Beliefs About Jesus

 

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church – Stephenville , Texas, is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, the Episcopal Church, and the worldwide Anglican Communion, and worships in accordance with The Book of Common Prayer 1979.

 

​As Christians, we believe in a Trinitarian God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, who was fully human and fully divine.

 

Our beliefs are summed up in two creeds: the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed. Either one of the creeds is recited by the congregation in every worship service. (Note that the word “catholic” in these creeds refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.)​

 

The Nicene Creed is the most universally accepted profession of the Christian Faith. It is affirmed by most of the Protestant denominations, as well as by the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. It was adopted (in a slightly different version) by the Church Council at Nicaea in AD 325 and further revised to its present form by the Council at Chalcedon in AD 451. It has remained in use since that time and is an essential part of the doctrine and liturgy of the Episcopal Church.​

 

The Apostles’ Creed is the basic creed of Reformed churches, as they are commonly known, of which the Episcopal Church is one. Dating back a half-century or so from the last writings of the New Testament, it has as the authors of its earliest version the twelve disciples or “apostles” of Jesus.​

 

The Nicene Creed:

 

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.​

 

The Apostles’ Creed:

 

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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.​

 

For more information on the Episcopal Church’s Core Beliefs and Doctrines, click here.

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