Given this foundation, we believe that:
We are evangelical, which means we are Christian and give ultimate authority to the Bible as God’s Word, desiring to maintain a Reformed and Protestant character in the expression of our beliefs. From the time of the Apostles, Christians have laid out doctrines of truth. They are definitive statements set forth in a concise fashion as guided by scripture and enable us to guard one another from error and show our unity in Christ.
As an Evangelical Anglican Church, Lower Mountains Anglican affirms the truths laid out in the Nicene, Apostles and Athanasian Creeds. Copies of each of the creeds can be found below.
We believe that there is one unique, living, true, sustaining, loving, just and eternal God. He is Father, Son and Spirit – one God in three persons.
This means that God is sovereign in all things including creation, revelation, redemption, judgment and in establishing his kingdom. He is worthy of all glory, honour and praise.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; John 1:1-3; John 10:30; John 16:13-15; Colossians 1:15-16; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 4:11)
We believe that men and women are created in the image of God to live in a special relationship with him and his creation. Together man and woman (under God) have dominion over the created order.
This means that all people should be treated with love and respect.
(Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 145:17; John 15:12)
Yet, tragically, human nature is universally sinful and all are guilty before God. This places us under the wrath and condemnation of God.
This means that people are not perfect, and in sin it is evident that there are broken relationships between humanity and God, others and our natural world. God will judge all people. Apart from Christ all people are unable to turn to God, earn favour, and are without hope.
(Romans 3:9-23, Isaiah 53:6; Romans 1:18-20; Ephesians 2:1-3)
We believe that the Bible (Old and New Testaments) is God’s revelation to us. It is divinely inspired and infallible as originally given. It is the supreme and final authority for all matters of faith, conduct, experience and opinion.
This means that the Bible is sufficient both for knowing God and for equipping us with everything we need for life and godliness. The 66 books of the Bible cannot be added to or altered, and its teachings override any human teaching which claims to hold more authority. The Bible upholds that which it describes as true and correct (including that which is Christlike, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, just, compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient). The Bible rejects that which it describes as sinful (including dishonesty, greed, theft, sexual relationships outside of marriage, homosexual relationships, drunkenness, foul language and idolatry).
(Psalm 33:4; Isaiah 1:17; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:5-17; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 John 5:20)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God; fully divine and truly human. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. In taking on human flesh, he entered fully into human experience, endured temptation, lived a sinless life in perfect obedience to his Father, yet suffered at the hands of humanity.
On the cross, Jesus took on the consequences of human sin. He died and was buried. On the third day he rose from the dead bodily. He then ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, as intercessor, advocate and ruler over all. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.
This means that we believe that Jesus provides the only solution to our sin and alienation from God. His death was no accident, but was God’s plan to provide the only sufficient sacrifice for sin, once for all, as a substitute for sinful people. We need to take his death and resurrection seriously, both as historical fact and as a scriptural truth, which if ignored means rejecting God’s offer of rescue. Jesus Christ then is alive today and forever reigning in heaven as Lord and King.
(Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-2, 14; Acts 2:32-39; Romans 3:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-58; Colossians 1:15-20; 2 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 4:15, 7:24-25; 9:27-28; 1 Peter 1:3-5, 18; 1 John 2:1-2)
We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son yet his primary role is to bring glory to Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit’s ongoing role is to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment and to sanctify the believer, transforming them more and more into the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit enables the sinner to live a new life – that is to repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ, bringing them into a right relationship with God.
The Holy Spirit indwells all true believers and works to illuminate believers’ minds to grasp the truth of God’s Word, the Bible. He grants gifts to all believers for the purpose of service, not for self-indulgence or personal satisfaction, but for the privilege and responsibility of the building up of God’s church. He produces good fruit in the lives of believers and empowers his people for witness in the community and the world.
