What We Believe

As a Reformation era church, we hold to the long-standing creeds and confessions of our heritage.  They include the ancient creeds known as the Apostles', the Nicene and the Athanasian Creed, as well as the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession and the Canons of the Synod of Dort. 

For copies of those, please see the RCA website.

In addition, we can stand with others of this modern era in saying "We believe..."

1.  ... in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect, all-knowing, holy, and eternally existing in three persons -- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

2. Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary and gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God the Father, as our High Priest and Advocate. His death and resurrection is the basis for salvation. Whoever confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead are born of the Holy Spirit and are children of God.

3. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to indwell, guide, convict, regenerate, instruct, and empower the believer for Godly living and service.

4. The Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit-controlled authors, and therefore is Truth without error in the original writings. We believe the Bible is the complete revelation of God's will for the salvation of humankind, and the standard by which all humans should live.

5. Humankind was created in the image of God but fell, through sin, and is therefore spiritually dead and separated from God.

6. Salvation is a free gift, by God's grace, received by placing faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that in salvation there is complete forgiveness of sin and the unmerited gift of eternal life.

7. All true believers who are born again by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ are assured of their salvation.

8. In the personality and reality of Satan, that he is the originator of sin and that he is ceaseless and ruthless in his efforts to destroy God's plan of salvation for all humankind.

9. The local church exists to help people know and glorify God, to help believers mature in their faith, to equip them for ministry, and to empower and unleash people to do the work of ministry.

10. Jesus Christ will return, in bodily form, and take His people, in bodily form, to spend eternity in heaven. We believe His return is imminent and gives hope to all believers.

Scripture which can help explain the above statements:
1. Genesis 1:1; Psalm 36:9; Psalm 139:1-4; Matthew 28:19; 1 Timothy 1:17

2. Isaiah 7:14,53:4-7; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:14, 3:16; Romans 10:9-19; 1 John 4:10

3. John 14:16, 17, 26; John 16:7-11; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18

4. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter1:19-21; Psalm 119:89, 105

5. Genesis 1:27, 3:1-24; Romans 3:10-12, 23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:4-5

6. Ephesians 1:13-14, 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7

7. John 3:16; Romans 8:1-2, 35-39; Philippians 1:6;  I John 5:1; Jude 1;

8. Genesis 3:1; Job 1:6, 2:7; Mark 4:15; John 10:10; Revelation 12:9

9. Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 12:1-31; Ephesians 2:19-20, 5:25-27; 1 Peter 2:9

10. Mark 13:26; Acts 1:11; John 14:1-6; Philippians 3:20; Revelation 1:4-8

 Reformed Principles

In addition to statements of belief, our understanding of the faith is reflected in these core principles...

 1.       The Covenantal Understanding of Scriptures - Between both testaments and throughout all ages of history there is one covenant of grace revealed and applicable to God and His people.  It may take different forms in different periods of biblical history, for instance, the covenants of Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, and Christ.  But the one promise that is repeated throughout is "I will be your God and you shall be my people."
 
2.       The Sovereignty of God in our Calling - Our salvation, from beginning to end, is God's work.  God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4 and will bring that good work in us to completion by the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6)  We respond to God's calling (Rom 8:30)by the wooing of the Holy Spirit, not by our own ingenuity.
 
3.       Justification by Grace through Faith - Known as the great rallying point of the Reformation, this statement claims that out of no merit of our own do we receive salvation, but only through the atoning and loving work of Christ on the cross.  Even faith is a gift (Eph. 2:8-9)and through it we are awakened to a life of service and good works.
 
4.       The Priesthood of All Believers - The Reformers recognized the role of all believers in the ministry of the church, and that ordained offices (minister of the Word and Sacrament, elder, deacon, and professor) are functional in nature.
 
5.       Engagement with the World - Each person was called (vocatio) by God not only to service in the church, but to service to the community in whatever role he or she played.  The wife in her kitchen, the farmer in the field, the worker in the factory are doing the work of God every bit as much as the preacher.  The Reformers believed that God's people are called into the world into the areas of art, science, government, health, etc. - in short, into all areas of life in order to redeem culture and witness to the Lordship of Christ over all of life.
 
6.       A Lifestyle of Gratitude - All that we are and have belong to God.  We live our lives gratefully, following the commandments and teachings of Christ, knowing that we exist to bring glory to him.

How We Live

God has called us to bear witness to the sure foundations of the faith, but not to break fellowship with other Christians who hold slightly different understandings.  In the words of Martin Luther: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity"

In Essentials - Unity 

Eph. 4:4-6  "There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."