1. GOD
We believe, teach and confess that the only true God is the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is one in essence, but three in Persons. Therefore, we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the Substance (Athanasian Creed). (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 1:1, 14; Acts 5:3-4; Matthew 28:19)
2. HOLY SCRIPTURE
We believe, teach and confess that the canonical books of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, written by the prophets, apostles, and evangelists, are the inspired Word of God. (1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
Being God's Word, the Holy Scriptures are without error. They are true, whether they speak of historical, geographical, moral, or doctrinal matters. It is possible to know the truth, for the truth is revealed to us by God Himself in His Word. (Psalm 119:160; John 8:31-32, 17:17)
3. CREATION
We believe, teach and confess that God created the world, the universe, and all things in them in six days, as is revealed in the Scriptures. We reject the theories of evolution and theistic evolution because they contradict the account of creation given by God in His Word. (Genesis 1 & 2; Exodus 20:11; Matthew 19:4)
4. THE FALL INTO SIN
We believe, teach and confess that God created man in His own image, possessing perfect righteousness. However, man gave in to the devil's temptation and fell into sin, losing this righteousness and becoming by nature sinful, corrupt, and subject to death and the wrath of God. All people born into this world are born into this sinful state, and, unless saved by God, would be lost and condemned forever. (Genesis 3, 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Romans 1:18, 5:12, 6:23; Luke 19:10)
5. REDEMPTION
We believe, teach and confess that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, true God and true man, into the world to save mankind from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation. Through His holy life and innocent suffering and death, Jesus has redeemed the world, bearing the sins of all people and bringing reconciliation between God and man. (John 1:1, 14; Matthew 1:21; Isaiah 53:4-6; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, 21; 1 John 2:1-2)
6. SALVATION / JUSTIFICATION
We believe, teach and confess that we are saved and justified before God not by anything we can do, nor by anything anyone else, living or dead, can do for us, but solely through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Those who believe in Jesus as their Savior have forgiveness of sins and eternal life according to His promise. There is no other way to be saved from sin, death, and hell but through faith in Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-18, 14:6; Romans 3:19-24; Ephesians 2:8-9)
7. THE MEANS OF GRACE
We believe, teach and confess that God has instituted certain Means of Grace by which He announces and imparts forgiveness of sins and salvation to man. These Means of Grace are the Word (the Gospel) and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. It is the Word of God, connected with the outward elements, that gives the Sacraments power and makes them effective as Means of Grace. (Mark 16:15; John 15:3; Matthew 28:19; John 3:3-5; Matthew 26:26-28; John 6:54-56; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
We confess one Baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). We also confess the Real Presence of Jesus' body and blood in the Lord's Supper, as His Word declares. (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; John 6:51-57; 1 Corinithians 10:16)
Christ has also instituted Absolution to impart forgiveness of sins. Absolution is not just an announcement that sins may be forgiven, but it is the impartation of forgiveness, as the words and promises of Christ declare. For this reason, corporate Confession and Absolution are included in our regular worship services, and private Absolution is offered to those who desire it. (Matthew 16:19, 18:18; John 20:21-23)
8. GOOD WORKS
We believe, teach and confess that no one can be saved by his works. However, God has commanded good works, and such works are a necessary part of the life of a Christian. Good works are done, not only because God commands them, but out of love and thankfulness to God for His mercy and out of love for our fellow man. Only such works as are done in faith in Christ are truly good works in the sight of God.(Isaiah 1:17; Matthew 5:16, 5:43-45; John 15:12; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 11:6; James 2:17-18; 1 John 3:17-18)
9. THE CHURCH
We believe, teach and confess that there is a holy Christian Church on earth which consists of all who truly believe in Jesus as their Savior. This Church is found wherever the Gospel is rightly preached and the Sacraments are administered according to Christ's institution. It is God's will that people not only be members of this one holy Christian Church through faith, but also that Christians gather together in local churches where the Word is rightly taught, where the Sacraments are rightly administered, and where they can encourage and edify one another. (John 10:16; Ephesians 2:19-22; Isaiah 55:10-11; Acts 2:41-42; Hebrews 10:24-25)
10. THE MINISTRY
We believe, teach and confess that Christ has instituted the Office of the Ministry in His Church. The responsibilities of the incumbents of this office are to preach and teach the Word of God faithfully, administer the Sacraments according to Christ's institution, forgive and retain sins, and shepherd the flock under their care. Only properly qualified men may be called to this office. (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-15; John 20:19-23; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, 14:34-37; 1 Timothy 2:11-14, 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
When God's Word says that women are to keep silent in the churches (1 Corinthians 14:34) and that they are not to have authority over a man (1 Timothy 2:12), this means that the Office of the Public Ministry, other positions and offices exercising authority in the church, and the vote in church assemblies are not to be conferred upon women.
