What We Believe

Here's just a small sampling the beliefs we subscribe to as part of the Presbyterian Church.

The Trinity

We believe in one living and true God who is infinitely perfect and externally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

God, the Father

We believe in God the Father, who is the Almighty Creator of all things. 

But the man and woman sinned in disobedience. Consequently, due to their sin, they were alienated from their Creator, broken of their fellowship, and brought about eternal condemnation upon themselves. (Genesis 3:7-24; Romans 3:23; 5:17; 6:23)
Throughout the history of humankind, God sent His messengers, prophets, priests, judges, kings, and other leaders and servants to woo His people back to Him, but to no avail. Something had to be done to reverse God’s judgment and condemnation.

God, the Son (Jesus Christ)

Jesus Christ is God's eternal Son. As true God and true man, He allowed Himself to be born of a virgin, taught men and women how to live through a sinless life, was crucified as a penal substitute for our sins, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate. 

We believe in God the Son: Jesus Christ who is fully God and fully human. He is the living Word that came into this world in the form of a human being. We believe he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. (John 1:1-2,14; Luke 1:35; Philippians 2:6-11)

We believe Jesus lived a sinless life among us sinners in order to identify Himself with us. His purpose was to atone for our sins by dying on the cross as our substitute in order to satisfy God’s divine justice and accomplish salvation for all who trust in Him alone; thus, ultimately restoring our broken fellowship with God. (Romans 3:24; 5:6-8; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 7:25)

We believe that salvation is obtained by faith and faith alone and in the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, and not by our works. We are justified by faith and saved by God’s grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We believe that Jesus died and rose again from the dead on the third day, and ascended into heaven, and now sits on the right hand of God the Father where He alone is the mediator between God and us. (Colossians 1:1; Hebrews 9:25)

Jesus promised His disciples (including us) that he would send a Helper/Creator, who will guide us, direct us, and convict us of our sins

God, the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit persuades us to repent of our sins and confess Jesus as Lord. He lives in us, teaches us, gifts us, and enables us to live godly lives.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who continually convicts us of our sins. We believe He baptizes all believers into the body of Christ.

We believe in the indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all believers a new life and new calling to obedient service. 

Holy Scriptures

We believe in the Holy Scriptures, which is God’s inerrant and infallible written Word that is fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, and it is the final authority. (Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and women, and the divine and final authority for all Christian life and faith.

Humanity

We believe that in His goodness and mercy, God desired to have fellowship with humanity; hence, He created man and woman in His image (Imago Dei) to have eternal fellowship with Him. (Genesis 1:26-28; 31) But the man and woman were tempted by Satan and rebelled against God. As a result of their rebellion against God, men and women are dead in their sins. Through repentance and personal faith in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven, we are reborn through the Holy Spirit, and we become children of God.

The Church

We believe the Church is the espoused Bride of Christ, the living Body of Christ on earth, where Christ is the head and source of life. The Body is composed of those who have received Him personally. The Church exists to celebrate the living God, cultivate personal growth in Christ, love one another in Christ, and communicate Christ to the world through words and deeds, and making disciples of all nations. (Ephesians 1:22; 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Acts 14:27)

Holy Communion

The Lord's Supper is a time of thanksgiving and communion with Christ, setting forth in sacred and symbolic manner the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and the unity of His Church; all true believers and only believers should share in it.

Baptism

Baptism soon after accepting Christ as personal Savior is a testimony to sin and resurrection to a new life. Infant baptism is appropriate for believing parents as a testimony of the expectation of the future grace of Christ in the life of the child.

The Second Coming

Jesus Christ will return to earth to raise the dead, judge the world, and establish His glorious Kingdom. This is the hope of the Church and its encouragement for ministry. At the end of time the redeemed will go on to eternal life whereas the unredeemed to eternal hell.

I believe in the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I believe He will come and reward the faithful ones, and say, “Well done my good and faithful servant. Come into your rest.” “Come, Maranatha!”

Assurance of Salvation

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, and trusted in Him, then you cannot lose your salvation. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.