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What We
Believe
We join with Christians throughout the ages in confessing
one God in three persons: God the Father; Jesus of Nazareth,
the Son of God; and God the Holy Spirit.
Jesus asked his followers, "Who do you say that I
am?" This question, along with the centuries old answer
found in the Apostles' Creed, form our focus this year for
Sunday school, Confirmation classes, and as our over arching
theme for 2002/2003.
THE APOSTLES' CREED
The First Article: Creation
"I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth."
I believe that God has created me and all that exists; that
he has given me and still sustains my body and soul, all my
limbs and senses, my reason and all the faculties of my mind,
together with food and clothing, house and home, family and
property; that he provides me daily and abundantly with all
the necessities of life, protects me from all danger, and
preserves me from all evil. All this he does out of his pure,
fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or
worthiness on my part. For all of this I am bound to thank,
praise, serve and obey him. This is most certainly true.
The Second Article: Redemption (the cost of being saved)
"I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is
seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to
judge the living and the dead."
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the
Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin
Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned
creature, delivered me and freed me from all sins, from death,
and from the power of the devil, not with silver and gold but
with his holy and precious blood and with his innocent
sufferings and death, in order that I may be his, live under
him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting
righteousness, innocence and blessedness, even as he is risen
from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity. This is
most certainly true.
The Third Article: Sanctification (being made/kept Holy or
clean)
"I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen."
I believe that by my own reason or strength I cannot
believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy
Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with
his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in true faith, just
as he calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole
Christian church on earth and preserves it in union with Jesus
Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church he
daily and abundantly forgives all my sins, and the sins of all
believers, and on the last day he will raise me and all the
dead and will grant eternal life to me and to all who believe
in Christ. This is most certainly true.
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