I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, who is the creator, ruler and redeemer of all things. Without Him, nothing that is would have been made. This work of Creation was done of His own free will, and the universe came to be out of nothing at the sound of His voice. Consequently, all things are under His control. Nothing in existence occurs without his knowledge and permission. He is sovereign over all things physical and spiritual. His purpose for Creation is to be in shalom, ultimate peace within a loving relationship with Himself. By his love, He continually draws Creation nearer to Him. He is the source of all good things; the author of abundant life.
I believe that God has made Himself known the historical person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God, who was begotten of the Father; born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. Jesus is homoousious with the Father; of the same substance. He was not created, but existed with the Father from before the beginning of time. He was sent to earth and took on human flesh, and with it human nature, in order to present Himself as a ransom for many. He was tempted in every way, yet was without sin, in order that He might fulfill the righteous requirements of the law for us as a perfect sacrifice: one sacrifice for the justification and sanctification of all that we might be presented to the Father as blameless and pure as we enter into His kingdom. To complete this sacrifice, Jesus was crucified, died and was buried under the authority of Pontius Pilate. Three days later, He rose from the dead as was predicted beforehand by the Prophets of Israel. He defeated death on our behalf and ascended to heaven in order to establish a new covenant of grace; that all who call on the name of Jesus shall be saved. He will come again to judge the living and the dead and to establish his kingdom forevermore.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who comes from the Father at the request of the Son, and is to be worshipped along with them. The Spirit has manifested itself throughout history in the words and acts of the prophets. It continues to do so today in the form of spiritual gifts distributed by the Father to His people in accordance with His will. Supernatural healings, visions, and tongues are given to God’s covenant partners through the Spirit for the purpose of advancing the Kingdom of God, which has now come in part and will come fully at the second coming of Jesus Christ. The Spirit was present with God the Father and God the Son in the creation of the physical world, and without its ongoing work, there can no spiritual life; no shalom.
I believe in one holy catholic Church, in which the Living Word of God, the Bible, is preached and the sacraments of baptism and communion are given for the confirmation and application of the Father’s covenant promises for his people. This Church is united by faith in Jesus alone for the forgiveness of sins, hope of complete reconciliation with God, and selfless, Christ-like love for all. It is rooted in the Word and guided by the Holy Spirit. Together, the Word and the Spirit provide everything that is necessary for holy living and proper worship. The sacrament of baptism, administered through submersion in water, is symbolic of participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sinful human nature is done away with and the Holy Spirit takes its place. The sacrament of communion, administered through the bread and the cup, signifies an indwelling of the life Christ. Its connection to the Jewish Passover tradition confirms the efficacy of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. The partaking of communion is both a symbol and a vehicle of this sacrifice upon which rests the hope of the world.
