Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Introduction
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church is a Bible believing Presbyterian denomination. They are committed to the Westminster Standards. They are a family of the American churches, reformed and Presbyterian. They are unique in the midst of the American Presbyterians with their attempt to balance essential and non-essential matters within their confessional heritage. They consider themselves as being Presbyterian in government, Reformed in theology, and Evangelical in spirit.
The motto of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church is “In Essentials, Unity. In Non-Essentials, Liberty. In All Things, Charity.”
They are involved in preaching and teaching of the Word of God. They are bonded by the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. They are unified in their commitment to the historic Christian faith that is taught in the Bible but allow liberty of conscience on matters that are not plain in the Bible teachings.
World evangelism is a top priority of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. They believe that God created them to be a significant part of His plan for the renewal of believers for witness to those who are outside the faith.
Their General Assembly office is located in Livonia, Michigan.
History
The first Presbyterian ministers in America were Puritans. The first American Presbyterian united some of the independent congregations and formed the first Synod, held in 1716 in Philadelphia. The Westminster standards were adopted and their only standard for ordination was the Bible. These ministers approved the Westminster Confession of Faith and its catechisms.
The first Presbyterian Church began in the Reformation under John Calvin in Switzerland. It progressed under the leadership of John Knox from Scotland with the movement continuing after the Reformation with the influence of the Westminster Confession of Faith.
The Presbyterianism movement came to North America during the 17th century with leaders such as William Tennent, Francis Makemie, and Jonathon Dickinson.
The formation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church has been in existence since 1927 when their denomination was formed after secession from the Irish Presbyterian Church. This was because of a false teaching in its College that was undisciplined.
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church was re-established in the fall of 1980 when a group of pastors and elders held a planning and prayer meeting over the concern of to much liberalism within their denominations. This meeting took place in St. Louis Missouri. They came from a variety of mainline Presbyterian denominations. These denominations, the United Presbyterian (Northern Churches) and the Presbyterian Church in the United States (Southern Churches) wanted to form a church based on the theology of the historic confessions of the faith, followed the words of Scripture with the evangelical enthusiasm and dedication of the founders of Presbyterianism.
The General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church met near Detroit, Michigan in the early part of 1981 to draft an essential list of beliefs. They also gave the new denomination an understanding of freedom in less essential matters which would be left to the conscience of the individual churches and their believers. Some of the non-essential freedoms were to allow the local churches to elect its own officers, to own its own property, and to implement spiritual gifts, with the freedom to make their own decisions about their worship style and the matter concerning the ordination of women.
Belief
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church believes it is necessary to have a new birth, to be born again, for entrance into the Kingdom of God. Membership of The Evangelical Presbyterian Church is based the credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church believes all Scripture is truth and the infallible Word of God. They believe the Bible is fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and is the supreme and final authority on all matters. The Evangelical Presbyterian Church believes the Bible rule on the various social issues that it judges homosexuals and the practice of homosexuality, abortion and euthanasia as sinful.
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church believe in one God, the Sovereign Creator, and Sustainer of all things and that He is infinitely perfect and eternally exists in three persons; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church believes Jesus Christ is the living Word and that He became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. They believe Jesus Christ is true God and became true man and that He died on the cross for a sacrifice for sins according to the Scriptures. They believe He rose bodily from the dead on the third day, He ascended into heaven, and now He sits at the right hand of the Majesty on High, and He is the High Priest and Mediator. They believe Jesus Christ will come again to earth and it will be personally, visibly, and bodily. They believe He will come to judge the living and the dead, and will consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church believes the Holy Spirit has come to glorify Jesus Christ and to apply the saving work of Jesus to the hearts of men. They believe it is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin and draws people to the savior, and indwells in their heart. They believe the Holy Spirit gives new life, empowers and imparts gifts for His service. They believe the Holy Spirit instructs and guides all into truth and seals them for the day of redemption.
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church believe mankind is separated from God and condemned by sinfulness. They believe salvation depends upon the work of free grace of God and that God gives His righteousness to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation which justifies them in the sight of God. They believe only those that are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ becomes children of God and heirs of eternal life.
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church believes the church is a group of people who through the saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together as the body of Christ. They believe Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Evangelical Presbyterian Church:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2006.<https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2697,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2006, January) “Evangelical Presbyterian Church:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2697,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2006) “Evangelical Presbyterian Church:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2697, (accessed).
