Teachings

Our Theology

We believe that the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, the only infallible rule for faith and life. We affirm three creeds—the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed—as ecumenical expressions of the Christian faith. We also affirm three confessions—the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort—as historic Reformed expressions of the Christian faith, whose doctrines fully agree with the Word of God.

Along with these historic creeds and confessions, we recognize the following Reformed expressions of the Christian faith, adopted by synod as contemporary testimonies: the call for unity, justice, and reconciliation of the Belhar Confession and the witness of Our World Belongs to God: A Contemporary Testimony.

 

CREATION

We believe that God created man in His image (Imago Dei) and that He has uniquely made them male and female with distinct roles without the absence of equality. (Gen. 1:26)

 

THE SCRIPTURES

We embrace biblical orthodoxy as an essential component to the health of believers. Therefore, we believe the Holy Scriptures of the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament to be the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed and don't need to be added to (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12, 13).

 

THE TRINITY (GODHEAD)

We believe in one Triune God as creator, eternally existing in three persons— God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—co-eternal in being, co-eternal in nature, co-equal in power and glory, having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

 

SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who is God's means of grace for redemption, whose blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 2:8–10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19).

 

ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever and that salvation cannot be lost. Additionally, since we have this eternal assurance in Christ that does not give us a license to sin, but rather faith in Christ leads one to daily die to self and to deny their sinful desires for the sake of the gospel (John 6:37–40; 10:27–30; Romans 8:1, 38, 39; 1 Corinthians 1:4–8; 1 Peter 1:5; Romans 5:20 – 6:4; Romans 13:13, 14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11–15).

 

CHRIST'S RETURN

We believe that all will be resurrected to give an account to God for their lives. Those that have placed saving faith in Christ will be resurrected to eternal blessedness and have joy and peace in the presence of the eternal God. Those that have not placed saving faith in Christ will be resurrected to judgment and endure eternal punishment (1 Thes. 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-6; 1 Thes. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10).