|
As a Reformed church, we believe that the Bible is God’s word to us today. We believe everything it says to us is true. In it, He tells us that He is one God in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He tells us that He is the Creator of the world, that He created the human race “good” and in His “own image.” He also tells us that the human race rebelled against Him. When we rebelled - in our first parents, Adam and Eve - our good nature became evil. But because of His love for us, God chose – out of sheer grace - to save some.
Jesus came to earth to die for those who God has chosen so that their sins could be forgiven. All who God has chosen and for whom Jesus died, are brought to true faith in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit as He convinces us of the truth of the word and causes us to trust Jesus Christ as our only Savior. Faith is a gift that God gives us and maintains in us so that once we belong to Him, He will not let us lose our salvation. Thus, the message of the Bible can be summarized by saying that it is “the gospel,” that is, the good news of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We believe that our response to the gospel must be to confess our sins to God and ask Him for forgiveness on the basis of Christ’s saving work, to trust in Jesus Christ alone and completely for salvation, and live our lives according to God’s word to show Him our thankfulness for our salvation. We believe the essentials of the Christians faith are summarized in the Apostles Creed , the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed. We also adhere to the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort. These three confessions are not human additions to God’s word but are, like the Creeds, human summaries and confessions of the truth of God’s word. They are also used for teaching and instruction. |
"What is your only comfort in life and in death?"
|