CONFESSIONS OF FAITH
STANDARDS OF UNITY
Great Lakes Catechism on Marriage and Sexuality
IN SUMMARY:
THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is the foundation of our faith. Scripture is the word of God, inspired by God's Spirit. The Bible is trustworthy and has full authority over how we live our lives. There are no other writings that are similarly inspired by God.
GOD
We believe in one true, Holy God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the beginning God perfectly created all things and continues to sustain and rule over his creation by his sovereign will. God has sought throughout history to bring us back into relationship with Himself.
SALVATION
We believe that God created humanity to have fellowship with him. Humanity chose the path of independence and disobeyed God. Ever since then, all humanity has been broken, filled with sin, and unable to experience true life and relationship with God. This separation leads to complete and utter brokenness and spiritual and eternal death. We can only have real life and relationship with God through a gracious act of God. Our salvation cannot be the result of any human effort, but solely the work of God's grace, through Jesus Christ alone.
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is both God and human. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. God so loved people that he sent his son Jesus Christ to pay the price of our sins. Jesus Christ willingly died on the cross and rose again so that we could receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life, by this act alone, could people once again experience true fellowship with God.
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy spirit makes all of humanity aware of God's presence. He delivers God's free gift of grace and lives in us. The Holy Spirit reveals truth and causes us to understand and believe the Bible. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to become more Christ-like and equips us to do God's work in the world.
BAPTISM AND HOLY COMMUNION
We believe in the sacrament of baptism as instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel, shared in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe in the sacrament of Holy Communion, also instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ, which more fully communicates to us Christ's covenant of grace and reconciliation.
GOD’S PLAN FOR MARRIAGE
We believe that God created men and women in His image and likeness for fellowship with Himself and to carry out the creation mandates - demonstrating the unique and exclusive relationship between one man and one woman within the covenant of marriage.
HEAVEN AND HELL
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost. They that are lost are lost unto eternal damnation. They that are saved are saved unto eternal life.
UNITY OF BELIEVERS
We believe in the spiritual unity of all who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. These articles of faith are presented as a basis for unity and NOT for purposes of judgment or division.