STATEMENT OF FAITH
Reflecting 100 years of faithful parish life at All
Saints
PREAMBLE
Throughout the history of the Christian Church, the unity and substance of the Gospel have
come under powerful cultural, philosophical, and religious attack. At such times, it has
been necessary to confess clearly, unequivocally, and publicly "the faith which was
once for all delivered to the saints"(Jude 3)
WE THEREFORE CONFESS AND
REAFFIRM:
- The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be
the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation. Interpreted within the
Tradition of the Christian Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures
in their entirety, are the reliable, trustworthy, and canonical witness of Gods full
self-revelation in Jesus Christ, and are our rule and decisive authority in matters of
faith and morals.
- The Nicene Creed to be the sufficient statement of the
Christian Faith. It cannot be altered, minimized, or denied by any local authority or
baptized Christian without grave error or heresy.
- The Apostolic Orders of Bishop, Priest, and Deacon
bestowed upon men, according to the intention and example of Christ in choosing the twelve
Apostles and followed in the universal practice of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic
Church.
- The Holy Sacraments are promised and certain means of
grace given by Christ, and are embodied in Catholic traditions and practices which have
stood the test of time.
- The moral commandments and instruction of the Old and
New Testaments to be the express, revealed will of God for all people. Their purpose is
the protection of life by fostering virtue. And because it is essential to the health of
both the soul and society, sexual morality has been unambiguously set forth in the
Scriptures and the teaching of the Church: inside marriage, fidelity; outside marriage,
chastity.
- The purpose of Gods self revelation in the Law,
the Prophets, and finally in Jesus Christ, is the salvation of the world from sin. All are
called to respond in faith, hope, good works, and holiness of life.
- However, "all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God" (Romans 3:23), so it is incumbent upon all to confess their sin and
accept divine forgiveness.
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