Zutphen CRC... what we believe and why.

We affirm beliefs and practices which bring us together with other congregations fully devoted to Jesus Christ. Sometimes doctrines and beliefs can be overwhelming and difficult to understand, yet it is critical for understanding God's Word and living a life in response. We have added a few basics below in order to begin the conversation. We urge those who are unfamiliar with the Bible or the Christian faith to contact us. We would be honored to meet with you, without judgment, without intimidation, to simply talk, no matter where you are or who you are.

Here's a brief summary of the basics of our faith, and why we believe it...

The truths we believe :

• We believe in one true God, spoken of in the Bible, is our Heavenly Father and the Creator of the heavens and the earth.

• We believe Jesus Christ, God's son, is the Savior from sin. All people are sinful and separated from God in need of salvation. Jesus Christ paid for sin by dying on the cross and rising again from the dead. He conquered sin and death for us in this way, enabling us to inherit eternal life in Heaven if we believe in Him as our Savior.

• We believe the Holy Spirit abides in our hearts, unites all believers, and encourages us to do God's will.

• We believe God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one God, three persons, and the one Lord of our lives.

• We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and is the message of salvation.

We summarize the biblical story in four major chapters :

Creation - In the beginning, God created a world where everything was in perfect harmony. The relationship between God and humans and creation was good and whole.

Fall - Humans were tempted by Satan into rebelling against God. Their disobedient act opened the door for sin to enter the world. Everything was affected by sin; no person, no creature, no institution, no relationship or individual action is free from the totality of sin's contamination. The results of sin are evident in such things as greed, violence, and oppression, as well as pollution, sickness, death, and weeds. The most devastating effect of sin for humanity is being cut off from God. But even in the fall, sin did not destroy the "image of God" in humanity which longs for God and wholeness.

Redemption - God did not allow sin to have the last word in the story. Because of His great love for humans and all creation, God set out to redeem the world from its sinful condition. God called two people long ago - Abraham and Sarah - and their descendants, the people of Israel, to be His partners in blessing the whole world. After many generations, God sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to be born as a human to a girl named Mary. Jesus lived a fully human life and then was crucified on a cross. His death paid the price and covered for all that was broken, corrupted, and affected by sin in the fall. But even death could not defeat Jesus. God raised Him from the dead to conquer sin, death, and Hell. God's kingdom now grows and spreads throughout the world and Christians are part of that work.

New Creation - One day, Jesus Christ will reign to extend God's reign on earth completely. He will do away with all traces of sin and its dreaded effects. There will be no more sickness, no more suffering, no more alienation from God, no more death. God himself will dwell with humans and all creation will be made new.

Our response to God's amazing love :

Because of God's gracious love extended to us in creation and especially through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to pay for our sins, we strive to live each moment of our lives in praise, honor, and obedience to God through the power and working of the Holy Spirit.

If you have any questions or want to learn more, please visit our 'Talk to us' page or send us a message. We would be happy to talk to you without any obligation on your behalf.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Our Mission :
To develop a body of believers fully devoted to Jesus Christ that reaches
into our community and beyond with His life-changing message.

Our Purpose :
Worship - We celebrate God's presence through worship.
Discipleship - We educate God's people through discipleship.
Fellowship - We incorporate God's family through our fellowship.
Evangelism - We communicate God's word through evangelism.
Service - We demonstrate God's love through service.