What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of St. Peter's Church of Oldtown Valley based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

This congregation believes the bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to us. Therefore, the bible is the perfect treasure of divine instruction that has God as its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without mixture of error in the original
manuscripts. All scripture, both old and new testaments, is completely true and trustworthy and is designed for our practical instruction in faith and conduct.  II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:19-21

There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself.

Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin and appointed as caretakers of the rest of God's creations.
(Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:22-23, Ephesians 2:1-3)

When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time.

This congregation believes that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sin. All who are thus saved are thereby born again by the Holy Spirit into
the family of God. This relationship ensures the believer of eternal life. This congregation also believes that there is no other name under heaven, other than Jesus Christ, by which mankind can be saved.
(John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8-10, John 10:27-30)
This congregation believes that true faith results in believers seeking to live to please Christ in all areas of life because of their relationship to the Lord Jesus. That they should grow daily in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord resulting in the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit. (Ephesians 4: 1-7, Hebrews 4: 14-16, II Peter 3: 14-18,
Galatians 5:22-23)

The members of St. Peter's Church believe in the one true church, The body and bride of Christ composed of all true believers, and the organization of its members in local churches for worship, for edification of believers, and for worldwide gospel witness. each church being autonomous but cooperating in fellowship and work.
(Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 5:25-32, I Corinthians 12:12-13,
 Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 4: 11-16)
The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This congregation believes in the observance of the ordinances of our Lord Jesus Christ, which are (1) water baptism of believers as a public profession of faith; (2) communion, which is a remembrance of Christ death on our behalf, until He comes again.
 (Matthew 28:18-20 & Corinthians 11:23-26)