Probably the best way to introduce you to what we believe and love is through one sentence and three statements. The one-sentence might be the most important sentence you will encounter at Trinity. It summarizes the story of the world and the work of God in redeeming and restoring the world. The three statements clearly articulate our three core foundational beliefs and what we hold to be of first priority.
This is God’s good world, ruined by sin, redeemed by the Son, and being recreated by the Holy Spirit.
The Three Statements:
1. The Identity of God: We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and we affirm, as a summary of the Bible’s teaching and the undivided church’s faith, both the Apostles and Nicene Creed.
Why do we begin with the Trinity? With a name like “Trinity,” as a church, you can safely assume that this is important to us. So why begin with the Trinity? Because the Trinity is the most important reality in all of life. All that God has revealed to us, stands or falls with the confession of God as Trinity. The Trinity is the core of the Christian faith and the root of all our beliefs. As we encounter the Trinity we experience the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Since all good gifts flow from the hand of the Triune God. And since we begin the Christian life by being baptized into the name of the Trinity, and since it is in that name we find structure for our minds, peace for our hearts, light for our life, and rest for our souls, our core confession of faith begins with the Trinity.
Link: See the appendix for an FAQ on the creeds
2. The Supreme Authority of the Scriptures: We believe that Holy Scripture alone, the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God containing all things necessary for salvation, and are the final authority and unchangeable standard for the Christian Church, the Christian faith, and the Christian life.
But, if the Trinity is so important, how do we come to know this great God? We can only know God as he has chosen to reveal himself in His Word. Therefore, it is our desire at Trinity to be ruled by the living Word of God. This is why we intentionally and thoughtfully preach through books of the Bible, why we gather in small groups to study it, and why we encourage you to develop the faithful habit of reading it. God’s Word is trustworthy and sufficient. It is the basis for everything we do and believe. Where the Bible speaks, God speaks. And where God speaks, we listen and obey.
3. The Centrality of the Gospel: We rejoice in the gospel of God through which we have been saved: by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, for the glory of God alone.
We believe that there is no more potent force than the gospel. It is the power of God for salvation that brings complete and total transformation. And we joyfully stand in the historic stream of Reformed churches that love and proclaim that gospel.
These three statements are a great introduction to our beliefs.
For a more detailed statement of faith and our theological vision of ministry, please see: