Our Beliefs

1. Of the Holy Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the very word of God, given by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and therefore true and faithful in all that they affirm. They are fully sufficient for salvation, utterly reliable in all matters of faith and life, and the only infallible rule of Christian faith and practice. Whatever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any as an article of faith, nor held necessary to salvation.

2. Of the Holy Trinity



We believe there is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness. In the unity of this Godhead there are three Persons of one substance, power, and eternity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

​

3. Of the Son of God and His Incarnation

We believe the eternal Son, very God and very man, was made flesh, conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, and lived without sin. For us and for our salvation He was crucified, died, and was buried, and on the third day He rose again, ascended into heaven, and ever lives to intercede for us.

​

4. Of the Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son and is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son. He convinces the world of sin, works new birth in those who believe, assures believers of their adoption, and perfects them in love.

​

5. Of Original Sin and Free Grace

We believe that all are by nature corrupt, inclined to evil, and subject to death, so that of themselves they have no power to do works pleasing to God. Yet we believe that Christ’s atonement is for all, that prevenient grace is freely given to every person, enabling them to repent and believe, though they may resist this grace.

6. Of Justification by Faith

We believe we are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, received by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. This faith is a present trust in Christ, bringing pardon, peace with God, and a real change of heart.

7. Of Assurance of God’s Love

We believe that every true believer may receive the inward witness of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. This assurance is normally given to those who are justified by faith and walk in obedient love.

8. Of the New Birth

We believe that all must be born again. This new birth is a real change wrought by the Holy Spirit, renewing our hearts after the image of God, so that we are enabled to love God and our neighbor and to overcome the power of sin.

9. Of Sanctification and Christian Perfection

We believe that sanctification begins in the new birth and continues as believers grow in grace through the means of grace and works of mercy. We further believe that, in this life, God is able to cleanse the heart from inbred sin and to fill it with perfect love, so that the whole being is devoted to God and to neighbor, though this does not exclude growth in grace or mistakes of infirmity.

10. Of Good Works

We believe that good works, which are the fruits of faith, follow after justification and are pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ. Though they cannot put away our sins or endure the severity of God’s judgment, they spring from a living faith and are necessary as evidence of it.

11. Of the Church

We believe the one holy catholic (universal) Church is the community of all true believers in Christ, under Him the Head. A particular congregation is a company of faithful people in which the pure word of God is preached and the sacraments duly administered.

​

12. Of the Sacraments

We believe sacraments are outward signs, ordained of Christ, of an inward and spiritual grace, and are means whereby God works invisibly in us, strengthening and confirming our faith. We acknowledge two sacraments ordained by Christ in the Gospel: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

​

13. Of Baptism

We believe baptism is a sign and seal of the new birth, whereby we are grafted into the Church, and the promises of the forgiveness of sins and of adoption are visibly set forth. The baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church as most agreeable with the gracious dealings of God, who includes them within the covenant.

14. Of the Lord’s Supper

We believe the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ’s death, so that to those who rightly, worthily, and with faith receive it, the bread and wine become a real means of partaking of His body and blood to their spiritual strengthening. The sacrament is also a means of prevenient and convincing grace to those not yet assured.

​

15. Of the Christian Life: Social and Personal Holiness

We believe Christianity is essentially a social religion, and to turn it into a solitary religion is to destroy it. Therefore believers are bound to attend upon all the ordinances of God (such as public worship, the ministry of the word, the Lord’s Supper, family and private prayer, searching the Scriptures, and fasting) and to abound in works of mercy, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and contending for justice.

16. Of Perseverance and Falling from Grace

We believe that God is faithful and will not forsake those who truly trust in Christ, but we also hold that it is possible for those who have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit to fall away by willful unbelief and sin. Therefore we must watch and pray, use the means of grace, and continue in faith working by love.

17. Of the Last Things

We believe Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. God will raise the dead, giving to the righteous everlasting life and joy, and to the finally impenitent everlasting punishment, and will make all things new in righteousness.