The Wittenberg Door: Statement of Faith

I believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Scriptures—both the Old and the New Testaments—and that they are the only infallible rule of faith and practice.

I believe that the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession of Faith, the Canons of Dort, and the Westminster Standards are the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures.

I believe that God is triune and sovereign over all persons, events, and things.

I believe that men enter this world as sinners, totally depraved, and out of fellowship with God; consequently, because God is just and holy, men are born under God’s wrath and increase their guilt each day of their lives.

I believe that man is totally unable to save himself from this condition because he is dead in trespasses and sins, his understanding darkened, his emotions towards God are as stone, and his will enslaved by sin and Satan.

I believe that the Trinity covenanted together to accomplish this salvation. The Father ordained many to eternal life, and gave them to the Son. The Son undertook to work out their salvation.

This involved His coming to earth as man through the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the Law of God for those He came to save. This He did actively by total obedience to its commands and passively by bearing the punishment due to His people for their sins. In this way the justice of a holy God was satisfied and the need of sinners met.

Proof of God’s satisfaction is seen in Christ being raised bodily from the dead and exalted to His former glory from whence He shall come on Judgment Day to judge all mankind.

I believe that this salvation which Christ has purchased has been and shall be irresistibly applied by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God to all for whom it was accomplished.

Each of these persons is given spiritual life by the Holy Spirit whereby they repent, turn to God, and believe upon Christ and His finished work for their salvation. No one for whom Christ died will fall under God’s judgment and condemnation.

I believe that when one is saved, he is added to the Church invisible, and ought, after instruction by the elders, to be added to a local Church visible wherein he can bring glory to God through gathering together with others of like, precious faith for the study of the Scriptures, prayer, fellowship, and the extension of the Gospel at home and abroad through giving and going.

I believe that the marks of a true Church of Jesus Christ are found in a church where the true Gospel is faithfully proclaimed; where the sacraments (baptism and the Lord’s Supper) are properly administered; and where church discipline is rightly exercised.

About Me