URC Statement of Faith |
1. God. We believe in one (Deut. 6:4) eternal (1 Tim. 1:17), knowable (Heb. 1:1ff), sovereign God (Dan. 4:34-35). He knows all things (Psalm 139:1-4), and providentially oversees all things (Mt. 10:29-31). He is merciful (Exod. 34:6) and just (Acts 17:31), loving (1 John 4:8) and holy (Rev. 4:8), great in power (Psalm 147:5) and good in purpose (Rom. 8:28). His glory is our chief concern (1 Cor. 10:31).
2. Trinity. We believe in one God who exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19). All three are uncreated, coeternal, and equal in power, glory, and honor. They are rightly worshiped as the one true God–three in one, and one in three (see Rev. 22:13; Acts 5:3-4).
3. Scripture. We believe, that while God has revealed himself in his creation, he has spoken to us most clearly in his word (Psalm 19; Rom. 1:18-20). The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are breathed out by God, holy, complete, and entirely without error in the original manuscripts (2 Tim. 3:16; John 10:35; 2 Peter 1:20-21). The Bible is our final authority in life, doctrine, and godliness (Mt. 4:4; 2 Peter 1:3-4).
4. Creation. We believe God created the entire universe out of nothing (Gen. 1:1; Heb. 11:3). Man and woman were the crown of God’s good creation, being created in his own image (Gen. 1:26-27). As image-bearers, we were created to worship God and reflect him in true knowledge, righteousness, and holiness (Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:9-10).
5. Fall. We believe that Adam and Eve, our first parents, rebelled against God and plunged themselves and all their offspring into ruin (Gen. 3). Because of Adam’s sin, we are all guilty sinners (Rom. 5:12-21). We come into the world with corrupt natures through and through (Psalm 51:5). We are unable to turn to God unless he first turns to us (John 6:44; Rom. 3:10-18; Eph. 2:1-5).
6. Person of Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus of Nazareth was and is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. We believe he is also the Son of the Living God (Mt. 16:16). He is fully man and fully God (1 Tim 2:5;Titus 2:13). He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, taught the way of God’s kingdom, worked miracles, suffered, died, and (bodily) rose again (1 Cor. 15:1-8).
7. Work of Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and died a shameful death that we might be counted righteous and forgiven of our sins (2 Cor. 5:21). He was our sacrificial substitute (1 Peter 3:18). He redeemed us from the devil, removed our guilt, and absorbed the wrath of God (1 John 1:8-2:2).
8. Salvation. We believe that we are justified–declared righteous before God–through faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone (Gal. 2:16). The only way to be adopted into God’s family is through union and communion with his Son, Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:5).
9. Holy Spirit. We believe the Holy Spirit, working through the word, supernaturally converts (regenerates) the hearts of God’s people by making alive what was spiritually dead (Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23). The Spirit causes us to grow in holiness (2 Cor. 3:18), seals us for the day of redemption that we might be assured of our salvation (Eph. 1:13-14), and equips us with spiritual gifts for the building up of the body (1 Cor. 12:7).
10. Church. We believe the church is the communion of God’s people drawn from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Eph. 2:11-22; Rev. 5:9-10). This invisible body, of which Christ Jesus is the head, exists locally, and imperfectly, as the visible church. Jesus Christ has given his church two sacraments : Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Mt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
11. Marks and Mission. We believe God’s people should be marked by Christlikeness (Eph. 5:1-2), prayerfulness (Rom. 12:12), joyful obedience (John 14:15), love of God and love of neighbor (Mt. 22:37-40). We believe the mission of the church is one of word and deed (1 Peter 4:11). As salt and light (Mt. 5:13-16), we seek to save the lost (1 Cor. 9:19-23), make disciples (Mt. 28:19-20), work for righteousness and justice (Amos 5:24), and care for the hurting and needy (1 John 3:16-18).
12. Last Things. We believe Jesus Christ will return to earth personally, visibly, and bodily as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Acts 1:11). At his appearing the dead shall be raised and the living and the dead will be judged (1 Cor. 15). The wicked and unbelieving will be consigned to hell, a place of eternal conscious punishment (Rev. 20:10, 14-15). Those belonging to Jesus will have eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth and live in ever-increasing joy to the glory of God (Mt. 25:21; Rev. 21-22).
|
Creeds and Confessions
As a church we ascribe to to the historic creeds and confessions of the Reformed tradition:
|
|
|
