What We Believe

Nothing is as important in life as our relationship to Jesus Christ. We believe in and belong to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. He has redeemed us from sin, and He governs our lives according to His Word, the Bible.

The Bible

We believe that the Bible is the foundation of our faith.  The Bible is the infallible inspired Word of God, without errors or mistakes, and the only rule for faith and our daily living.

God

We believe in the triune God who has revealed Himself as one God in three person: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Salvation

We believe that God made this world good. But human beings wanted to live without God and turned their backs on Him and His plan for their lives.

We believe that all men are sinners and cannot be restored to fellowship with God by any power of their own.

We believe that God will accept all who repent of their sins and believe that Jesus Christ is the only basis of salvation. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." -- John 3:16

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is both God and human.  He was  conceived by the Holy Spirit and born by a virgin.   

We believe that God in love sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die on the cross for our sins, and that Jesus rose from the dead, and is now our Mediator with the Father, and that He will return visibly on the last day to judge all men.

Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit makes all of us aware God's presence.  He delivers God's free gift of grace and lives in us.  The Holy Spirit reveals truth and causes us to understand the word of God. 

We believe God gives new life through Jesus Christ and empowers us to live this life by the activity of the Holy Spirit. In a world where people often confront pain, suffering, and problems, God wants us to show His world what this new life is.

The Church

We believe that God called the church to be his hands and heart in our neighborhoods and in our world.

We believe that the mission of the church is to bring the word of God to people who are apart from Him so that they might be saved.  The Christian church is universal and acknowledges Jesus Christ at its head. 

We belong to God's family only because of God's Son, Jesus Christ. Christianity is not something we do but something Jesus did for us. He made us God's children. 

What is our only comfort in life and death?

That we are not our own, but belong -- body and soul, in life and in death -- to our faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all our sins with His precious blood, and has set us free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over us in such a way that not a hair can fall from our head without the will of our Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for our salvation. Because we belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures us of eternal life and makes us wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him. (Heidelberg Catechism, Q & A 1)

What Does It Mean to Be Christian Reformed?

We are CHRISTIAN

That means that we believe in and belong to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. He has redeemed us from sin, and He governs our lives according to His Word, the Bible.

We are REFORMED Christians

Our historic heritage goes back to the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century. Being Reformed Christians also refers to our beliefs about God, about ourselves, and about our duty to live life for God every day of our lives. Those beliefs are written down in standards or creeds that date back to the time of the Reformation. We formally subscribe to the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and to the Heidelberg Catechism as summaries of our beliefs. These creeds all emphasize the Biblical truths of God's majestic sovereignty and lordship; that we are sinful in their hearts and lives; that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ; that Christians are duty bound to follow the teachings of the Bible, and thus to honor our Lord in the way we live out our lives.

We are a CHURCH

We have been brought together by God's Spirit, committing ourselves to mutual support and to shared service in the community where Christ has placed us. The Christian Reformed Church numbers about 300,000 members of diverse ethnic heritage in the United States and Canada.

Our Creeds and Reformed Confessions

Our creeds and confessions all emphasize the Biblical truths of God's majestic sovereignty and lordship; that we are sinful in their hearts and lives; that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ; that Christians are duty bound to follow the teachings of the Bible, and thus to honor our Lord in the way we live out our lives.

A summary of what we believe is contained in the three creeds we share with all Christian churches: the Apostles' Creed , the Nicene Creed , and the Athanasian Creed, and in in three confessions from the Reformation: the Heidelberg Catechism , the Belgic Confession , and the Canons of Dort .

The Christian Reformed Church declares Our World Belongs to God This contemporary confession is a testimony of faith for our times, subordinate to our creeds and confessions.

Our Positions

Over time, the Christian Reformed Church has clearly stated its position on a variety of contemporary topics. This link will provide summaries of the denomination's theological and ethical positions.