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Our Reformed Church in America Heritage |
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| Christ's Community Church
is part of the Reformed Church in America, which
has its source in the Reformed Church of the Netherlands
(organized in 1566). Thus, our Church is firmly
rooted in the Reformation movements of the 1500s.
(For additional information, see the Reformed Church
in America Church
History page.) |
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We affirm three confessional
statements as expressions of our fundamental beliefs:
- The
Belgic Confession of Faith: a document written
by Pastor Guido de Bres, and adopted by the
Reformed Church at the time of its organization
in 1566.
- The
Heidelberg Catechism: finally completed
in 1571 (with a Compendium being formulated
in 1608), this teaching tool has been influential
over the years.
- The
Canons of Dort: formulated in 1618 to enable
agreement among Dutch theologians on the issue
of divine sovereignty in the work of salvation.
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We also affirm three
creeds that arose in the early years of the church:
- The
Apostle's Creed: ascribed to Christ's apostles
and maintained in its present form since the
early Middle Ages.
- The
Nicene Creed: issued by the first Council
of Nicaea (in the year 325) to state an orthodox
position against Arianism.
- The
Athanasian Creed: attributed to Athanasius,
bishop of Alexandria, it presents orthodox Trinitarian
doctrine of the post-Nicene period.
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We observe two sacraments,
instituted by Christ as part of the new covenant:
- Baptism:
a sign and seal of God's covenant of grace;
the visible Word of God that we are cleansed
in Christ's blood, buried with Him unto death,
that we might rise with Him and walk in newness
of life.
- The Lord's
Supper (communion): just as baptism is the
sign and the seal of our ingrafting into Christ,
so the Lord's Supper is a means by which Christ
continually nourishes, strengthens and comforts
us.
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| To learn more about
the Reformed
Church in America, visit the website, where
you will also find the Church's
Position on various social issues. |
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| © Copyright 2000-2008: Christ's Community Church, Fort Wayne, IN |
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