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Halle (Saale)
哈勒华人基督团契Chinesisch Christliche Gemeinde Halle

What we believe

The faith we confess

“Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” — Jude 3

What follows is the faith we confess together with the church of every age.

This page uses common English versions of the creeds; the wording the fellowship confesses remains subject to its confirmation.

No. I

The Apostles' Creed

The ancient baptismal confession of the Western church · 2nd–4th century (wording pending the fellowship's confirmation)

The oldest summary of the Christian faith, confessed at baptism for nearly two thousand years. In it the whole church, in every land and age, says together what it believes.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall 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.

*catholic — meaning universal: the one church of Jesus Christ across every time and place, not the Roman Catholic Church.

No. II

The Nicene Creed

The ecumenical confession of the Trinity · Councils of Nicaea (325) & Constantinople (381) (wording pending the fellowship's confirmation)

Forged by the whole church to confess clearly who God is — one God in three persons, and Jesus Christ as truly God and truly man. It remains the most widely shared creed of Christians east and west.

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.

*catholic — universal (see above).

No. III

The Westminster Confession of Faith

The Reformed confessional standard · Westminster Assembly, 1646 (chapter list pending confirmation)

Written by the Westminster Assembly and completed in 1646, this confession is the fullest and most enduring statement of the Reformed faith in English. Its thirty-three chapters set out, in careful order, what the Scriptures teach — from the doctrine of God to the last judgment. Its chapters are listed below; the full text is linked at the end.

All thirty-three chapters

  1. 01Of the Holy Scripture
  2. 02Of God, and of the Holy Trinity
  3. 03Of God's Eternal Decree
  4. 04Of Creation
  5. 05Of Providence
  6. 06Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
  7. 07Of God's Covenant with Man
  8. 08Of Christ the Mediator
  9. 09Of Free Will
  10. 10Of Effectual Calling
  11. 11Of Justification
  12. 12Of Adoption
  13. 13Of Sanctification
  14. 14Of Saving Faith
  15. 15Of Repentance unto Life
  16. 16Of Good Works
  17. 17Of the Perseverance of the Saints
  18. 18Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
  19. 19Of the Law of God
  20. 20Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience
  21. 21Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day
  22. 22Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
  23. 23Of the Civil Magistrate
  24. 24Of Marriage and Divorce
  25. 25Of the Church
  26. 26Of the Communion of Saints
  27. 27Of the Sacraments
  28. 28Of Baptism
  29. 29Of the Lord's Supper
  30. 30Of Church Censures
  31. 31Of Synods and Councils
  32. 32Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
  33. 33Of the Last Judgment
Read the full Westminster Confession of Faith
First page of the 1517 Basel printing of Luther's Ninety-five Theses
Luther's Ninety-five Theses · Basel printing, 1517 · public domain