11. CHURCH FELLOWSHIP
We believe, teach and confess that the Scriptures require that church fellowship be practiced where the Word of God is faithfully taught, the Sacraments are rightly administered, and where church practice also conforms to God's Word. (Acts 2:42; John 8:31-32; Ephesians 2:19-20; 1 Corinthians 14:26-37)
False teaching, i.e., teaching that contradicts the Word of God, is not to be tolerated in the Church. (Matthew 7:15; Romans 16:17; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 John 9-11)
We reject unionism, that is, church fellowship with those whose teaching and practice are contrary to God's Word, because it tolerates error in doctrine in the Church.
We also reject separatism, that is, the refusal to practice fellowship with those whose doctrine and practice are in accordance with God's Word, because it divides Christ's Church without scriptural cause. (John 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; Ephesians 4:1-6)
12. THE LAST THINGS
We believe, teach and confess that on the Last Day Christ will return visibly to earth, will raise all the dead, both believers and unbelievers, and will judge all people, rendering to each according to what he has done. The believers in Christ shall enter into eternal life, but the unbelievers into eternal damnation. (Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 2:5-10; 2 Corinthians 5:9-10; John 5:28-29, 6:40; Mark 16:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 7:9-17, 20:11-15)
We reject any prophecy that claims to foretell when Christ will return. (Matthew 24:36-44)
We also reject all forms of Millennialism, that is, the teaching that Christ will return before the Last Day and will reign visibly on earth for a thousand years, or any other number of years, before the end of time. (John 18:36)
13. CURRENT MORAL ISSUES
We believe, teach and confess that human life starts at conception and that the willful taking of a human life through abortion is murder. (Exodus 20:13; Psalm 139:13; Jeremiah 1:4-5)
We believe, teach and confess that homosexuality is sin. It is a lifestyle contrary to God's law as well as contrary to natural law and one that is condemned by God. (Genesis 19:1-25; Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:18-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
We believe, teach, and confess that marriage is only between a man and a woman and that homosexual (same-sex) marriage, being contrary to marriage as God instituted it (Genesis 2:21-24, Matthew 19:4-6) and involving an inherently sinful homosexual relationship, is also condemned by God. Therefore, we do not recognize same-sex marriage as a valid marriage. None of our church facilities will be used for a same-sex marriage, nor for any other purpose that conflicts with the doctrine we confess, nor will the pastor of our church officiate at any same-sex wedding.
We also believe, teach, and confess that there were two distinct genders created by God, male and female (Genesis 1:27, 5:2; Matthew 19:4), and that transition from one's sex assigned at birth is contrary to the Scriptures and is therefore sin. Our practice relflects our doctrinal stand on this issue; we do not affirm the new sexual identity of those who have transitioned from their birth sex.
However, we also believe, teach and confess that Christ died for all sins, including those of abortion, homosexuality, and transgenderism. Those who confess their sins, repent of them, and seek God's forgiveness in Christ will find it. God will graciously forgive their sins and grant them eternal life, according to the promises of His Word. (Psalm 103:11-12; Isaiah 1:18; Luke 24:46-47; Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:8-9)