Who is God?
We believe that God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present, eternal and infinite Being, who is over all things. He is Triune, which means He is three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) united in one being.
How do we know God?
We believe that God is revealed to us in the creation which He made. In the beginning, God made the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1). God’s creation tells us not only that God exists but what kind of God He is. Through the world we have a knowledge of God that leaves us without excuse (Rom. 1:20).
We believe that God reveals Himself to sinful minds more clearly in the Holy Bible, which is God’s Word. Through God’s Word, God reveals Himself as a God of holiness, justice, grace and love toward those who diligently seek Him. Only through the Bible can sinners such as us receive a knowledge of salvation and come to know God in a living way. This knowledge is not just assent to facts about God, but a knowledge that arises from the experience of receiving grace, salvation, and life from God.
Have we always had this knowledge of God?
We believe that God created us perfect, according to His image, so that He was able to have a relationship with us, in which He walked and talked with mankind in the Garden of Eden. But Adam rebelled against God by breaking His commandment. This resulted in a severed relationship. Adam, as the father of the human race brought sin, shame, guilt, and death to all people. Since then, human minds are darkened in their understanding of God.
Can a true knowledge of God be restored?
We believe that after Adam and Eve sinned, God made a new covenant with them. In this covenant, God promised salvation through a Saviour that He would send into the world. This Saviour is His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of the virgin Mary. Although He is God, He also has a human nature. Being righteous God, He lived perfectly according to God’s Law. Though righteous, He was condemned as a sinner to die, according to God’s eternal purpose. His sufferings and death on Calvary’s cross, paid the price of our sins before God. He rose again from the dead on the third day, and by His death we receive life. He ascended to His Father’s right hand to sit and reign.
We believe that by His life, death, and resurrection, Christ accomplished salvation for sinners. On the basis of this work of His Son, God extends to sinners the offer of salvation to know Him, through His Son Jesus Christ and be forgiven of all their sins.
How do we grow in our knowledge of God?
We believe that God calls believers into His church by the Holy Spirit. The church is founded upon Jesus Christ, who is its head and who governs it by His Word and Spirit. In the church, believers spiritually grow by the preaching of the Word, sacraments, and the communion of the saints. The growth occurs in their understanding of God, in their love of Christ, and in holiness in their lives.
Where does our knowledge of God lead?
We believe that our knowledge of God lacks much here on earth since it is hindered by our sinfulness and the wicked works of Satan. One day however, Jesus Christ will physically return to earth again and gather all His believers in one body and give them everlasting life in body and spirit. As we know the incomprehensible God more and more throughout the ages of eternity, we will adore and praise Him with increasing intensity.