What We Believe

Our Faith

Christ’s Community Church is aa Associate Reformed Presbyterian congregation joyfully confessing the historic Christian faith summarized in the Apostles’ Creed.

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into 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.

(“Catholic” means the true, universal church made up of all believers in Christ.)

Our Reformed Conviction

We stand in the stream of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, which confessed that salvation is:

• By grace alone (Sola Gratia)
• Through faith alone (Sola Fide)
• In Christ alone (Solus Christus)
• According to Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura)
• To the glory of God alone (Soli Deo Gloria)

We hold to the Westminster Confession of Faith , along with the Larger Catechism and Shorter Catechism , as faithful summaries of what Scripture teaches and as enduring guides for doctrine, worship, and life.

What We Believe About…

Below are short, readable statements that summarize what the Bible teaches on foundational truths of the Christian faith. They reflect our historic, Reformed convictions and point to the Scriptures as our final authority. For fuller teaching, we commend the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger Catechism, and the Shorter Catechism, which serve as faithful guides to understanding and applying the teachings of Scripture.

Each section includes key Scripture references so you can open God’s Word and explore these truths for yourself.

The Scriptures

The Bible is the inspired, infallible, and sufficient Word of God—the supreme authority for faith and life. Every word of Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. Through His Word, God reveals Himself, convicts sinners, comforts His people, and guides His Church in truth.

2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:19–21; Psalm 19:7–11; Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 4:4

God

There is one true and living God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who exists eternally in three persons, equal in power and glory. God is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. He created all things out of nothing and upholds them by the word of His power for His glory and the good of His people.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5–7; Matthew 28:19; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 1:3

Man

God created mankind in His image, male and female, to know, love, and enjoy Him forever. Yet through Adam’s sin, all humanity fell and became estranged from God. Because of this fall, every part of our nature—mind, will, emotions, and body—is affected by sin, leaving us unable to please God or save ourselves apart from His grace. Our greatest need is not self-improvement, but spiritual rebirth through Jesus Christ.

Genesis 1:26–27; Romans 3:10–23; Ephesians 2:1–3; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who took on human nature to redeem sinners. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, He lived a perfect life, obeying the Father in all things. He was crucified for our sins, rose bodily from the grave, ascended into heaven, and now reigns as Lord over all. Through faith in His finished work, believers are justified, adopted, and assured of eternal life.

John 1:1–14; Philippians 2:5–11; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Romans 10:9; Hebrews 1:1–4

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity who gives new life to those who are spiritually dead and unites believers to Christ. He convicts the world of sin, comforts the believer, and equips the Church for ministry. The Spirit produces fruit in the lives of Christians, conforming them to the image of Christ, and empowers them for witness and service in the world.

John 16:7–15; Romans 8:9–17; Galatians 5:22–25; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11

Salvation and Sanctification

Salvation is the gracious work of God from beginning to end. By His sovereign mercy, the Father calls, the Son redeems, and the Spirit gives new life. We are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone—not by our works, but by His perfect righteousness credited to us through faith.

Those whom God saves, He also sanctifies. The Holy Spirit renews our hearts, enabling us to turn from sin and walk in new obedience. Sanctification is not the cause of our salvation but its fruit—the evidence that God is at work making us more like Christ until the day we see Him face to face.

Ephesians 2:8–10; Romans 8:29–30; Philippians 1:6; Titus 3:4–7

The Church

The Church is the body of Christ, made up of all true believers across all nations and generations. God calls His people to gather for worship, prayer, fellowship, and the preaching of His Word. The local church is a visible expression of His kingdom on earth, where believers grow together in faith and love. We celebrate two sacraments—Baptism and the Lord’s Supper—as signs and seals of God’s covenant promises.

Acts 2:42–47; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Ephesians 4:11–16; Matthew 28:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

The End Times & Final Judgment

Jesus Christ will return bodily and visibly to judge the living and the dead, to renew creation, and to bring His redeemed people into everlasting joy. The timing of His return is known only to the Father, but His promise is sure. For believers, His coming is our blessed hope; for those who reject Him, it will be a day of judgment. God will make all things new—heaven and earth united under the reign of Christ.

Matthew 25:31–46; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 21:1–5; 2 Peter 3:10–13

Heaven and Hell

Heaven is the eternal dwelling place of God and His redeemed people—a place of perfect joy, love, and worship in His presence. Hell is the just and everlasting punishment for sin, a place of separation from God’s grace and goodness. These realities call us to take the gospel seriously, resting in the mercy of Christ who delivers us from judgment and brings us into eternal life.

John 14:1–3; Revelation 20:11–15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; Matthew 25:46; Philippians 3:20–21

What It Means That We Are Presbyterian

Many people hear the word “Presbyterian” and think of something old, formal, or disconnected from the Bible. But at its heart, being Presbyterian simply means we are a biblically ordered, Christ-centered church that shares life and accountability with other congregations.

The word “Presbyterian” comes from the New Testament word for elder (presbyteros). We believe the Church is shepherded not by one person, but by a plurality of elders chosen by the congregation and called to lead together under the authority of Christ, who is the true and only Head of His Church.

Our church belongs to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP)—a historic and conservative Reformed denomination rooted in the 18th-century revival movements of Scotland and America. Each ARP congregation is self-governing locally but connected regionally through presbyteries and nationally through a General Synod. This means we are not isolated, but mutually accountable and supported by sister churches that share the same faith and mission.

A Reformed and Covenant Faith

To be Presbyterian is also to be Reformed—committed to the authority of Scripture alone and to the gospel of God’s sovereign grace. We believe that God saves His people not through religious effort, but by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Our theology emphasizes God’s covenant promises, His faithfulness to families, and His work across generations.

This covenant understanding shapes how we view both membership and the sacraments. In the Old Testament, God included the children of believers in His covenant community through circumcision. In the New Testament, baptism has replaced circumcision as the sign and seal of that same covenant grace. For that reason, we baptize the children of believers—not because they are automatically saved, but because God’s promises extend to His people and their households (Genesis 17:7; Acts 2:39). Parents and the whole church are called to nurture those children in the faith until they personally profess Christ as Savior and Lord.

We also celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a visible reminder of the gospel, where believers are nourished by faith in Christ’s finished work. These sacraments do not save us; they point us to the One who does.

Why It Matters

Being Presbyterian means that we are connected, accountable, and historic—not independent or isolated. It means we walk in fellowship with other faithful churches, guided by elders who are committed to shepherding God’s people with wisdom and humility. It means our worship is rooted in Scripture, our community is built on covenant love, and our mission is shared with a wider family of believers.

We joyfully affirm our place within the wider body of Christ while seeking to remain faithful to the Scriptures, the gospel of grace, and the mission of God in our time and place.

Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; Genesis 17:7; Acts 2:39; Ephesians 4:11–16

For more information about the denomination, visit the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church website.