This means that repentance and faith only comes as a result of the Holy Spirit’s work in the individual. In faith believers are guaranteed forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life. The proper evidence of this ‘new life’ is a person’s repentance and voluntary obedience to the gospel. And yet, Christians will not be perfect during this life but will progressively become more like Christ as a result of the Holy Spirit’s transforming work in their lives. Christians, empowered by the Spirit, will live lives which are prayerful and directed by scripture as they serve, witness, and meet together.
(John 14:15-17, 16:7-11; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:1-9, 26, 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 2:10-15, 12:7-14; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 1:17-19, 4:1-7, 6:17-18; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:2)
We believe that salvation is a free gift that comes only by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is not by human merit or good works. It is only through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, our representative and substitute, that the guilt, penalty and power of sin can be removed. In this death, God demonstrates his love for us most perfectly and establishes his victory over Satan and all evil.
This means that no one can earn their salvation – not through rituals, or ceremonies, or good works, or kind acts. There is only one name under heaven by which we can be brought into relationship with God, the name ‘Jesus Christ’ in whom we must place our trust. And so, as saved sinners, we now enjoy the blessing of union with Christ and the assurance of a right relationship with God, and wait for the final consummation of our hope with the return of Christ, the resurrection of our bodies, and life with him eternally.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:1, 6-8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 2:10-11; Titus 2:11-15)
We believe the visible church is the gathering of believers around Christ in his Word. The Church is a community of people who genuinely follow Jesus Christ who exist to worship, serve and glorify God. Within this community both men and women seek to use their gifts to build the church in love and to bear witness to Christ. In leadership, as in marriage, men and women express their equality yet difference within relationships of mutual love and dependence.
This means that we are a family who exist to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our efforts together seek to corporately know and love God more fully, serve him and others more selflessly, in order to grow God’s kingdom. We are less concerned about our buildings, ceremonies or traditions but more concerned about the people who gather in response to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We spur one another on towards love and good deeds, value meeting together as a priority, and desire to encourage one another with the different gifts we each may possess.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 1:22-23; Hebrews 10:24-25; Titus 1:5-9)
We believe marriage is an institution which God set up from the beginning of creation and that it is the joining of a man and a woman in a lifelong covenantal commitment to one another, which forms a new family unit. Marriage is a demonstration of the gospel, as it symbolises God’s unending love for his people and the union between Christ and his Church. Marriage should be honoured by all. Marriage is a gift for the wellbeing of humanity and it is within a marriage relationship that sexual union should be enjoyed. An established marriage is the best place for the upbringing of children so that they may be loved, nurtured and instructed for their benefit and that of society.
This means that marriage can only be between a man and a woman. That a husband should love his wife as Christ loved his church and that a wife should love her husband as the church is called to love Christ. Marriage should not be entered into lightly or carelessly. Marriage should be a lifelong commitment and divorce is the exception. Sexual relationships outside of a marriage relationship are wrong. Within Marriage, couples should be encouraged and supported in their role as parents.
(Genesis 2:20-25; Malachi 2:13-16; Matthew 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12; Romans 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16, 39; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrews 13:4-7)
We believe that Jesus Christ will return, visibly and personally to establish his kingdom. When he returns we do not know. His return will mark the last day and a final judgement of all people. A new heaven and the new earth with be consummated. God will preserve and keep all who truly belong to Christ for this last and great day.
This means that the age we live in now, suffering under the consequences of sin, is marked by death, mourning, pain and suffering. This age will end and be replaced by a new age where God will wipe every tear away and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. This will only happen when God sends Jesus Christ back to earth. There will be bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost: a solemn separation will take place, the lost to everlasting punishment and the saved to eternal life with Christ. This day cannot be predicted, yet all people need to be ready for that time.
(Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 1:10-11; Roman 8:18-25; 1 Thessalonians 4:16—5:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10; Revelation 21-22)
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy apostolic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.
The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Spirit uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Spirit Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord.
For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be both God and Lord, so are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say, "There be three Gods, or three Lords". The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other; none is greater, or less than another; But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved is must think thus of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of his Mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.
Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood; Who, although he be God and Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ; One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the Manhood into God; One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sits at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.
This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.