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| Core Beliefs |
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 What We Believe
The Sea Island Presbyterian Church is a Christ-centered Church with ecclesiastical roots to the Reformation as it developed in Geneva, Switzerland under the leadership of John Calvin (1509-1564).
Presbyterians are people of three books: The Bible, The Confessions, and The Book of Order.
The Book of Confessions and The Book of Order comprise the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The Book of Order (BOO) lists ten beliefs which we Presbyterians take to be essential to our faith. Two are shared with the one, universal, apostolic Church:
1. The mystery of the Trinity. (Matthew 28:19)
2. The Incarnation of the Word of God in Jesus Christ. (John 1:1-14)
Two are identified with our affirmation of the Protestant Reformation:
3. Justification by faith. (Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:8-9)
4. The Scriptures as the final authority for salvation and faithful living. (2 Timothy 3:16)
sola gratia - grace alone
sola fide - faith alone
sola scriptura - Scripture alone
Six express the faith of the Reformed tradition of which we are a part:
5. The Sovereignty of God. (Psalm 103:19)
6. God's choosing (Election) of people for salvation and service. (Ephesians 2:10)
7. The Covenant Life of the Church, ordering itself according to the Word of God. (Acts 2:42)
8. A faithful Stewardship of God's creation. (Genesis 1:26)
9. The sin of Idolatry, our tendency to make created things ultimate, rather than worshiping only the Creator. (Deuteronomy 4:4 ff.)
10. The necessity of obedience to the Word of God. (Deuteronomy 6:1 ff.)
'Thus the creeds and confessions of the Church reflect a particular stance within the history of God's people. They are the result of prayer, thought, and experience within a living tradition. They serve to strengthen personal commitment and the life and witness of the community of believers.' |
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