Of Faith in the Holy Trinity

There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power and eternity--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

Of the Word, or Son of God, Who Was Made Very Man

The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided; whereof is one Christ, very God and very Man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men.

 

Of the Resurrection of Christ

Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitith at the right hand of the Father until he return to judge all men at the last day.

 

Of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.

 

Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation

The Holy Scriptures containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do undertstand those 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament as authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.

 

Of Original Sin

Original sin stands not in the following of Adam, but it is the corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually.

 

Of the Justification of Man

We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Justification by faith is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort.

 

Of the Church

The visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men and women in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments duly administered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.

 

Of the Sacraments

Sacraments ordained of Christ are not only badges or tokens of our profession, but rather they are certain signs of grace, and God's good will toward us, by which he works invisibly in us to strengthen and confirm our faith in him. There are two Sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel; that is to say, Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

 

Of Sanctification

We believe sanctification is the work of God's grace through the Word and the Spirit, by which those who have been born again are cleansed from sin in their thoughts, words and acts, and our enabled to live in accordance with God's will, and to strive for holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

 

Of Judgment and the Future State

We believe all men stand under the righteous judgment of Jesus Christ, both now and in the last day. We believe in the resurrection of the dead; the righteous to life eternal and the wicked to endless condemnation.

 

Of the Return of Christ

In the last day Christ Jesus will return in power and glory to judge the nations and establish his kingdom. There will be no end to his reign, and to those who believe in him, everlasting life and peace.