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First Presbyterian Church of |
This
righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace
through redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans
Core Values
The truth of Scripture is the basis for
all that we believe, defining our Core Values as we live daily in the power of
the Holy Spirit.
God desires us to:
1.
KNOW GOD: Knowledge of God is attained only through a
personal relationship with His Son Jesus Christ.
2. HAVE A FAITH
THAT ENDURES: When we are joined to God
in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we have the certainty that in the
midst of trial God is working for our good.
3.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER: Our ability to love one another is
rooted in Christ’s love living within us, and it takes expression through our
active involvement in the lives of one another.
4. LIVE
JOYFULLY: It is our Christian nature to
be joyful because we have experienced the good news of Jesus Christ. Joy is manifest in our lives through trust in
God that is lived in the Holy Spirit.
5.
KEEP COMMITMENTS: People who are committed to Jesus
Christ will grow in their relationships and commitments to Him and to one
another.
6. DEVELOP
CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP: We become
Christian family when we commit ourselves to trusting God and allowing Him to
guide our relationships.
7.
NURTURE PEOPLE:
We are called to provide ministries that respond to the needs and
situations of all people, so that we
might grow together as the Body of Christ.
8. HAVE HEALTHY
LIFESTYLES: Having a strong spiritual
life rooted in God’s Word gives us the desire for spiritual, emotional,
physical and financial health.
9. PURSUE
WHOLE-HEARTED WORSHIP: Our worship of
God is a natural joyful response to the love of God we have received in our
lives. We seek to glorify God in ways
that are pleasing to Him.
God gives us a purposeful mission. Everything we do must be consistent with
God’s purpose for our church so that energy, time, talents and finances are
effectively utilized.
How to become a Christian
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Question: How do I
become a Christian?
Answer: By accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and
Savior. In John 14:6 it is written: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the
life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." Question: What does this mean? Answer: There are two parts to this answer. 1.
Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord means that your will is
subservient to his; that you allow his will to rule your life. Matthew 28:18 tells us: And
Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me." 2.
Accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior you acknowledge that only
through Christ's death on the cross are you be saved from punishment for your
sins. John 3:17-18 tells us: 17For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him. 18He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe
is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son
of God. Question: How do I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and
Savior? Answer: By praying a heartfelt prayer similar to
this: Dear
Lord, I know that I'm a sinner and my only hope is through Jesus Christ. I
believe he died and was raised from the dead so that I could be forgiven for
my sins. I have
chosen to follow you. Thank
You for forgiving me of all my sin. Thank
You for my new life. In Christ's name, Amen. If you prayed, go share with a
Christian friend the wonderful thing you've done. If you don't know any Christians find a
church and tell the pastor. In Matthew
10:27 we are told: "What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what
you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops." Question: Aren't there specific works I must do to
receive God's grace? Answer: No.
You are saved through grace alone.
Romans 3:22-24 explains this: "22This righteousness from
God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. 23There is no difference
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and 24are justified freely by his grace through redemption that came by
Christ Jesus." Also in Romans
11:6 we find:
But if it is by grace, it is no
longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Question: Does this mean that I can do whatever I
want and still be saved? Answer: No, when
you make your will subservient to Christ you try to do his will. This is explained in Galatians 6:16-24: "16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not
gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the
desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit
are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you
from doing what you would. 18But if you are led by the Spirit you are not
under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy,
anger, selfishness, dissention, party spirit, 21envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the
like. I warn you, as I warned you
before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such there
is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Question: Do I need to go to church to be saved? Answer: No, you are saved by accepting Jesus
Christ. However, it is the Lord's will
that we gather to worship and praise Him, and to study His word. We are told in Matthew 18:20 "For
where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of
them." In Romans 12:4-5 we are told: "4For as in one body we have many members, and
all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, though many, are one body in Christ,
and individually members one of another." And in Ephesians 2:19-22 we
are told: "19So then you are no longer strangers and
sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the
household of God, 20built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being
the cornerstone, 21in whom
the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the
Lord; 22in whom
you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Question: Are other religions equally as valid as
Christianity? Answer: No, while some other religions may teach
partial truths, only Christianity preaches the full truth of Jesus
Christ. Acts "And
there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven
given among men by which we must be saved." Those who teach falsely will
suffer the wrath of God. 2 Peter 2:1
tells us: "But
false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false
teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even
denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift
destruction."
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What Presbyterians Believe
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The Apostles' Creed is one of the earliest creeds of the
Christian faith contains a simple statement of what Presbyterians believe:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker
of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the
third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth
on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to
judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy
catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the
resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. For
a complete discussion on the Apostles Creed review the Study
Catechism, Questions 5 through 88. For more
Creeds in the Reformed tradition, click
here. For other
Christian creeds, click here.
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What Presbyterians Believe
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Click
here to visit the Presbyterian Church USA's website for a
complete discussion on Presbyterianism.
Additionally, click here for approved church catechisms.
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