The Rev. David Martin Hanke’s Statement of Faith
I believe that the Holy Scriptures are inerrant in their original manuscripts and are authoritative for instruction. I choose to submit myself and my ministry to the teachings found within them.
I believe God created the earth and that his creation was good. Chief among this goodness was that humanity enjoyed unbroken and unmitigated fellowship with God. We have chosen to break that fellowship by going our own way and choosing to sin. I believe that God knew we would make that decision and from the beginning knew that He would choose to provide a way for that unbroken fellowship to be restored.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, ‘God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.’ Jesus Christ, fully God, took on humanity and became incarnate. He lived a real, historical, and perfect life. He willingly gave Himself to be crucified for wrongs he did not commit. He physically, historically, and bodily rose from the dead after three days of being fully dead. His resurrection provides assurance that his sacrifice for our sins was effective. His resurrection also affirms that our Creator God is constantly making all things new and able to bring life from death.
I believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, given to those who believe in God through the Son. By the work of the Holy Spirit we experience the gracious blessings of gifts, signs, and wonders for the witness and establishment of the church. All of these gifts are available to believers in Christ, regardless of gender or ethnicity.
I believe there is a coming day of the Lord when every person will be judged. Consequently, those who are found in Christ and those who have rejected Christ will be separated. I believe that Jesus Christ will return in bodily form and that he will make all things new and that there will be no more sorrow or pain. I look to the hope of my resurrection and the eternity of fellowship with my King.
