Doctrine of God
(Theology Proper)
We teach that there is only One True Living God, eternally existing in three Persons - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God is infinite in His Being and Perfection, and the three Persons of the Godhead are co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial. God is a Spirit Being. God is self-existent and immutable. He is the Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God is Holy, Holy, Holy – heaven and earth are full of His glory. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; Matthew 28:18-20; Second Corinthians 13:14; John 4:23-24; First Timothy 1:17; Exodus 3:14; Revelation 1:8; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; Genesis 1; Psalm 139; Isaiah 6:1-3; Revelation 4-5)
‘’There is but one only, living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him; and withal, most just, and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty ’’ (Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 2, #1).
We teach that God the Father is the first Person of the Trinity. He is the Sovereign Creator of all things, including human beings, but He is Spiritual Father only to the elect. From eternity past, He has graciously chosen a people for Himself, unconditionally elected by His Sovereign grace, to be adopted into His family through the all-sufficient atoning work of Jesus Christ. He is perfect in His holiness, and absolutely just in His judgments. There is no evil in Him, He is not the author of evil, nor does He approve of evil. For His own glory, He has foreordained all things that come to pass. (Genesis 1:1-31; Isaiah 57:15: Matthew 5:48; John 6:37, John 6:44, John 6:65; Romans 8:14; Ephesians 1:4-6; Ephesians 1;11; James 1:13-18; Revelation 4:8-11)
We teach that God the Son is the second Person of the Trinity. He is One in His Being and Essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is Holy, He is Eternal, He is the Sovereign King of glory who has enjoyed this glory with the members of the Godhead throughout all eternity. As the second Person of the Trinity, He radiates His own essential glory within the Godhead. He is the One through whom the Father created all things, and all things are Sovereignly upheld by Him. He is the Ruler of all, He is the Revealer of God to man, and He is the Redeemer of the elect. (John 10:30; Hebrews 1:1-4; John 17:1-4; John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17; Ephesians 1:20-23; First Peter 1:18-21; John 1:18)
We teach that God the Son left His heavenly throne and came to this earth 2,000 years ago. In the incarnation (God becoming man), Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was thus born without a sin nature. Although co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the Son willingly gave up some of His divine privileges and prerogatives as He willingly submitted to the will of the Father in the power of the Spirit. He did not give up His divine attributes. (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 1:26-35; Philippians 2:5-11; John 1:1, 14; Matthew 26:36-45; John 6:38)
We teach that Jesus was Truly God and Truly Man in the incarnation (the two Natures of Christ, Divine and Human, in indivisible Oneness, in the Person of Jesus). As the Perfect God-Man, Jesus fulfilled the Law perfectly for us in our place. He then went to the cross to pay for our sinful lawlessness. It was there at the cross that the sins of the elect were placed on Jesus, and the wrath of God was poured out on Jesus. He died, but three days later He rose in victory, overcoming sin and death for the sheep for whom He died. It is through Jesus Christ alone that we have forgiveness of sins and the free gift of eternal life. Those who have been chosen for salvation before the foundation of time, are those who have been redeemed by Christ at the cross 2,000 years ago, and are the ones who will be regenerated (made alive in the spiritual realm) by God the Holy Spirit. They will be given the gift of faith to repent of their sins and to submit to Christ alone as their Lord and Savior. Salvation is an unmerited, undeserved gift of God’s most amazing grace….and all the glory belongs to God. (Isaiah 52:13-15; Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 5:17-18; Acts 2:22-24; First Corinthians 1:26-31; Second Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 2:9; First Peter 3:18)
We teach that the once-for-all-time perfect, substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ was an actual atonement for the elect, as opposed to a potential one for everybody. Through His voluntary and vicarious death and resurrection, Jesus actually redeemed those for whom He died. He fully satisfied (i.e. propitiated) the wrath of God; He decisively conquered sin and death; He is distinguished from all others by His resurrection from the dead; He is the only Mediator between God and man; He is the Head of His body the Church. (First Peter 1:18-21; John 10:11-18; Romans 3:25; First John 4:10; Acts 2:24, Colossians 1:13-14; Colossians 2:13-15; Romans 1:3-4; Revelation 1:17-18; First Timothy 2:5-6; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18)
