Our Beliefs

In addition to the Gospel and the Core Doctrine stated below,
Ankeny Gospel affirms the Apostle's Creed, Nicene Creed,
and the Lausanne Covenant.

What is the Gospel?

The Gospel is the good news that God himself, the Creator, out of His great love for us, has come to rescue us from sin, Satan, death and hell, and to renew all things, in and through the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, to establish His Kingdom, through His people, in the power of the Holy Spirit. All of this is for God’s great glory and our profound joy.

Core Doctrine

  • We believe in one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30)

  • We believe in the deity of Christ (John 10:33); His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Luke1:34-35); His sinless life (Hebrews 4:15, 7:26); His miracles (John 2:11); His vicarious and atoning death (1 Corinthians 15:3, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 2:9); His resurrection (John 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15:4); His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19); His personal return to earth in power and glory (Acts 1:11, Revelation 19:11-13, Revelation 19:14-16)

  • We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, who gifts us to accomplish Christ’s purposes in the world and who manifests His presence to the world through Christ’s Church. (Romans 8:13-14; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20; 1 Corinthians 12; 1 Corinthians 14; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18)

  • We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21)

  • We believe in the Genesis account of creation. (Genesis 1-2)

  • We believe in the sinfulness of man and the gift of salvation by grace through faith in Christ who shed His blood. This makes believers eternally secure in Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-19; John 5:24, Romans 3:23-25; 5:8-9; 8:38-39, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5)

  • We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead: the believer to life everlasting and the unbeliever to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28–29)

  • There is one, holy, universal and apostolic church, which is the Body of Christ, and to which all true believers belong. The church’s calling is to worship God forever and to serve God in the world. (1 Corinthians 12:12–13)

Creeds & Covenants

  • I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
    I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
    who 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 hell.
    The third day he rose again from the dead.
    He ascended to heaven
    and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
    From there he will come 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.

    *that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places

  • I believe in one God,
    the Father almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth,
    of all things visible and invisible.

    I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
    the Only Begotten Son of God,
    born of the Father before all ages.
    God from God, Light from Light,
    true God from true God,
    begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
    through him all things were made.
    For us men and for our salvation
    he came down from heaven,
    and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
    For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
    he suffered death and was buried,
    and rose again on the third day
    in accordance with the Scriptures.
    He ascended into heaven
    and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
    He will come again in glory
    to judge the living and the dead
    and his kingdom will have no end.

    I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
    who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
    who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
    who has spoken through the prophets.

    I believe in one, holy, catholic* and apostolic Church.
    I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
    and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
    and the life of the world to come. Amen.

    *that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places

  • See the history and statement here.