We subscribe to the ancient formularies of the historic Christian church, including:
God
- God is Love (1 John 4:8,16).
- God is Trinity – One God in three persons (Luke 3:21-22; Eph 1:17; Eph 2:14-17a; Eph 5:18-20). The three persons of the Trinity exist in an eternal, mutually indwelling, self-giving relationship of love within the Godhead.
- The three persons of the Trinity were and are co-equally involved in all acts of creation, redemption/salvation, resurrection, and re-creation.
The Father
- The Father is love (1 John 4:8,16).
- The Father, in love, sent Jesus into the world to save the world through him. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 5:11-12).
- The Father is our origin and destination. Jesus is the way to the Father (John 14:6).
Jesus (the Son)
- Jesus is love (1 John 4:8,16).
- Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6).
- Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone and comes by grace through faith (Acts 4:12; Rom 3:23-24; Rom 5:1-2; Gal 2:15-16; Eph 2:4-5; 1 John 5:11-12).
- Jesus solved once and for all the problem of sin and death (Rom 3:23-24; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 2:14-15). Sin separates us from the Father and leads to death (Rom. 6:23).
- Jesus is not the Father but is the perfect and exact representation of the Father (John 14:9-11; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3).
The Holy Spirit
- The Holy Spirit is love (1 John 4:8,16).
- The Holy Spirit marks believers as the Father’s own beloved sons and daughters (Rom 8:15-16)
- The Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of believers (Rom. 5:5; Gal. 4:6).
- The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of believers through sanctification to conform them into the likeness of Jesus (1 Cor 6:11; 2 Thess 2:13; Rom 8:29; Col 3:9-10).
- The Holy Spirit empowers believers for Kingdom life and ministry (Luke 10:19; John 20:21-23; 1 Cor 12:1-11).
- The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers for proclaiming the Kingdom (Luke 10:9) and for building up the body of Christ in love (1 Cor 12:7-11).
- Healing, prophecy and the sign gifts are as available today as they were for Jesus and the early church (1 Cor 14:1; 1 Cor 14:39).
Christians
- Those who are in Christ are sons and daughters of the Father and co-heirs with Jesus of the Father’s Kingdom (John 1:12-13; Rom 8:14-17; Gal 4:4-7; 1 John 3:1).
- As sons and daughters of the Father indwelt by the Holy Spirit, Christians have everything they need in Jesus to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom with love, power and authority (Luke 10:19; Mt 28:18-20; John 14:12).
- As sons and daughters, believers have worth and value in the Father’s eyes and are not under wrath and condemnation from God (Rom 8:1). Believers still do sin, but have the promise of forgiveness if they turn to God and repent (1 John 1:9).
- Believers are called and designed by God to live in love and unity as one body (1 Cor 12:12-26), quick to forgive each other as they have been forgiven by God (Mt 18:21-22; Luke 17:4; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13).
Scripture
- Scripture is God-breathed and reveals the way to salvation through Jesus Christ (1 Tim 3:16).
- Scripture speaks to the heart, revealing the heart condition of every human being, and pointing the way to heart healing, transformation, wholeness, freedom. (Heb 4:12).
- Scripture reveals the heart of our loving heavenly Father and is a record of the Father’s acts in history to restore his wayward children to Himself.
The Church (Body of Christ)
- The primary mission and call of the Body of Christ is to abide in Jesus (John 15:1-17) and follow the most excellent way of love (1 Cor 13; 14:1) by:
- Loving God (Deut 6:5; Mt 22:37-40).
- Loving our neighbor (Lev 19:18; Mt 22:37-40).
- Loving one another as Jesus loves us (John 13:34).
- Proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of love by word and action (Luke 9:1-2; Luke 10:8-9).
- Making disciples of Love (Mt 28:18-20; John 13:34-35).
- True love can only flow from a heart that is united with the heart of the Father. Hearts filled with love naturally overflow and give birth to good works like evangelism, mission, discipleship and care for the poor and downtrodden. Hearts on fire with love result in healthy churches, unity in the Body of Christ, revival and the dynamic expansion of the Kingdom of God.
- God designed the Body of Christ to live in the unity that comes from love. God is love and love is the source of true unity. Unity in the body of Christ directly testifies to who God is and what he is like (John 17: 20-23; Phil 2:1-4; Col 3:12-14).
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the father. He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Athanasian Creed
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.
The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord.
For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be both God and Lord, So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other; none is greater, or less than another; But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved is must think thus of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of his Mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.
Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood; Who, although he be God and Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ; One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the Manhood into God; One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.
This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.