply believing that God exists. To have faith is to trust God, as a child would trust her loving parent. It is out of such faith that good works flow. Our good works do not save us, but they give evidence to ourselves and others that God is at work in us.