What We Believe
The Apostle's Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ His
only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the
Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and
buried. He descended into hell; the third day
He rose again from the dead; He ascended
into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of
God the Father Almighty. From thence He
shall come to judge the living and the dead. I
believe in the holy Ghost, the holy catholic
(universal) Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of
the body, and the life everlasting.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ His
only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the
Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and
buried. He descended into hell; the third day
He rose again from the dead; He ascended
into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of
God the Father Almighty. From thence He
shall come to judge the living and the dead. I
believe in the holy Ghost, the holy catholic
(universal) Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of
the body, and the life everlasting.
The Faith of Our Church
In the presence of God and the assembly, I confess one God; Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. I accept the Old and the New Testaments of the Holy Bible as my rule of faith
and practice. I will strive to know the will of God as it is taught in the Holy Scriptures,
and accept His Word as my law, and His Spirit as my guide. To Him I dedicate my
supreme affections. To His service and glory I consecrate my life. Joining in the
service of the Lord Jesus Christ I do thus truly confess and believe.
In the presence of God and the assembly, I confess one God; Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. I accept the Old and the New Testaments of the Holy Bible as my rule of faith
and practice. I will strive to know the will of God as it is taught in the Holy Scriptures,
and accept His Word as my law, and His Spirit as my guide. To Him I dedicate my
supreme affections. To His service and glory I consecrate my life. Joining in the
service of the Lord Jesus Christ I do thus truly confess and believe.
ESSENTIALS AND DISTINTIVES
WHAT'S A CHRISTIAN?
...your mother? ...a kind or likable person? ...a hard worker?
What does the Bible say? God demonstrates His love for us in
this: "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we
have now been justified (to be declared right with God, to be
found not guilty) by His blood, how much more shall we be
saved (rescued, delivered from Hell) from God's wrath (anger)
through Him!" (Romans 5:8-9).
The Bible says that Christians have "peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ," (Romans 5:1) and that "God so loved
the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John
3:16).
So why does it seem that most people are not having such a
wonderful experience? Aren't most of us born Christian in
America? Not really. We have a problem. God created us in
His image to have a full and great life. But we chose to disobey
God and go our own willful way. This led to separation from
God. The Bible says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God." (Romans 3:23).
Through the ages people have tried many things to bridge the
gap between themselves and the holy God. Good works,
religion, philosophy, morality, and other things have all failed.
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it
leads to death." (Proverbs 14: 12).
God, in His love, has provided the only way through His Son
Jesus Christ. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, to
pay the penalty for the sins of all who will ever turn from sin
and trust Him. It is Jesus who bridged the gap between God
and sinners. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous
for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18).
The story doesn't end there. God's provision calls for a
response. We must trust Christ and receive Him as Lord. "Yet
to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name He
gave the right to become children of God." (John 1: 12) "...if you
confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
(Romans 10:9). The choice is ours. We may remain in the sin
and rebellion that separates us from God. Or, by God's grace,
we may believe in Jesus Christ and cross into peace and
forgiveness, into eternal life, which is full and abundant and
marked by costly self-sacrificial love.
The Christian has chosen life by receiving Christ. "For it is by
grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can
boast." (Ephesians 2:8, 9). The believer is born into God's
family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. This is
called regeneration or the "new birth." We were made to know
God and live under His lordship. It's great when we finally do!
WHAT'S A CHRISTIAN?
...your mother? ...a kind or likable person? ...a hard worker?
What does the Bible say? God demonstrates His love for us in
this: "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we
have now been justified (to be declared right with God, to be
found not guilty) by His blood, how much more shall we be
saved (rescued, delivered from Hell) from God's wrath (anger)
through Him!" (Romans 5:8-9).
The Bible says that Christians have "peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ," (Romans 5:1) and that "God so loved
the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John
3:16).
So why does it seem that most people are not having such a
wonderful experience? Aren't most of us born Christian in
America? Not really. We have a problem. God created us in
His image to have a full and great life. But we chose to disobey
God and go our own willful way. This led to separation from
God. The Bible says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God." (Romans 3:23).
Through the ages people have tried many things to bridge the
gap between themselves and the holy God. Good works,
religion, philosophy, morality, and other things have all failed.
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it
leads to death." (Proverbs 14: 12).
God, in His love, has provided the only way through His Son
Jesus Christ. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, to
pay the penalty for the sins of all who will ever turn from sin
and trust Him. It is Jesus who bridged the gap between God
and sinners. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous
for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18).
The story doesn't end there. God's provision calls for a
response. We must trust Christ and receive Him as Lord. "Yet
to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name He
gave the right to become children of God." (John 1: 12) "...if you
confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
(Romans 10:9). The choice is ours. We may remain in the sin
and rebellion that separates us from God. Or, by God's grace,
we may believe in Jesus Christ and cross into peace and
forgiveness, into eternal life, which is full and abundant and
marked by costly self-sacrificial love.
The Christian has chosen life by receiving Christ. "For it is by
grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can
boast." (Ephesians 2:8, 9). The believer is born into God's
family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. This is
called regeneration or the "new birth." We were made to know
God and live under His lordship. It's great when we finally do!
ESSENTIALS AND DISTINCTIVES
WHAT'S A CONGREGATIONALIST?
For many of us in New England the question may take us by
surprise. We have grown-up surrounded by the presence of
these pretty, white clapboard, churches which grace so many
of our communities. Since few of us question what is familiar,
perhaps we have never asked what this word "congregational"
is doing in the names of so many of our churches.
The distinguishing mark of a congregational church is its view
of the nature of the church and who should govern it.
Congregationalists think the church should consist only of
those who had personally responded to the call of Christ, and
who had covenanted with him and with one another to live
together as his disciples. As such, each local church is
self-governing. That is, it makes its own decisions and rules,
and is subject to neither bishops nor denominational
authorities.
So what does it mean to be a Congregationalist? Most
fundamentally, it should mean to be a Christian. More
particularly, a Congregationalist is a Christian who accepts the
Bible as the Word of God, and a guide for life. On these two
points, there are Christians through the ages from all
denominations that would agree with the "Congregationalists"
The Congregational system of church government has often
been wrongly described as democratic. That is to say, church
members have the right to vote and decide according to their
own desires or opinions. But, according to the Bible, the
church is seen as being under the rule of Christ alone, and
therefore when the church meets, it needs to seek to discern
His will. If that is your understanding, then you, too, are a
Congregationalist.
WHAT'S A CONGREGATIONALIST?
For many of us in New England the question may take us by
surprise. We have grown-up surrounded by the presence of
these pretty, white clapboard, churches which grace so many
of our communities. Since few of us question what is familiar,
perhaps we have never asked what this word "congregational"
is doing in the names of so many of our churches.
The distinguishing mark of a congregational church is its view
of the nature of the church and who should govern it.
Congregationalists think the church should consist only of
those who had personally responded to the call of Christ, and
who had covenanted with him and with one another to live
together as his disciples. As such, each local church is
self-governing. That is, it makes its own decisions and rules,
and is subject to neither bishops nor denominational
authorities.
So what does it mean to be a Congregationalist? Most
fundamentally, it should mean to be a Christian. More
particularly, a Congregationalist is a Christian who accepts the
Bible as the Word of God, and a guide for life. On these two
points, there are Christians through the ages from all
denominations that would agree with the "Congregationalists"
The Congregational system of church government has often
been wrongly described as democratic. That is to say, church
members have the right to vote and decide according to their
own desires or opinions. But, according to the Bible, the
church is seen as being under the rule of Christ alone, and
therefore when the church meets, it needs to seek to discern
His will. If that is your understanding, then you, too, are a
Congregationalist.
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