ABOUT GOD:  THE MYSTERY OF THE TRINITY

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe.  He has eternally existed in three personalities:  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  These three are co-equal and are one (triune) God.

Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3, 22; Psalm90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST: GOD BECOMES HUMAN AND DWELLS AMONG US

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  He is co-equal with the Father.  Jesus, the eternal Son & Word of God became human and lived a sinless human life.  Jesus, fully God and fully human, became a model of obedience for all Christian disciples as He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross.  He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death.  He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15: 3-4;

Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13

ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God.  He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ.  Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ lives, in every Christian from the moment of salvation.  He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.  He gives every believer a spiritual gift(s) when they are saved, and nurtures the growth of Christ-like fruit with the believer’s life.  As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.

1 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18

ABOUT THE BIBLE

The Bible is God’s Word to us.  Human authors, under the supernatural guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote it.  It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.  Because God inspires it, it reveals the truth regarding the nature of human life, the world, and God.  Therefore, the Bible is the highest source of authority in the life of a believer and is the “only infallible rule of faith and practice” for Christians.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12-6; Proverbs 30:5

ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS: “HUMAN DEPRAVITY”

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character.  People are the supreme object of God’s creation.  Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by a broken fallen nature reflected in an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”.  This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2

ABOUT HUMAN SEXUALITY AND MARRIAGE

Believers are called, despite the challenge of sexuality or loneliness for human companionship resulting from our broken fallen nature expressed in a broken world, to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church.  Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.  Persons refusing to repent of self-acknowledged practice which the Bible and Confessions call sin, are welcome to be a part of the RPC family but shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.

ABOUT SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

Salvation is God’s gift to us but we must accept it.  We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works.  Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty.  When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved.  Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.  Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.  It is the grace and keeping the power of God that gives us this security.

Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5: John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12;

Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5

ABOUT OUR WORTH:  GOD CHOSE (ELECTED US) BEFORE WE WERE BORN AND AFTER WE WERE BROKEN, TO BE A PART OF HIS FAMILY

God chooses to be in a relationship with us.  God in Jesus Christ, takes the first step toward us, making us and calling us into a living relationship of transformation and sanctification, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly”.  Therefore, we are children of God because God first loved us and made provisions to adopt us (despite our sinfulness) into the divine family.  Hence, children of God are special and are chosen for a life of service.

Romans 5:6-9; John 3:16; Eph. 1:4-5; 1 John 3:16

ABOUT ETERNITY

People were created to exist forever.  We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell.  To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life.  Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.  Hell (separation from God and its consequences) is not only a part of eternity (the future), but it can be a part of the time (the here and now).

John 3:16; 14:17; Romans 6:23; 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Cor. 2:7-9