The Essentials of River’s Faith
The following 8 essentials are derived from River’s season in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC). The Essentials function to explain the core doctrines of Christianity presented in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and they unite us with all those who profess the true, evangelical religion around the world. Those joining River as members do not need to affirm or subscribe to every statement in the Westminster Confession of Faith. However, they do need to affirm these Essentials.
All Scripture is self-attesting, and being Truth requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God—the 66 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.
We believe in one God, the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three co-equal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To Him be all honor, glory, and praise forever!
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, our Mediator, and our King.
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.
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, and 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.
While our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace and justification comes through faith alone, God expects us to imitate and obey him as his beloved children. This means that Christians must endeavor to grow in their faithfulness, fruitfulness, and obedience as life-long disciples of Christ Jesus. We must resist sin and put to death what sinful desires remain in us. We must strive after that holiness without which none shall see God. While some believers might disagree over the specific interpretation and application of Scripture, each has the responsibility to obey God’s Word as they understand it, for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin, and to sin against one’s own conscience is to sin against God.
The true Church is composed 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 scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting she awaits the return of her Lord.
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” (Revelation 22:20).
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 loved us and gave Himself for us.” He calls us to a life of self-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” (Ephesians 2:10).
These Essentials are set forth in greater detail in the Westminster Confession of Faith which can be found by clicking here.