the Essentials -
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Doctrines Essential for Church Membership (the ESSENTIALS
of the EPC)
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
seven 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, 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, and 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, 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.
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 the
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 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."
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."
these Essentials are set forth in greater detail in the Westminster
Confession of Faith.
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