What We Believe

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe that Jesus was completely God and completely man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died on a cross as a sacrifice for our sins as foretold in the Bible hundreds of years before it actually happened. We believe Jesus miraculously rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and now acts as the only mediator between God and people.

We believe the Holy Spirit is active among us today, bringing conviction when a person has done wrong and creating the desire for forgiveness in Jesus Christ. He regenerates our hearts and lives within them. His ongoing work is to guide, instruct and empower the believer to Godly living

We believe that people were created in the image of God for a loving relationship with God. However, people have rebelled against God, actively or passively choosing to go their own independent way. We're therefore alienated from God and suffer the corruption of our nature because of our sin.

We believe that Jesus willingly took our sinfulness upon Himself and died the death we deserved. He died in our place taking our punishment on himself so that we might have our relationship with God restored. We are only saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

We believe that the Bible (both Old and New Testaments) have been given to humanity. We believe that the Bible originated with God. He inspired the writers to record what He gave to them. The Bible is our guide to knowing God in a deep and intimate way and also serves as our guide for life.

We believe that the church is the body of believers. The church is made of flesh and blood, and not concrete and steel. The church is made up of those that have been connected to Jesus Christ, and depend on his life, death, and resurrection as their only means to be reconnected to the one true living God. A community of believers holding to the faith passed down as expressed in the creeds (Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian). The church is a community is then called to go out into the world connecting those far from God through the reflection of their transformed lives. The church is a community of people who have been created in Christ to love the one true living God and to love their neighbor as themselves. A community of people extending the same love and forgiveness that God first extended to them.

We believe that God has given us Baptism, Communion and Confession/ Absolution (Forgiveness) as a tangible means to pass on his love and forgiveness as it was given to us through Jesus Christ.

We believe that through Baptism, God adopts us through Jesus Christ as his children; children who have been given the full love and forgiveness of God, children who have been given new lives. (Romans 6, Titus 3:5-8) Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word. (Matthew 28:19) It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God promise. (Mark 16:16).

We believe that communion is a meal that was given to us by Jesus Christ himself before he was sent to the cross. We believe this is a meal that has been given to the family of Christ, all those who believe and trust in Jesus death and resurrection for their forgiveness and life. 

We believe that communion is actually bread and wine and at the same time it is the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ, as his last words and testament assert. How they can be both at the same is a mystery that we can never fully comprehend, but we accept this fact on faith alone. What does communion do? It is a meal given to us for the forgiveness of sins, the strengthening of faith, and the building up of the family of Christ until the day that he returns. 

We trust in the words of Scripture, “for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28). When he says "covenant" he is basically saying, "This is my last will and testament. Don't mess with it." So if we shouldn't mess with it by changing the meaning or adding to it, who should join in this meal? 

The person that believes these words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Anyone who believes that Jesus has died and rose for the forgiveness of their sins and puts their trust in this is welcome to take part. Anyone who believes this is the actual body and blood of Jesus is welcome to take part. Anyone who does not believe this should not participate in this meal. We believe the words in 1 Cor. 11:27-30 that anyone who takes it in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement on themselves. If you have any questions about what this meal means, or if you should take it, please speak with Pastor Matt.

We believe that when we confess our sins God, who is loving and faithful, will forgive our sins because of, and through, his Son Jesus and what he has done for us.