The following is a summary of that divine doctrine which God has given us in His Word, which is outlined in the Apostles' Creed, and to which this congregation is committed.
l. There is but One God, one divine being, who is eternally existent in three distinct persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
2. This One True God, our Almighty Father, created the heavens and the earth and all that in them is in six literal days, not six eras. Because He has created us we are accountable to Him, and He has every right to expect our obedience and to judge us when we fall short.
3. Because God created us in His own image, pure and free from sin, He is not to blame for the sin, suffering and death which is now in the world. On the contrary sin, suffering and death entered the world through the willful disobedience of one man, Adam, and his wife Eve, from whom the entire human race is descended. As a result of Adam's sin our very nature is now corrupt according to deceitful lusts. We are born in sin and are by nature the children of wrath, unable to save ourselves and deserving only of death and hell.
4. Because we cannot save ourselves, God our Savior, in His great mercy and in spite of our unworthiness, came down from heaven and through the miracle of the virgin birth took upon Himself the nature of man being at once both true God (God the Son) and true man (the sinless Son of God). God of the same substance as the Father, and, therefore, equal to the Father in all things; man of the substance of His mother, and, therefore, subject to the Father in all things. Yet although He is both God and man He is not two but one Christ.
5. As the sinless Son of God, Christ was able to take our place under the law, bearing our guilt, suffering for our sins, and dying as our substitute. Through His sacrificial death on the cross Christ has redeemed us from sin, death and the power of the devil, appeasing God's wrath and securing by His own blood forgiveness for all of our sins and for the sins of the whole world.
6. Although He was crucified, dead and buried, Christ rose again the third day victorious over sin, death and the power of the devil. Through His resurrection, which is one of the best established facts of history, we are assured that He has indeed won forgiveness for us and that as He is risen so we likewise will one day rise, incorruptible, unto eternal life.
7. Forty days after His triumphant resurrection from the dead Christ ascended bodily unto heaven. There seated on the right hand of God's power He makes intercession for us and has sent the Holy Spirit into the world so that through the testimony of the Spirit we might know Him. Because He has ascended unto heaven we are assured that in the fullness of time He will return again.
8. In order to testify of Christ, the Holy Spirit has inspired and preserved those writings which constitute the Holy Bible. As the Word of God the Bible is to be the sole source, standard and judge of all doctrine. Although we could not by our own reason or strength know of Jesus Christ or trust in Him, the Holy Ghost, working through His Word, has called us by the gospel; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.
9. Through the law the Holy Ghost reveals and condemns our sin bringing us to repentance. Through the gospel He then assures us of free forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Walking in this assurance of faith we have access to God's grace and through forgiveness are cleansed of all unrighteousness, saved, and made sons of God being raised from spiritual death to new life in Christ (this is the first resurrection).
10. The true
11. As Christ ascended unto heaven so He will on the last day visibly and bodily return to this earth. At His return all the dead shall rise and every eye shall see Him seated upon the throne of His glory, there to judge all men in righteousness by His Word (this is the second resurrection).
12. On that day of judgment every man will give account to God for all deeds done in the flesh. All who have in this life acknowledged their sin and looked to Christ for forgiveness will have no sin charged to their account and so will enter into everlasting life as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. All who have not acknowledged their sin or found forgiveness in this life will be found guilty before God and so will enter into everlasting conscious punishment for their sins.