What We Believe

The following are the Essentials of Our Faith of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, of which Westminster Church is a member.

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.

There is one true God, eternally existing in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These are equal and are one God. God created the world out of nothing and by His power He sustains all He has created (Genesis 1:26, John 1:1, Ephesians 1:13-14).

Jesus was miraculously born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:35) and became flesh and blood (John 1:1-16, John 1:29-34) without ceasing to be God. He lived a sinless life and performed many miracles to confirm His divinity. He died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice, paying the debt for our sins (Mark 10:45). On the third day after His death, He arose from the dead showing His victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). He appeared to His disciples and then ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God serving as our Mediator.

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son. He makes people aware of their need for Christ (John 16:8-11). He indwells and empowers the believer (1 John 4:13, Galatians 5:16-26). His presence in our life is a seal and guarantee that we are God’s children (2 Corinthians 1: 21-22). The Holy Spirit gives believers spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Romans 12:4-8) to be used to help others.

Salvation is a free gift of God. The death of Christ on the cross is the only sufficient payment for our sins. This salvation is available for those who put their trust in Christ as Savior (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:16). Those trusting Christ should repent of sin, confess their faith, and be baptized (Romans 10:9, Acts 2:38).

The church is the Body of Christ on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue the task of reaching the lost and discipling the saved, helping them become fully devoted followers of Christ (Ephesians 4:1-16).

Christ will one day return and judge all people. (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) Believers will be welcomed into God’s presence in heaven. Unbelievers will be in hell, separated from God’s presence.

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)