Beliefs
Our Beliefs
Ascension is like a fireplace with a bright and warm fire. A beautiful fireplace without fire warms and lightens no one. A fire without a fire place can grow wild. Ascension is a fireplace with a grand flame!
There is 1 Bible, inspired by God, that is has 2 Testaments, the Old and the New. This is the Church's standard of faith, morals, and practices. Like the Reformers centuries ago, we learn the meaning of the Scriptures from the early Church. If Scripture is a fruitful garden, then Tradition and Reason are the tools that help us harvest the full yield of produce.
Ascension is in the Anglican tradition, in the Anglican Church in North America, part of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic. Our mother parish is Church of the Holy Spirit, Leesburg, VA.
The Word of God
We believe that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspired Word of God. The Bible is the final authority for all we believe and how we are to live. The Apocryphal books are 'books of the Church,' read for examples of life and manners, historical continuity between the covenants, and as aids for life and morals; but we do not apply them to establish any doctrine contrary to what is plan in the canonical Scriptures (Mt. 5:18; Jn. 10:35; 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16–17; 2 Pet. 1:20–21).
The Trinity
We believe that the one true God exists eternally in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and that being one God, these are equal in deity, power, and glory. God is infinite in love, perfect in judgments, and unchanging in righteousness and mercy. We believe that God not only created the world, but also now upholds, sustains, governs, and providentially directs all that exists, and that He will bring all things to their proper consummation in Christ Jesus, to the glory of His name (Ps. 104:1–35; 139:1–24; Mt. 10:29–31; 28:19; Acts 17:24–28; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 1:9–12; 4:4–6; Col. 1:16–17; Heb. 1:1–3; Rev. 1:4–6).
Jesus ~ Lord and Christ
We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of God; that He is God incarnate, fully God and fully man; that He was eternally preexistent with the Father and the Holy Spirit; and that He was conceived and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as a penal, substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By His blood shed at the cross, He obtained for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. He was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the saints forever. He will return to earth again to reign in righteousness (Mt. 1:18–25; Jn. 1:1–18; Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:1–28; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:10–14; Eph. 1:7; Phil. 2:6–11; Col. 1:15–23; Heb. 7:25; 9:13–15; 10:19; 1 Pet. 2:21–25; 1 Jn. 2:1–2).
The Holy Spirit and His Ministry
The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, and graciously equips the Christian for godly living and service. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit. After conversion and new spiritual birth, the Spirit desires to fill, empower, and anoint believers for mission and witness. We also believe that signs and wonders, as well as all the gifts of the Spirit described in the New Testament, are operative today and are designed to testify to the presence of the kingdom and to empower and edify the Church to fulfill its calling and mission (Mt. 3:11; Jn. 1:12–13; 3:1–15; Acts 4:29–30; Rom. 8:9; 12:3–8; 1 Cor. 12:12–13; 2 Cor. 1:21–22; Gal. 3:1–5; Eph. 1:13–14; 5:18).
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 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.