Our Creeds & Confessions

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

      Creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit

      and born of the virgin Mary.

      He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

      was crucified, died, and was buried.

     The third day he rose again from the dead.

      He ascended to heaven

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.  

From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

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.

*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places

We believe in one God,

      the Father almighty,

      maker of heaven and earth,

      of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

      the only Son of God,

      begotten from the Father before all ages,

      God from God,

      Light from Light,

      true God from true God,

      begotten, not made;

      of the same essence as the Father.

      Through him all things were made.

      For us and for our salvation

      he came down from heaven;

      he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,

      and was made human.

      He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;

      he suffered and was buried.

      The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.

      He ascended to heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again with glory to judge the living and the   dead.

      His kingdom will never end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit,

      the Lord, the giver of life.

      He proceeds from the Father and the Son,

      and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.

      He spoke through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church.

We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,

      and to life in the world to come. Amen.

*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places

Question 1: What is your only comfort in life and in death?

That I am not my own, but belong -- body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.  He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.  He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.  Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Question 2: What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort?

Three things: first, how great my sin and misery are; second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery [through Jesus Christ]; third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.

There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections.

God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.

The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

We confess the mystery and wonder

of God made flesh

and rejoice in our great salvation

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

With the Father and the Holy Spirit,

the Son created all things,

sustains all things,

and makes all things new.

Truly God,

He became truly man,

two natures in one person.

He was born of the Virgin Mary

and lived among us.

Crucified, dead, and buried,

He rose on the third day,

ascended to heaven,

and will come again

in glory and judgment.

For us, He kept the Law,

atoned for sin,

and satisfied God’s wrath.

He took our filthy rags

and gave us

His righteous robe.

He is our Prophet, Priest, and King,

building His church,

interceding for us,

and reigning over all things.

Jesus Christ is Lord;

we praise His holy Name forever.

Amen