We teach that Jesus literally and physically rose from the dead, thus securing with absolute certainty the justification of the elect. The resurrection of Christ confirms the deity of Christ, and is clear proof that God accepted the perfect, once-for-all time atoning work of Christ. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared on numerous occasions to His disciples over a 40-day period. At the end of this period, He literally, physically, and visibly ascended into Heaven. He is seated at the right hand of the Father and He is interceding for the elect. His Second Coming will be a literal, physical, visible, and most glorious return. It will be a time of immense joy for His bride (i.e. believers), and it will be a time of most horrific terror for those who have rejected Him. (Romans 1:1-4; Romans 4:25; First Corinthians 15:20-22; Acts 2:22-39; First Corinthians 15:3-8; Acts 1: 1-11; Romans 8:24; Hebrews 7:25; Matthew 24:27-28; Revelation 1:5-7; Second Thessalonians 1:5-10)
We teach that God will judge all humanity – believers and unbelievers - through the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:22-30; Romans 2:16; First Corinthians 3:10-15; Second Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15)
We teach that God the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial with the Father and the Son. He is a divine person who possesses the attributes of intellect, emotions, and will. The Holy Spirit is not some sort of impersonal energy force. He is the Spirit of Truth, and He inspired the Holy word of truth. The Holy Spirit is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:1-4; Second Corinthians 13:14; First Corinthians 2:10-13; Ephesians 4:30; First Corinthians 12:11; John 16:13; Second Peter 1:20-21; Isaiah 40:13-14; Romans 15:13; Psalm 139:7-10)
We teach the sovereign power and activity of the Holy Spirit in both the Old and New Testaments, i.e. the creation of the world; the inspiration of the Scriptures; the incarnation of Christ; convicting the world of sin and righteousness and judgment; drawing and regenerating the elect; baptizing the elect into the body of Christ; sanctifying and transforming believers into the image and likeness of Christ; exalting and glorifying Christ. (Genesis 1:1-2; Second Timothy 3:16-17; Second Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:26-35; John 16:8-11; John 3:1-8; First Corinthians 12:3; ; First Corinthians 12:13; Second Corinthians 3:17-18; John 15:26-27; John 16:14)
We teach that the Holy Spirit came in power on the Day of Pentecost. As promised by Jesus, the Holy Spirit not only abides with us, He also lives in every believer. He indwells and seals believers for the day of redemption. He illuminates and instructs those who have been regenerated by Him; He graciously distributes spiritual gifts to all believers, and He empowers believers for service and Christ-like living. (Acts 1:8; John 14:15-17; Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 1:13; John 16:13; First Corinthians 2:10-13; First John 2:26-27; First Corinthians 12:11; Galatians 5:16-26)
“God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever Himself pleaseth. In His sight all things are open and manifest, His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in al His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands. To Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them” (Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 2, #2).
‘’There is but one only, living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him; and withal, most just, and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty ’’ (Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 2, #1).
We teach that God the Father is the first Person of the Trinity. He is the Sovereign Creator of all things, including human beings, but He is Spiritual Father only to the elect. From eternity past, He has graciously chosen a people for Himself, unconditionally elected by His Sovereign grace, to be adopted into His family through the all-sufficient atoning work of Jesus Christ. He is perfect in His holiness, and absolutely just in His judgments. There is no evil in Him, He is not the author of evil, nor does He approve of evil. For His own glory, He has foreordained all things that come to pass. (Genesis 1:1-31; Isaiah 57:15: Matthew 5:48; John 6:37, John 6:44, John 6:65; Romans 8:14; Ephesians 1:4-6; Ephesians 1;11; James 1:13-18; Revelation 4:8-11)
We teach that God the Son is the second Person of the Trinity. He is One in His Being and Essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is Holy, He is Eternal, He is the Sovereign King of glory who has enjoyed this glory with the members of the Godhead throughout all eternity. As the second Person of the Trinity, He radiates His own essential glory within the Godhead. He is the One through whom the Father created all things, and all things are Sovereignly upheld by Him. He is the Ruler of all, He is the Revealer of God to man, and He is the Redeemer of the elect. (John 10:30; Hebrews 1:1-4; John 17:1-4; John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17; Ephesians 1:20-23; First Peter 1:18-21; John 1:18)
We teach that God the Son left His heavenly throne and came to this earth 2,000 years ago. In the incarnation (God becoming man), Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was thus born without a sin nature. Although co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the Son willingly gave up some of His divine privileges and prerogatives as He willingly submitted to the will of the Father in the power of the Spirit. He did not give up His divine attributes. (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 1:26-35; Philippians 2:5-11; John 1:1, 14; Matthew 26:36-45; John 6:38)
