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We believe people who attend a church have a right to know
what they can expect to hear from the pulpit and in the classroom. To
say, “We believe the Bible”, is not enough. The question should be
answered, “What do you believe the Bible teaches?”
At Atonement we have an extensive confession of faith that
answers that question. It is the Westminster Confession of Faith. This is
an historic confession of faith, over 400 years old. It embodies the best of the great creeds of
Christendom that preceded it and expresses Protestant faith. It underscores high view of Scripture, a high
view of God in His majesty and power, and a high view of Christ and the Gospel
of grace.
Here are five major points that it
affirms:
- The Bible is God’s inspired and infallible Word,
our authority for life and worship as a church and individuals.
- God is our Creator and absolutely sovereign over
all that He has made. There are three persons in the Godhead, the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity).
- Jesus is the Son of God, fully God and fully
man, and is the only Savior and Lord of mankind. His death on the
cross was the required and sufficient payment for the sins of all who
believe in Him. He died and rose bodily on the third day. He
will return in glory to raise the dead, judge the world, and establish a
new heaven and earth.
- The Holy Spirit is gives us new hearts to
believe the Gospel, and dwells within each believer to empower holy living
and bear testimony to our new identity as children of the living God
through Jesus Christ.
- Salvation is by God’s grace alone, given freely
through faith in Christ, and is based entirely on God’s work for us in His
Son – not ours.
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