What we believe
A church confessing the ancient Christian faith.
We believe what the Church has always believed — summarised in the great creeds and confessions of the Reformed tradition.
FPCN is a confessional Reformed church. That means we do not invent our own doctrine — we receive the faith once delivered to the saints, as summarised by the historic Christian church.
We stand with the Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed. As a Presbyterian church we subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith and its Larger and Shorter Catechisms as faithful summaries of biblical teaching.
Below is a brief overview of what we hold. For our full doctrinal standards, see the PCA's statement of faith.
Six affirmations
What we affirm and teach.
I.
The Triune God
We worship one God in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — eternal, holy, and sovereign in all things.
II.
The Scriptures
The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God — our only infallible rule for faith and life. It is sufficient for salvation, wisdom, and holy living.
III.
Christ, the only Savior
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified for our sins, risen bodily from the dead, and now reigning at the right hand of the Father. There is salvation in no other name.
IV.
Salvation by grace, through faith
Sinners are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Our works can never earn salvation; they are the fruit of a saving faith already given, not its ground.
V.
The Church and its sacraments
Christ has given his Church two sacraments — Baptism and the Lord's Supper. We baptize believers and their children, and we celebrate the Supper together as a means of grace and communion with Christ.
VI.
The return of Christ
Jesus Christ will return bodily and visibly to judge the living and the dead, to make all things new, and to dwell forever with his people. We wait for that day in hope, holiness, and gospel witness.
"Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints."
Jude 3
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Have questions about the faith?
We're happy to sit down over coffee, exchange emails, or simply have you visit and see for yourself.