We teach that Jesus was Truly God and Truly Man in the incarnation (the two Natures of Christ, Divine and Human, in indivisible Oneness, in the Person of Jesus). As the Perfect God-Man, Jesus fulfilled the Law perfectly for us in our place. He then went to the cross to pay for our sinful lawlessness. It was there at the cross that the sins of the elect were placed on Jesus, and the wrath of God was poured out on Jesus. He died, but three days later He rose in victory, overcoming sin and death for the sheep for whom He died. It is through Jesus Christ alone that we have forgiveness of sins and the free gift of eternal life. Those who have been chosen for salvation before the foundation of time, are those who have been redeemed by Christ at the cross 2,000 years ago, and are the ones who will be regenerated (made alive in the spiritual realm) by God the Holy Spirit. They will be given the gift of faith to repent of their sins and to submit to Christ alone as their Lord and Savior. Salvation is an unmerited, undeserved gift of God’s most amazing grace….and all the glory belongs to God. (Isaiah 52:13-15; Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 5:17-18; Acts 2:22-24; First Corinthians 1:26-31; Second Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 2:9; First Peter 3:18)
We teach that the once-for-all-time perfect, substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ was an actual atonement for the elect, as opposed to a potential one for everybody. Through His voluntary and vicarious death and resurrection, Jesus actually redeemed those for whom He died. He fully satisfied (i.e. propitiated) the wrath of God; He decisively conquered sin and death; He is distinguished from all others by His resurrection from the dead; He is the only Mediator between God and man; He is the Head of His body the Church. (First Peter 1:18-21; John 10:11-18; Romans 3:25; First John 4:10; Acts 2:24, Colossians 1:13-14; Colossians 2:13-15; Romans 1:3-4; Revelation 1:17-18; First Timothy 2:5-6; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18)
We teach that Jesus literally and physically rose from the dead, thus securing with absolute certainty the justification of the elect. The resurrection of Christ confirms the deity of Christ, and is clear proof that God accepted the perfect, once-for-all time atoning work of Christ. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared on numerous occasions to His disciples over a 40-day period. At the end of this period, He literally, physically, and visibly ascended into Heaven. He is seated at the right hand of the Father and He is interceding for the elect. His Second Coming will be a literal, physical, visible, and most glorious return. It will be a time of immense joy for His bride (i.e. believers), and it will be a time of most horrific terror for those who have rejected Him. (Romans 1:1-4; Romans 4:25; First Corinthians 15:20-22; Acts 2:22-39; First Corinthians 15:3-8; Acts 1: 1-11; Romans 8:24; Hebrews 7:25; Matthew 24:27-28; Revelation 1:5-7; Second Thessalonians 1:5-10)
We teach that God will judge all humanity – believers and unbelievers - through the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:22-30; Romans 2:16; First Corinthians 3:10-15; Second Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15)
We teach that God the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial with the Father and the Son. He is a divine person who possesses the attributes of intellect, emotions, and will. The Holy Spirit is not some sort of impersonal energy force. He is the Spirit of Truth, and He inspired the Holy word of truth. The Holy Spirit is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:1-4; Second Corinthians 13:14; First Corinthians 2:10-13; Ephesians 4:30; First Corinthians 12:11; John 16:13; Second Peter 1:20-21; Isaiah 40:13-14; Romans 15:13; Psalm 139:7-10)
We teach the sovereign power and activity of the Holy Spirit in both the Old and New Testaments, i.e. the creation of the world; the inspiration of the Scriptures; the incarnation of Christ; convicting the world of sin and righteousness and judgment; drawing and regenerating the elect; baptizing the elect into the body of Christ; sanctifying and transforming believers into the image and likeness of Christ; exalting and glorifying Christ. (Genesis 1:1-2; Second Timothy 3:16-17; Second Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:26-35; John 16:8-11; John 3:1-8; First Corinthians 12:3; ; First Corinthians 12:13; Second Corinthians 3:17-18; John 15:26-27; John 16:14)
We teach that the Holy Spirit came in power on the Day of Pentecost. As promised by Jesus, the Holy Spirit not only abides with us, He also lives in every believer. He indwells and seals believers for the day of redemption. He illuminates and instructs those who have been regenerated by Him; He graciously distributes spiritual gifts to all believers, and He empowers believers for service and Christ-like living. (Acts 1:8; John 14:15-17; Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 1:13; John 16:13; First Corinthians 2:10-13; First John 2:26-27; First Corinthians 12:11; Galatians 5:16-26)
“God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever Himself pleaseth. In His sight all things are open and manifest, His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in al His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands. To Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them” (Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 2, #2).