Our Confession

As a summary of the Bible’s teaching and with the church throughout the ages, we confess the following six articles:

THE NICENE CREED:

In addition to the Nicene Creed, we also confess the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation. These cornerstone truths are foundational for our life both individually and together as Christians.

The Five Solas

SCRIPTURE ALONE

Scripture alone is our final authority. The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the record and means of God’s saving work in the world. These writings alone constitute the verbally inspired Word of God, which is utterly authoritative and without error in the original writings, complete in its revelation of his will for salvation, sufficient for all that God requires us to believe and do, and final in its authority over every domain of knowledge to which it speaks. The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured. The Bible is to be believed, as God’s instruction, in all that it teaches; obeyed, as God’s command, in all that it requires; and trusted, as God’s pledge, in all that it promises.

In accordance with the authority of Scripture alone, we affirm the biblical teaching on all matters of doctrine and ethics, and therefore embrace God’s good design for marriage and sexuality, and affirm the sanctity of human life.

CHRIST ALONE

Our salvation is accomplished by Christ alone. He is the only Savior and Messiah. He alone is both true God and true man, and thus alone can serve as Mediator between God and man. His perfect life, his vicarious death, and his victorious resurrection are alone sufficient for our full salvation and reconciliation to the Father. On the cross, he bore the penalty for our sins as our substitute. In his resurrection, he is the beginning of the resurrection of all God’s people and of the whole of God’s new creation.

Because Christ alone is the Savior, we affirm that salvation is found exclusively in him. In an age of pluralism and religious relativism, we hold fast to the biblical teaching that only through Jesus Christ—his person, work, and grace—can any soul be reconciled to God.

GRACE ALONE

Our salvation is accomplished by grace alone. In and of ourselves, we are dead in sin and deserving of God’s judgment. Because God’s glory is so great, our sin against him deserves the justice of eternity in the lake of fire. Yet, in salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by his all sufficient grace. This salvation is wrought by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit which brings us to Christ, releasing us from our bondage to sin and raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life. All of God’s special grace comes to us on account of Christ, from his perfect person and all sufficient work.

Since salvation is a supernatural work of God’s free and special grace alone, it can therefore not be achieved by human effort or strength. In a world that often emphasizes self-reliance and human achievement, we affirm that salvation is not something we earn, but something we must humbly receive as a gift of God’s unmerited favor.

FAITH ALONE

Justification is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. We are all born condemned and corrupted due to the sin of our father Adam. Yet, in justification Christ’s perfect righteousness is counted toward us and we are freed from sin’s condemnation. This is the only way for sinful humanity to be made acceptable to God. And this great gift of justification is received by mere faith, without any admixture of human works.

Since we are justified through faith alone, we must be clear that faith is not mere knowledge and agreement with the gospel. True saving faith is a personal trust in Christ and his promises, resting entirely on his finished work..

THE GLORY OF GOD ALONE

All things exist and have been made for the glory of God alone. We ourselves have been created and now redeemed to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is our delight and joy to live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God, and for his glory alone.

Since God’s glory is primary and preeminent in the Christian life, we deny that the Christian faith is primarily about self-improvement, self-esteem, or self-fulfillment. In a world that often centers on personal happiness and individual success, we affirm that true fulfillment is found in living for God’s glory, not our own. The gospel calls us to deny self, take up our cross, and live wholly for the honor of God, recognizing that in doing so, we find our greatest joy and purpose.