Evangelical Presbyterian Church

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church traces its roots from the Reformation under John Calvin in Switzerland during the 1500’s and its advancement under John Knox in Scotland during the same era.  After the Reformation, the seed continued with the shaping of the Westminster Confession of Faith.  In North America, leaders such as Jonathan Edwards triggered a spiritual awakening in New England and became a link in our historical chain.  The story of Presbyterianism is the story of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.  .  In 1980-1981, a group of pastors and elders met in St. Louis, MO for planning and prayer.  Drawing on the words of Scripture, the theology of the historic confessions of faith, and the evangelical fervor of the Presbyterian founders, the first General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church gathered near Detroit, MI.  To ensure that the ideals of faith would remain foundational to the new denomination, the Assembly drafted an intentionally brief list of essential beliefs.  These essentials define a church that is Presbyterian in theology and church government, as well as evangelical in sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

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 compose 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 the 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 us and gave Himself for us” he calls us to a life of seld-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)