Essentials of Our Faith

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:

1. 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!
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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, 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.” (Rev. 22:20)
7. 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.” (Eph. 2:10).

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Click to see a copy of the Westminster Confession

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First EPC Values

Approved by Session 10/19/2015

Values for First Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Values are qualities that are desirable; are aligned with beliefs and belief systems; values provide an internal reference for what is good, beneficial, important, useful, beautiful, desirable, constructive, etc. Values generate behavior. Values communicate how we operate and form our decisions.

• Connecting with God
  1. Through Scripture – We believe scripture is the inerrant and inspired Word of God and the authority of our lives.
  2. Through Faith – We believe in Jesus Christ as the risen Son of God who alone provides atonement for our sin and gives us eternal life, and who sends us the Holy Spirit to lead us in life.
  3. Through Worship – We believe all followers of Jesus Christ are called to join together in prayer and worship of God.
• Connecting with Church Family
  1. Through Strong godly relationships – We obey Christ’s mandate of loving others; we speak with truth and grace, and encourage everyone to be in an intentional discipleship journey.
  2. Through Generosity – We encourage people to support the mission of the congregation with various opportunities.
  3. Through Service – We encourage people to serve in ministries where God calls them to serve, in the congregation and in the community.
• Connecting with the Lost
  1. Through Invitation – First EPC welcomes all people to worship with us and be a part of our church family.
  2. Through Evangelism – We encourage and equip all our church family to share their faith in Jesus Christ not only in deed but also in word to invite others to place their faith in Jesus Christ as well.

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For more information about the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, visit www.epc.org