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:
-
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!
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Jesus Christ will come again to
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)
-
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 call 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.