Statement of Faith

Statement of Faith

We affirm our belief in historic Christianity as revealed in the Scriptures and summarized in the three Creeds (the Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian) and, for those who are Anglicans, the Thirty-Nine Articles. We believe in:

 

Article I: The Holy Trinity
 

The mystery of the Holy Trinity, namely, that the one God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and has so revealed Himself to us in the Gospel.

 

Article II: The Lord Jesus Christ

 

The full deity and full humanity of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, God Incarnate, who by reason of His birth of the Virgin Mary, sinless life, atoning death, bodily resurrection, glorious ascension, and triumphant reign, is the only Mediator between God and humanity.

 

Article III: The Holy Scriptures

 

The trustworthiness of the canonical books of the Old Testament – the Tanakh – and the New Testament as “God's Word written,” which together contain all things necessary for salvation, teach God's will for His world, and have supreme authority for faith, life, and the continuous renewal and reform of the Church.

 

Article IV: Justification and Sanctification

 

The justification of repenting and believing sinners as God's gracious act of declaring them righteous on the ground of the reconciling death of Jesus the Messiah, who suffered in our place and rose again for us; and sanctification as the gracious continuing activity of the Holy Spirit in the justified believers, perfecting their repentance, nurturing the new life implanted within them, transforming them into the image of Jesus, and enabling them to do good works in the world.

 

Article V: The Christian Church

 

The Church as the Body of Messiah, whose members belong to the new humanity. The disciples of Jesus, both Jew and Gentile, are called to live in the world in the power of the Spirit, worshipping God, confessing His truth, proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, supporting one another in love, and giving themselves in sacrificial service to those in need.

 

Article VI: Spiritual Gifts and Ministry

 

The calling of all Christians to exercise their God-given gifts in ministry, and to work, witness, and suffer for the gospel; together with the particular call of ordained ministers, who, by preaching, teaching, and pastoral care, are to equip God's people for His service, and to present them mature in Messiah.

 

Article VII: Baptism and Holy Communion

 

Baptism and Holy Communion, instituted by the Lord Jesus, are “visible words” which proclaim the gospel. They are instruments that God uses to enliven, deepen and strengthen our faith when rightly approached in repentance and faith.

 

In particular, we hold the Lord's Supper to be an appointed means of communion with the Risen Lord through which He reminds us of the benefits of His sacrifice, once for all offered on the Cross for us as sinners, and of His triumph for us in His Cross and Resurrection over sin, Satan and death.

 

Article VIII: The Priority of Jewish Ministry

 

As followers of Jesus who are called to share the gospel with all people, we acknowledge that we have a responsibility to love and stand with the Jewish people and especially to share the gospel of Jesus their Messiah with them. We heed the words of the Apostle Paul that the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16).

 

Article IX: The Return of Christ

 

The personal return in glory of our Lord Jesus Christ at the end of this age for the resurrection of the dead, some to life, some to condemnation, for the glorification of his Church, and for the renewal of the whole creation.

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