Our Beliefs

Bauer Church stands firmly within the historic Christian faith as understood by the broad evangelical and reformed family of churches. We believe the Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God, the authoritative source and rule for our faith and life as followers and servants of the triune God--Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

As part of the Christian Reformed Church, we subscribe to three ecumenical creeds and three doctrinal standards. The ecumenical creeds are the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed. They are called ecumenical (general, universal) because they have been approved and accepted by nearly all Christian churches. The Apostles’ Creed, the most familiar one, is printed below.

The doctrinal standards are the Heidelberg Catechism (1563), the Belgic Confession (1561) and the Canons of Dort (1618-1619). They explain in more detail the beliefs of the Reformed family of churches. Full copies of all these ecumenical creeds and doctrinal statements are available at the website of the Christian Reformed Church in North America-- www.crcna.org.

The Apostles’ Creed

This creed is called the Apostles’ Creed, not because it was produced by the apostles themselves, but because it contains a brief summary of their teachings. In its present form it is dated no later than the fourth century. More than any other Christian creed, it may justly be called an ecumenical statement of faith.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
      and born of the virgin Mary.
      He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      was crucified, died, and was buried;
      he descended to hell.
      The third day he rose again from the dead.
      He ascended to heaven
      and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
      From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the holy catholic* church,
      the communion of saints,
      the forgiveness of sins,
      the resurrection of the body,
      and the life everlasting. Amen.

*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places