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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:
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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!
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Jesus Christ, the living Word, became
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.
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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.
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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, and 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.
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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.
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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." (Revelation 22:20).
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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" (Ephesians
2:10).
These Essentials are set forth in greater detail in the Westminster
Confession of Faith.
Adopted by the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
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