PCA HISTORICAL CENTER
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Historic Documents in American Presbyterian History WHAT PRESBYTERIANS BELIEVE [exerpted from The Presbyterian Journal, 18.39 (27 January 1960): 5-7.]
It is frequently pointed out that the word "Presbyterian"
refers to the Eldership and that Presbyterianism, as such, is a form of
church government. Presbyterianism is not only a form of government in
the Church, but is also a well-defined system of beliefs or of doctrine.
In the exaltation and interpretation of the Bible the Reformation reached
its zenith in the teachings and writings of John Calvin. Thus Presbyterianism,
following his interpretation of the Bible, is known as Calvinism. More
specifically, the Calvinism of Presbyterians is based on the Westminster
Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, documents which
were written nearly a hundred years after Calvin died. I. SOVEREIGNTY As a system of doctrine, all Presbyterian beliefs are determined by
a basic thought about God: that He is sovereign in all things. The doctrine
of the Sovereignty of God teaches that God governs His creation, His creatures
and all their actions. If loyalty to the Bible is the great strength of
Presbyterianism, its belief in the Sovereignty of God is its very life. II. TOTAL DEPRAVITY Presbyterians believe that as the result of Adam's sin all men are sinners;
that sin is a stain upon us from our birth so that if left to the natural
inclinations of our wills our lives would inevitably turn to evil. In
the view of Presbyterians human nature is not neutral: it is not
free to move upward or downward depending on circumstance, environment
or education. Neither is human nature good; capable of infinite
development in goodness, needing only to be left alone or "brought out"
to achieve perfection. Human nature is rather sinful and "inclined to
evil as the sparks fly upward." We see undesirable behavior and sinful
tendencies in the smallest infant, and we observe that without discipline
and restraint human beings inevitably live selfishly. This view of human
nature Presbyterians describe by the term "Original Sin" because human
imperfection seems to be both innate and instinctive. This imperfection
(sin) taints every facet of our personalities. Consequently the description
of Original Sin to which Presbyterians subscribe is summarized in the
doctrine of Total Depravity. Mankind, we say, is inevitably (originally)
and altogether (totally) marked by sin on account of the Fall. III. SALVATION Presbyterians believe that God so loved us--while we were dead in trespasses and sins--that He sent forth His only begotten Son to redeem us. The Lord Jesus Christ, pre-existent with the Father, by Whom He created the worlds, came to earth by being born of the Virgin Mary. He, the Eternal Son, took upon Himself our nature, lived a sinless life as a man and died on the Cross in a sacrifice which somehow paid the price of our redemption from sin-we know not how but we believe it. In a victory over death and the grave our Lord rose from the dead and returned to the Father from Whom He sent the Holy Spirit to apply to those who would believe the effects of His work. In the gift of the Holy Spirit-by grace through faith-the originally sinful nature of man is transfigured to become Godly and possessed of the capacity to be God-like. This "new life" begins now in the hearts of those who believe in and receive Jesus Christ. It continues into and through eternity. IV. ELECTION In keeping with the doctrine of Sovereignty, under which God is seen
to determine all things, Presbyterians believe that the knowledge of Christ
and the acceptance of Christ which leads to Salvation also come from God.
We are saved by faith alone and this faith itself is a gift of God. Our
personal redemption is not due to any goodness of our own for we have
none; neither is it earned by our good works for sinners cannot accumulate
"credit" leading to redemption. We find Christ because He finds us. We
love Him because He first loved us. We become His because He chooses us,
calling us and sanctifying us after he justifies us. Presbyterians do
not pretend to understand the great truth underlying the Election of God.
They simply know that they did not seek God until first they were sought;
they did not know Him until He enlightened their hearts; they did not
believe until He gave them faith; they did not come until they felt themselves
moved. The mysteries of His Will we cannot fathom, but we know that had
it not been for Him we would not be where we are. V. SANCTIFICATION Presbyterians believe that as the Election of God calls men to redemption
in Jesus Christ so it calls them to newness of life in Jesus Christ. The
Holy Spirit not only makes a child of sin to become a child of God, He
also leads the new believer into a new way of life which is in conformity
to the will of God; into holiness of life and Sanctification. VI. THE CHURCH Presbyterians believe in the Holy, catholic Church; that is, in the universal
unity of Christ's body in time and eternity. As a vine and its branches
comprise a single whole, so Christ and all those in whatever place or
age derive their life from Him comprise a single Body, the Church universal.
This Church is not to be identified with any denomination or body on earth
for it exists wherever a true child of God may be found. We believe that
there are Presbyterians who belong to this church and there are Presbyterians
who do not; there are Baptists, Methodists and Roman Catholics who belong
to this Church and there are Baptists, Methodists and Roman Catholics
who do not.
Presbyterians believe in two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
We believe that they are genuine sacraments, that is, instituted by Christ
Himself; visible signs which actually confer the blessing or grace of
God when appropriated in faith. We do not believe that the blessing is
inherently present in the sacraments, but that they are rather the signs
and seals of the blessing they represent. As the Holy Spirit does not
dwell in the pages of a Book, and yet He warms our hearts by means of
the message of that Book, so grace does not reside intrinsically in the
sacraments, but comes to the believer who receives them in faith. VIII. THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE EVERLASTING Presbyterians believe in the return of Jesus Christ "to judge men and angels at the end of the world." Until He comes, we believe that the souls of those who die in Him depart to be with Him "where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies." At the last day, we believe that the dead shall be resurrected and the living shall be changed: Christ's elect "unto honor...and everlasting life," but the reprobates "unto dishonor...and punishment with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." [exerpted from The Presbyterian Journal, 18.39 (27 January 1960): 5-7.] |