What We Believe
We affirm the Nicene Creed, which unites all Christians throughout history. As Anglican Christians, we affirm the 39 Articles of Religion. For the sake of clarity, we also affirm the beliefs expressed in our Statement of Faith below.
THE 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 and for our salvation he came down from heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from 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 worshiped 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.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
In addition to the Creed, for the sake of clarity, Christ's Church affirms the following beliefs:
There is one true and living God revealed in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Mt 28:19)
The Son became incarnate in the man Jesus Christ. Being fully God and fully human yet without sin, He was crucified, died, and was buried to reconcile human beings to the Father. (John 1:14)
Christ rose from the dead and appeared to more than 500 people before ascending into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father until He returns to judge all human beings in the last day. (1 Cor 15:6)
The Holy Spirit is a gift granted by God to all disciples of Jesus. He mediates the ongoing presence of Jesus to them, instructs them in all truth, and fills their ministry with power through the present use of all of the biblical spiritual gifts. (Acts 1:8, 2 Tim 1:7)
Holy Scripture is the inspired word of God that contains all that is necessary for salvation and the final authority for Christian faith and life. (2 Tim 3:16-17)
Human beings were created by God in His image to be stewards over the earth, but because of the sinful nature inherited from Adam, we are not capable of doing any spiritually good works through our own efforts. (Gen 1:26-28, Rom 5:12, John 15:5)
Human beings can only be justified and counted righteous before God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ whose sacrifice on the cross freed human beings from their bondage to original sin. Human beings can find salvation in no other name than that of Jesus Christ. (Rom 10:9-10, Acts 4:12)
Marriage between a man and woman is a gift given to humanity by God and serves as a sign of the future marriage between Christ and His Church. Children are the fruit of marriage. (Gen 2:20-24, Rev 21:9)
The Church is the people brought together by the Holy Spirit who have been reconciled to God as a result of the saving work of Jesus Christ. The Church exists to glorify God by:
Praising and worshiping Him (Eph 1:12)
Observing the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion to remember what God has done and receive his grace (Marks 16:16, Acts 2:38, 1 Cor 11:25)
Bearing testimony by word and deed to all Jesus commanded (Matt 28:19-20).
In the last day Jesus Christ will return in the flesh to judge the world. All things will be reconciled to God and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. All disciples of Christ will be resurrected from the dead and enjoy eternal communion with God. (Phil 2:10, 1 Cor 15:42-44)