Arise Church | What We Believe

What Is the Gospel?

Only this, we took the good things from God and bent them into selfishness, but he made them new again. It is news that we are far more broken than we once suspected, but instead of punishment for our failures, we have been given life and freedom. All because of what Christ did in his life, his death, and his life again.

Distinctives

We come from a Reformed tradition. Think of Martin Luther and John Calvin from your history lessons. This means we hold the Bible to be authoritative and final (it is infallible). We believe that our humanity is broken from our desire for self above all else (original sin). God acted first and came to us instead of waiting for us to get better (the process of salvation). Christ was sent so that the payment for our dismissal of God would be satisfied (atonement). No one can fix their own way, but rather God alone can bring us life (faith alone in grace alone).

We believe in the Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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.

*(the universal church world wide)

We believe in the Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.

We celebrate the Lord's Supper (Communion)

Once a month, we take the bread and the cup to remember what Christ did in his sacrifice. That he allowed people to break his body physically and drained him of life. In taking part in Communion, we think back fondly on the incredible grace he gave by taking our place in death.

We celebrate the Baptism

We enjoy making commitments with each other. It's part of our faith. We baptize our children as a sign and seal of commitment to one another. We do not believe that water is magical and somehow creates a follower of Christ. It is another way for us to receive covenants with families to our church. To show children, you are covered by our teaching on Christ and pray that they come to see him as their only hope in life and death.

We also baptize those who are making a profession of faith for the first time. By taking water and placing it on our head, we say this person is covered over by the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Their actions show an outward manifestation of an inward posture.