About What We Believe 1
Presbyterians, like other Christians, believe in the following:
- God… the creator of the universe;
- Christ… the manifestation of God on earth;
- Holy Spirit… the presence of God in the world and in the believer;
- Church… a universal company of Christ’s followers;
- Forgiveness of Sin… made possible by the death of Jesus;
- Life Everlasting… shown by the rise of Jesus from death to life (commonly referred to as the Resurrection);
- Bible. Presbyterians have always believed that the Bible is the most authoritative source for faith and practice for all people. It is the inspired record of the revelation of God to all.
Creeds and Confessions are statements of doctrine, which express the beliefs of a church of congregation. These statements are contained in the Presbyterian Book of Confessions. The most often recited creed is the Apostles’ Creed.
As Presbyterians, we believe in The Trinity which is God’s existence in three parts: the Father (God), the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit (the essence of God present in the world and in the souls of believers). We believe that Christ is the Son of God, the Revealer of God and the Savior for all of mankind. We believe that Christ’s birth was miraculous and that Mary was the honored and selected individual to whom Jesus was born. We believe that God gives grace (a disposition to kindness, mercy, compassion and forgiveness) freely to those who believe. It is through this grace that believers are saved from eternal death (as is befitting of the human race) and are granted eternal life. We believe in heaven as a place where souls of the faithful are reunited with God and we believe in hell, defined as separation from God.
A sacrament can be defined as a religious act that is a symbol of a spiritual reality. Another way to think of sacrament may be as a sign of a promise made by God.
In the Presbyterian Church, we recognize two sacraments. They are Baptism and Communion.
Baptism is the sacrament in which an individual (of any age) is united with Jesus Christ. It is an initiation into the church community as ordered by Christ. Baptism is a public confession or statement of faith. It does not guarantee access to heaven although un baptized people are not denied heaven. Because we believe in the universal church, Baptism can be performed in any church. There is no need to be Baptized in a Presbyterian church.
Communion (sometimes called the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion or the Eucharist) is a time to renew faith and strengthen participants for the duties and privileges of Christian service. In Communion, the bread and the wine represent the sacrifice of Christ in his death on the cross and recall the last meal shared with the Apostles. Together, they symbolize the new promise between God and all the people.
1Footnote: this material is derived from About Being Presbyterian, by Channing L. Bete, Co. Inc. currently available through distribution by First Presbyterian Church. |
