Our Beliefs
The following six terms help to summarize our beliefs at Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC).
Biblical
We believe that God inspired (lit. ‘breathed-out’) the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testament and that it is therefore God’s Word (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:20-21). We believe that God has revealed Himself and the way of salvation in the Bible, showing us what we are to believe about God and what duty God requires of us (2 Tim. 3:14-17). We believe that the Bible is unlike every other book, because as God’s Word it is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and conduct. The Bible, having been immediately inspired by God, is entirely trustworthy and without error, and by His singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages. Therefore, we are to believe and obey its teachings. The Bible is the only source of special revelation for the church today. In all that we do and believe at Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC), we seek by God’s grace to be biblical.
Learn more about what we believe here.
Read God's Word (the Bible) here.
Confessional
We believe that the teaching of God’s Word is accurately summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechisms. Therefore, our teaching reflects the tenets expressed in these writings, and all of our officers (i.e. ministers, elders, deacons) subscribe to them. While believing these documents to be in accord with the Bible’s teaching, we still firmly believe that they are subordinate to and are to be evaluated by the infallible and inerrant Word of God. Nevertheless, we are convinced that the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms are beneficial for preserving and upholding the Christian faith and for promoting Christian unity and fellowship.
Reformed
We believe in the distinctive biblical truths defended during the Reformation that distinguishes the Reformed tradition from other Protestant and Evangelical traditions. These beliefs have sometimes been called ‘the doctrines of grace' or Calvinism and they emphasize God’s sovereignty and power over all things, including our salvation (Eph. 1:3-6; Dan. 4:34-35). We believe that it is “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). This saving grace that God alone gives in Jesus Christ characterizes the covenant of grace in both the Old and New Testament and is at the heart of what it means to be “Reformed.”
Presbyterian
We are a congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. We believe that God has structured the church to be governed by a plurality of elders called ‘presbyters’ who have been gifted and called by God (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-16). These men who are elected by the congregation of Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church are called the ‘Session’ and are responsible for instructing the congregation in God’s Word (1 Tim. 3:2; Heb. 13:7), for exercising spiritual oversight and care of the congregation (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet 5:2), and for being godly examples to the congregation (1 Pet. 5:3). These church officers together with all of the other elders in a given region form what is called ‘Presbytery’ (which simply means ‘the council of elders’) and has biblical precedent in Acts 15.
catholic or universal
We believe and affirm the foundational doctrines of historic Christian orthodoxy that were affirmed by the Apostles’ Creed and the noteworthy ecumenical Councils of Nicea, Chalcedon, and Constantinople in the first millennium. These universal or catholic doctrines of the Christian church include fundamental beliefs such as the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the atonement by Christ, and the Trinity. Even though these beliefs are reaffirmed in our confession and catechisms written at a later date (17th century), we believe it is important to recognize our connection with the early church.
There is but one only, the living and true God, the Triune Jehovah. (Deut. 6:4; Jer. 10:10)
The Westminster Confession of Faith, 2.3, says, "In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost: the Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son." (1 John 5:7; Matt. 3:16-17; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 1:14; John 1:18; John 15:26; Gal. 4:6)
Evangelical
We are evangelical. We believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ and in the importance of spreading the gospel to all people. The word ‘evangelical’ finds its roots in the Greek word for ‘gospel’ or ‘good news’ and was originally applied to Protestant believers. We affirm the five phrases characteristic of historic Protestant Reformation, namely that salvation is Sola Scriptura (‘according to Scripture alone’), Solus Christus (in ‘Christ alone’), Sola Gratia (‘by grace alone’), Sola Fide (‘by faith alone’), Soli Deo Gloria (‘to the glory of God alone’). The Lord Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6)