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When a person is looking for a "church home" and visits a new church for the first time appearances are important. It's important to feel welcomed, to enjoy the service, to experience the Love of Christ.
But it is also important to know what the church teaches. We want you to know what we believe, for it is the beliefs and teachings that really make a church.
We can't cover all of our beliefs, but the following are a few of the most important.
(Click on the underlined scripture to read it’s text.)
(To come back here, close the window that opens .)
Scripture: Is inspired by God and is without error. II Timothy 3:16;
John 10:35.
God: Is Triune; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three Persons, One divine Essence. He is the only true God. Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 8:4.
Jesus: Is True God, equal to the Father, and also True Man. He is the only Savior of Mankind. John 5:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12.
Sin: All mankind is born into sin. By nature we are spiritually blind, dead and an enemy of God. We therefore cannot save ourselves from eternal damnation. Psalms 51:5; Romans 3:23.
Grace: God's benevolent action in which He reconciles us to Himself through Jesus Christ. Our sins are forgiven by Him and through Him. Nothing we can do can earn for us this grace or forgiveness. John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:25.
Conversion: Being brought to faith in Christ is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit, not by some "decision" or "experience" of ours. Conversion is worked by the Gospel and Holy Baptism. 1 Peter 1:23; John 3:5-6.
Holy Baptism: Is where our old nature is buried and the new nature in Christ springs to life. Baptism creates faith, washes away sins, and saves us by the gracious working of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38-39; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; Titus 3:5-7.
Holy Communion: The Lord's Supper is Christ's True Body and Blood, really present in the bread and wine, given and shed for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16. Because this meal can be taken to one's spiritual detriment, (1 Corinthians 11:27-29) we practice "close communion".
There is much more in which we believe and would invite you to begin participating in Bible Study and instruction. Please see the Home Page for a listing (under "Bible Studies") of when these studies meet.
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