What We Believe

1. Art. 1. The Triune God

   Deuteronomy 6:4–7; Isaiah 40:26; Colossians 1:16–17; Psalm 33:10–11

   There is one living and true God in three equally divine Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — perfect in love and holiness, Creator and sovereign ruler of all things, working out his good purposes of redemption to the praise of his glorious grace.

2. Art. 2. Revelation

   Psalm 119; Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:19–21

   God has made himself known in creation, supremely in his Son, and by his Spirit in the Scriptures. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the verbally inspired Word of God — without error in the originals, sufficient, and finally authoritative for all of faith and life.

3. Art. 3. Creation of Humanity

   Genesis 1–3; Ephesians 5:15–33; Colossians 3:18–4:1

   God made human beings, male and female, in his own image — equal in dignity and access to God by faith, and complementary by design. Marriage between a man and a woman pictures the union of Christ and his church, and qualified male leadership in the church is grounded in God’s creational order.

4. Art. 4. The Fall

   Romans 5:1–19; Romans 1:18–3:20; Ephesians 2:1–3

   Through Adam’s sin the whole human race fell: every person is alienated from God, corrupted in every part, and justly under his wrath. Our supreme need is reconciliation to God — and our only hope is his undeserved love.

5. Art. 5. The Plan of God

   Romans 8:28–30; Ephesians 1:3–14; John 10:25–29

   From all eternity God graciously chose a great multitude from every nation to be saved. Salvation is God’s sovereign work from first to last — he foreknows, predestines, calls, justifies, and glorifies — while freely commanding all people everywhere to repent and believe.

6. Art. 6. The Gospel

   1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Romans 1:15–17; Mark 1:14–15

   The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and raised according to the Scriptures — folly to the world, but the power of God for salvation. It is biblical, historical, apostolic, and intensely personal news to be received and held firm.

7. Art. 7. The Redemption of Christ

   Isaiah 53; Romans 3:21–26; Philippians 2:5–11; 1 Peter 3:18

   The eternal Son became man — fully God and fully human, born of the virgin Mary, sinless in life. By his death he bore the penalty of our sins as our substitute; by his resurrection and ascension he defeated death, was exalted as Lord, and lives as our High Priest and Advocate. Salvation is found in no one else.

8. Art. 8. The Justification of Sinners

   Romans 4:3–8; Galatians 2:16–17; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:1

   Christ fully discharged the debt of all who are justified. By faith alone his perfect obedience and satisfaction are credited to all who trust in him alone — a justification of free grace, from which flows a zeal for obedience.

9. Art. 9. The Power of the Holy Spirit

   John 16:4–15; Galatians 5:16–18; Ephesians 1:11–14; Romans 12

   The Holy Spirit applies Christ’s salvation to his people: convicting, regenerating, and uniting sinners to Jesus by faith. He indwells, sanctifies, gifts, and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service, as the down payment of our inheritance.

10. Art. 10. The Kingdom of God

    Mark 1:15; Romans 14:17; Isaiah 58:6–14; Revelation 12:10

    Those united to Christ enter the kingdom of God — already present, not yet consummated. As citizens of that kingdom we live as salt and light: neither withdrawn from the world nor indistinguishable from it, doing good to all and loving our neighbors as ourselves.

11. Art. 11. God's New People

    1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:11–22; 1 Peter 2:4–12

    The universal church is manifest in local churches, of which Christ alone is Head. The church is marked by the gospel, the ordinances, discipline, mission, and above all love — one new humanity in which Christ has reconciled alienated peoples to God and to each other.

12. Art. 12. Baptism and the Lord's Supper

    Matthew 28:18–20; 1 Peter 3:21–22; 1 Corinthians 11:23–27

    Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordained by the Lord Jesus himself — the one marking entrance into the new covenant community, the other its ongoing renewal. They are God’s pledge to us, means of grace, our public vows to Christ, and anticipations of his return.

13. Art. 13. The Restoration of All Things

    Revelation 21; Romans 8:18–25; Isaiah 65:17–25

    Jesus Christ will return personally, gloriously, and bodily to judge the living and the dead and to consummate his kingdom. The unjust will be raised to eternal conscious punishment, and the just to eternal blessedness with God in the new heaven and new earth — where everything will be to the praise of his glorious grace.

These summaries are abridged — the full text of each article is available from the church office, along with our member packet. Questions about any of them? Ask a pastor — they delight to speak of these things.