WE BELIEVE IN THESE ESSENTIALS OF THE FAITH
All Scripture is self-attesting and being Truth,
requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible
Word of God. The sixty-six books of the Old and New testaments, is a
complete and unified witness to God's redemptive acts culminating in the
incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely
and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority
on all matters on which it speaks.
On this sure foundation we affirm these additional Essentials of our
faith:
1. We believe in one God, the Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all
things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To Him be all honor, glory and praise
forever!
2. Jesus Christ, the living Word, become flesh through His miraculous
conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God
became true man united in one Person forever. He died on the cross a
sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day He
arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand
of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Mediator.
3. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work
of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the savior.
Indwelling our hearts, He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts
to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us
for the day of redemption.
4. Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation
is wholly dependent upon the work of God's free grace. God credits His
righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their
salvation, thereby justifies them in His sight. Only such as are born of
the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs
of eternal life.
5. The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in
Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy spirit are united
together in the body of Christ. The Church finds her visible, yet
imperfect, expression in local congregations where the Word of God is
preached in its purity and the sacraments are administered in their
integrity; where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving
fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting, she awaits the return of her
Lord.
6. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth - personally, visibly, and
bodily - to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and
the eternal plan of God. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus," (Rev.
22:20)
7. The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel
throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to
the Great Commission requires total commitment to "Him who loved us
and gave Himself for us." He calls us to a life of self-denying love
and service. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in
them." (Eph. 2:10)
These Essentials are set forth in greater detail in the Westminster
Confession of Faith. |
