Our Theology
God – The Reformed tradition has a firm confidence in God’s sovereignty. We believe that God is almighty over creation and all that exists in it so that “not a hair can fall from our head without God.” Just as firmly, we have a strong assurance of God’s grace. God does not lord his power over us. Rather, we find great comfort in God’s love because it is free and forgiving. As Christians we have come to experience this sovereign grace in history and in our hearts. Historically, God reached into the world through his Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ to save the world from sin and death and draw people into God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. It’s God’s Holy Spirit that reminds us of that good news and assures us that we are God’s children. God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; one Lord and yet three. That’s the mystery of the Christian faith.
Creation – The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. It is a display of God’s eternal power and divine nature. It is also a sign of God’s creativity and hospitality. The good news is that God desires to share this beautiful place with us. The creation is God's gift to us. We are God's crowning achievement; the apple of God's eye. On the sixth day, human beings joined God in caring for the earth and helping it prosper. From that day forward, the life of humanity would be tied to the life of all creatures and creation itself. The Revelation presents an ominous warning that God will destroy those who destroy the earth.
Fall – The first sin (or original sin) was a symptom of what was to come. After Adam and Eve took the apple, Cain killed Abel, and shortly after violence erupted on the earth. Only six chapters into the Bible, God is grieved that he had created the world in the first place. Sin breaks relationships between humans and God, between humans and others, between humans and creation. Faith, hope, and love are pushed aside by fear, despair, and shame. Ultimately, sin leads to death. Humans had become so steeped in sin that they were no longer able to find their own way out. Even God’s invitations through the 10 Commandments and the prophets did not soften the stubborn, sinful hearts of humanity.
Incarnation – God is faithful even when we are faithless. Despite God’s anger at our sin, God’s great compassion won the day. The Divine took on flesh and lived among us to suffer with us. The fullness of God was pleased to dwell in Jesus of Nazareth who is the Messiah and the Savior of the world. In him, we find that God’s kingdom of peace, justice, and love broke into the world to drive out violence, inequality, and prejudice. Outcasts were welcomed in, the lowly were lifted up, and the poor were given good news. However, the powers rejected this display of love. Violence reared its ugly head again. Jesus took the weight of the world’s sin on his shoulders as he was put to death on the cross. And yet, God vindicated the greater power of love in raising Jesus from the dead and seating him at his right hand to rule over those who have faith.
Justification – In Jesus Christ, God has put things right again. Through Jesus Christ, we can have a right (or just) standing in God’s sight. Through faith in Jesus Christ, God has forgiven our sins and we have peace with God. This is why we celebrate the sacrament of baptism. If we will confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, God will not count our sins against us. Instead, God will empower us to repent. Repentance is more than just feeling sorry for wrongs committed, it is turning around and heading in a new direction. It is a completely new way of life ruled by love. It is living the faith of Jesus Christ.
Sanctification – By the Holy Spirit, God sets apart those who have faith for a life of good works: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, caring for the sick, and forgiving enemies. These good works of love make us different from the world, or holy. The Holy Spirit also calls together and shapes a body of people to encourage and support one another. In this gathering of people (the saints), we are reminded that we are children of a gracious heavenly Father, the fruit of the Spirit are watered, and the gifts of the Spirit are revealed; all for the building up and strengthening of each member of the body of Christ. This is why we celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. This gathered people is meant to be a joyful foretaste of God’s kingdom that will one day fully arrive.
New Creation – God’s kingdom has already broken into the world in Jesus Christ, but it has not yet fully arrived. All of creation groans in pain; waiting for the children of God to be revealed. These days are restless, in-between times, but times that are filled with hope. Those who live in the Spirit are the first signs of what is to come when God creates a new heaven and a new earth. They are meant to point forward to a day when God’s kingdom comes in full and every knee bows to Jesus as Lord and judge of the living and the dead. In this new creation, God will dwell with humanity and there will be no more crying or pain, death or disease but all God’s children, from every tribe, language, nation, and people, will live eternally in unity and purity, equality and peace. Come Lord Jesus!
Creation – The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. It is a display of God’s eternal power and divine nature. It is also a sign of God’s creativity and hospitality. The good news is that God desires to share this beautiful place with us. The creation is God's gift to us. We are God's crowning achievement; the apple of God's eye. On the sixth day, human beings joined God in caring for the earth and helping it prosper. From that day forward, the life of humanity would be tied to the life of all creatures and creation itself. The Revelation presents an ominous warning that God will destroy those who destroy the earth.
Fall – The first sin (or original sin) was a symptom of what was to come. After Adam and Eve took the apple, Cain killed Abel, and shortly after violence erupted on the earth. Only six chapters into the Bible, God is grieved that he had created the world in the first place. Sin breaks relationships between humans and God, between humans and others, between humans and creation. Faith, hope, and love are pushed aside by fear, despair, and shame. Ultimately, sin leads to death. Humans had become so steeped in sin that they were no longer able to find their own way out. Even God’s invitations through the 10 Commandments and the prophets did not soften the stubborn, sinful hearts of humanity.
Incarnation – God is faithful even when we are faithless. Despite God’s anger at our sin, God’s great compassion won the day. The Divine took on flesh and lived among us to suffer with us. The fullness of God was pleased to dwell in Jesus of Nazareth who is the Messiah and the Savior of the world. In him, we find that God’s kingdom of peace, justice, and love broke into the world to drive out violence, inequality, and prejudice. Outcasts were welcomed in, the lowly were lifted up, and the poor were given good news. However, the powers rejected this display of love. Violence reared its ugly head again. Jesus took the weight of the world’s sin on his shoulders as he was put to death on the cross. And yet, God vindicated the greater power of love in raising Jesus from the dead and seating him at his right hand to rule over those who have faith.
Justification – In Jesus Christ, God has put things right again. Through Jesus Christ, we can have a right (or just) standing in God’s sight. Through faith in Jesus Christ, God has forgiven our sins and we have peace with God. This is why we celebrate the sacrament of baptism. If we will confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, God will not count our sins against us. Instead, God will empower us to repent. Repentance is more than just feeling sorry for wrongs committed, it is turning around and heading in a new direction. It is a completely new way of life ruled by love. It is living the faith of Jesus Christ.
Sanctification – By the Holy Spirit, God sets apart those who have faith for a life of good works: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, caring for the sick, and forgiving enemies. These good works of love make us different from the world, or holy. The Holy Spirit also calls together and shapes a body of people to encourage and support one another. In this gathering of people (the saints), we are reminded that we are children of a gracious heavenly Father, the fruit of the Spirit are watered, and the gifts of the Spirit are revealed; all for the building up and strengthening of each member of the body of Christ. This is why we celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. This gathered people is meant to be a joyful foretaste of God’s kingdom that will one day fully arrive.
New Creation – God’s kingdom has already broken into the world in Jesus Christ, but it has not yet fully arrived. All of creation groans in pain; waiting for the children of God to be revealed. These days are restless, in-between times, but times that are filled with hope. Those who live in the Spirit are the first signs of what is to come when God creates a new heaven and a new earth. They are meant to point forward to a day when God’s kingdom comes in full and every knee bows to Jesus as Lord and judge of the living and the dead. In this new creation, God will dwell with humanity and there will be no more crying or pain, death or disease but all God’s children, from every tribe, language, nation, and people, will live eternally in unity and purity, equality and peace. Come Lord Jesus!