Zutphen CRC... what we believe and why.

In many ways what we believe separates us from other churches. But we prefer to affirm the beliefs and practices which bring us together. While doctrine and belief can be overwhelming and difficult to understand, we have added some basics (below) in order to begin the conversation. We also 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, and on a level you can understand, 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 :

• God - We believe the one true God, spoken of in the Bible, is our Heavenly Father and the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
[Exodus 20:2-3] [Genesis 1:1]

• Jesus Christ - We believe Jesus Christ, God's son, is the Savior from sin. All people are sinful, and 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.
[Isaiah 43:11] [Romans 3:21-24] [1 Peter 3:18-21]

• Holy Spirit - We believe the Holy Spirit abides in our hearts, unites all believers, and assists us in doing God's will.
[1 Corinthians 3:16]

• Trinity - 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.
[1 Corinthians 8:5-6] [Matthew 28:18-20]

• The Bible - We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, and is the message of salvation.
[2 Timothy 3:16-17] [Psalm 19:7-9]

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 creations 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 its 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 is being cut off from God. But even in the fall, sin cannot destroy the "image of God" in us that longs for God and wholeness.

Redemption - God did not allow sin to have the last word in this story. Because of His great love for humans and all creation, God set out to redeem the world from its sinful condition. God called Abraham and Sarah and their descendants, the people of Israel, to be His partners in blessing the whole world. His one and only Son, Jesus the messiah, lived a fully human life and then died to pay the price for humanity's sinful actions. Death could not defeat Jesus. God raised Him from the dead to conquer sin and death. God's kingdom now grows and spreads throughout the world and Christians are part of that work.

New Creation - One day, Jesus Christ will come back 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 fully restored.

Why we believe and our response :

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

These are the basic truths we believe in, and why we believe they are so important. These principles are sometimes not easy to understand, but Zutphen CRC exists so that we as a community and world can come to fully understand them and live better lives in God's service.

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.