Basic Doctrines
Doctrines We Believe
A Simple Statement of Beliefs (We Believe)
Unity in the Truth
The Apostle Paul summarizes our Unity in Christ, and provides the rationale for our ongoing work at living together in the reality of that Unity of the Holy Spirit, based upon our Calling in Holy Baptism:
- One Body (The Church)
- One Spirit (God the Holy Spirit)
- One Hope of Your Calling
- One Lord (Jesus Christ: God the Son)
- One Faith
- Biblical Teaching (Scriptural)
- Biblical Worship (Liturgical)
- Biblical Gospel (Sacramental)
- One Baptism (Holy Baptism)
- One God and Father of All (God the Father)
Paul’s Teaching about Unity in Ephesians
In English
{1}I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, {2}with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, {3}endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. {4}There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; {5}one Lord, one faith, one baptism; {6}one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph. 4:1-6)
In Greek
{1}Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς ἐγώ, ὁ δέσμιος ἐν κυρίῳ, ἀξίως περιπατῆσαι τῆς κλήσεως ἧς ἐκλήθητε, {2}μετὰ πάσης ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ πρᾳότητος, μετὰ μακροθυμίας, ἀνεχόμενοι ἀλλήλων ἐν ἀγάπῃ, {3}σπουδάζοντες τηρεῖν τὴν ἑνότητα τοῦ πνεύματος ἐν τῷ συνδέσμῳ τῆς εἰρήνης. {4}Ἓν σῶμα καὶ ἓν πνεῦμα, καθὼς καὶ ἐκλήθητε ἐν μιᾷ ἐλπίδι τῆς κλήσεως ὑμῶν· {5}εἷς κύριος, μία πίστις, ἓν βάπτισμα, {6}εἷς θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ πάντων, ὁ ἐπὶ πάντων, καὶ διὰ πάντων, καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν ἡμῖν. (Eph. 4:1-6)