|
|
 |
|
Some of the principles
articulated by John Calvin remain at the core of
Presbyterian beliefs. Among these are the
sovereignty of God, the authority of the
scripture, justification by grace through faith
and the priesthood of all believers. What they
mean is that God is the supreme authority
throughout the universe. Our knowledge of God and
God's purpose for humanity comes from the Bible,
particularly what is revealed in the New Testament
through the life of Jesus Christ. Our salvation
(justification) through Jesus is God's generous
gift to us and not the result of our own
accomplishments. It is everyone's job - ministers
and lay people alike - to share this Good News
with the whole world. That is also why the
Presbyterian church is governed at all levels by a
combination of clergy and laity, men and women
alike.
Points of Interest:
Presbyterians confess their beliefs through
statements that have been adopted over the years
and are contained in the Book of Confessions.
These statements reflect our understanding of God
and what God expects of us at different times in
history, but all are faithful to the fundamental
beliefs described above. Even though we share
these common beliefs, Presbyterians understand
that God alone is lord of the conscience, and it
is up to each individual to understand what these
principles mean in his or her life.
|
|
|
