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Core Principles 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. Specific Beliefs 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. Here are our beliefs in five key areas:
You may also find more in-depth discussions at www.pcusa.org |
