We believe that Jesus Christ is the Incarnation of the eternal Word of God. (John 1:1-4) Out of the greatest possible love and compassion, God reached out to us and redeemed us through Jesus Christ. Jesus is God's decisive act in human history. (John 3:16)
We believe in the Sovereignty of God, that God is the supreme authority throughout the universe. (Psalm 103:19) We affirm the majesty, holiness, and providence of God, who creates, sustains, rules, and redeems the world in the freedom of sovereign righteousness and love.
We believe the Holy Spirit is our companion, counselor and guide in living a life of service to God. (John 14:16) Through the Holy Spirit, God empowers us to grow in faith, make more mature decisions and live more faithful lives. (John 14:26)
We believe in the mystery of the Trinity, the One God revealed to us through Scripture as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Our knowledge of God and God's purposes comes from the Bible, particularly what is revealed in the New Testament through the life of Jesus Christ. We believe that by studying the scriptures we can begin to know of God's faithfulness, constant love and eternal goodness. (2 Timothy 3:16)
We believe the Bible when it says that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) We believe as humans we are prone to idolatry, making created things ultimate rather than worshipping only the Creator, and this is sin. Sin is a condition of the heart or an expression of that condition where we are estranged from God and fail to trust in God. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, God triumphed over sin.
We believe God's grace is freely offered to all people, yet each individual has the choice to receive this grace or to reject this grace. We believe God has offered us salvation because of God's loving nature. (1 John 4:9-11) It is not a right or a privilege to be earned by being "good enough." Not one of us is good enough on our own--we are all dependent upon God's goodness and mercy. From the kindest, most devoted churchgoer to the most blatant sinner, we are all saved solely by the grace of God. (Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:8-9)
We believe that those who accept the grace freely offered by God are called to live out their faith with their whole lives through service. It is everyone's job - pastors and members alike - to share the Good News of God's grace with the whole world. That is why the Presbyterian Church is governed at all levels by a combination of pastors and members, men and women alike.
Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these...you did it to me." (Matthew 25:40) All of humanity are our neighbors. We are called to make a difference where God has planted us, reaching out to those near and far, serving others in the name of Jesus Christ.
