The historic Christian faith, as its documented holy scripture, offers a transforming relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. It cannot be replaced, reinvented or re-written by modern individuals who seek to make her or his own version of personal truth, morality, and understanding of righteousness.<\/p>\n
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is both holy and loving.<\/p>\n
Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God. He lived a sinless human life and died on the cross to atone for our sins. He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven and will return again to Earth.<\/p>\n
The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. When we receive Jesus as the leader of our lives and the forgiver of our sins, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. He provides us with power for living, enables us to understand spiritual truth and guides us in doing what pleases God. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.<\/p>\n
The Bible is God\u2019s word written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the final authority for determining our Christian beliefs and how we are to live.<\/p>\n
People are made in the spiritual image of God \u2014 we are rational and moral beings. Because we are God\u2019s creation made in God\u2019s image, each person possesses great self-worth. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of self-centeredness which the Bible calls \u201csin.\u201d This attitude and its resultant actions separate us from God, others and ourselves.<\/p>\n
Becoming right with God and having our relationship with God restored is what the Bible calls salvation. Salvation is God\u2019s free gift to us. We can never earn it or achieve it by self-improvement or good works. We accept God\u2019s gift of a new life when we turn from our self-ruled life and accept Jesus as our Savior. The new life that God gives us is an abundant life in this world and eternal life in the world to come.<\/p>\n
Though we are not made right with God by our own goodness, \u201cgood works\u201d are not optional for the Christian life. When we give our lives to Christ, it is expected that we will grow toward loving God with all our being and our neighbors as ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.<\/p>\n
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
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,
Is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n