Our Beliefs
Redeemer is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America, a Bible-believing and teaching denomination. The PCA is committed to the doctrinal standards which have been significant for understanding the Bible since 1645, the Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
Presbyterian
The PCA is a Presbyterian denomination in that, in addition to a staff, we have a representative form of church government. A local church is governed by a “Session” comprised of ruling elders (i.e., “presbyters”) elected by the members of the congregation as well as all teaching elders (pastors). Deacons are called to minister to the needs of the congregation and exercise a ministry of sympathy and service.
The PCA is an evangelical denomination in that we proclaim the gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The word “evangelical” comes from the Greek word meaning “good news.” We desire all people to trust in the saving work of Jesus and enjoy eternal life in him.
The PCA is a reformed denomination in that we believe in the biblical truth proclaimed during the Protestant Reformation. The Word of God, rather than tradition, is the only infallible guide for the Church. God alone saves through his immeasurable mercy and according to his sovereign plan. We believe the system of doctrine taught in the Bible is summarized well in the Westminster Confession of Faith with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
Reformed
By Reformed, we mean that we are connected to the teachings of the historic church and the doctrinal beliefs recovered by the Reformation in the sixteenth century. At its core, the Reformed system of doctrine affirms the historic Christian faith, the biblical gospel, the theological tenants of the Reformation, the authority of Scripture, and so forth. We believe the Reformed system of doctrine taught in the Bible is summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
Historic Reformed theology affirms the five solas:
- Scripture Alone (sola Scriptura): The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
- Grace Alone (sola Gratia): Salvation is entirely an act of God's free grace, through Christ.
- Faith Alone (sola Fide): We are justified (declared righteous by God) solely by faith in Christ and not by our works.
- Christ Alone (solus Christus): We are saved by Christ alone; that is, Christ's atoning work on the cross is sufficient for our salvation.
- God's Glory Alone (soli Deo Gloria): All of salvation, from the beginning to the end, is for God's ultimate glory.
Reformed theology also affirms what has been called the "Doctrines of Grace." The Doctrines of Grace represent the Calvinistic system of doctrine contained in historic Reformed confessions like the Canons of Dort and Westminster Confession, and commonly summarized using the acronym TULIP.
- Total depravity: Man is dead in sin and totally unable to save himself (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-5).
- Unconditional election: God, before the foundation of the world, chose to save a people for himself (Eph. 1:4-8).
- Limited atonement: Christ's atonement is completely effectual for his people (John 6:37; 17:9).
- Irresistible grace: The Spirit brings all those who are elect to saving faith in Christ (1 Pet. 5:10).
- Perseverance of the Saints: All those who are in Christ will persevere and be saved (John 6:39; Rom. 8:28-39).
Doctrinal Standards
We believe that the Westminster Confession of Faith is a faithful summary and explanation of the teachings of Scripture on important theological topics like God, the Trinity, the work of Christ, salvation, the church, etc.
What exactly is a confession? We often use the term “confession” to mean admitting to something, particularly in the confession of some crime or sin. Most simply, a confession is a collective statement of beliefs that are believed (or confessed from the Latin confessio meaning “to acknowledge”) by those who assent to the confession. Thus, a confession is a set of beliefs about doctrinal issues and a summary of biblical teaching.
We also believe in the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. The catechisms are in a question and answer format which aids memorization and the teaching of its contents. In essence, the catechisms summarize the chapters of the Confession in a question and answer format, though there are some sections of the catechisms (e.g. the summary of the Lord's Prayer and Ten Commandments) that are not directly found in the Confession.
While the Westminster Confession and Larger and Shorter Catechisms are important statements of our beliefs, they are subordinate to Scripture.
