What We Believe
The Essentials
All Scripture is self-attesting, and being Truth requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God—the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments—is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks. On this sure foundation, we affirm these additional essentials of our faith.
1. We believe in one God, the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To Him be all honor, glory, and praise forever!
2. Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one Person forever. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Mediator.
3. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior, indwelling our hearts. He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.
4. Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace. God credits His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justifies them in His sight. Only such as are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life.
5. The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ. The Church finds her visible yet imperfect expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached in its purity and the sacraments are administered in their integrity, where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting she awaits the return of her Lord.
6. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth personally, visibly, and bodily—to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).
7. The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to the Great Commission requires total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.” He calls us to a life of self-denying love and service. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). The Essentials are set forth in greater detail in the Westminster Confession of Faith.
In Essentials … Unity
In Non-Essentials … Liberty
In All Things … Charity
DISTINCTIVES
The Bible is God's Inerrant & Infallible Word: We believe the Scriptures are fully inspired by God, completely trustworthy, and the final authority for faith and life. Everything we teach and practice is measured by God's Word rather than cultural trends or personal opinions.
Christ-Centered Expository Preaching: The primary ministry of our pulpit is the faithful exposition of Scripture. Rather than focusing on topical talks or personal opinions, we seek to explain God's Word in its context and apply it to everyday life. Week after week, our aim is to let God speak through His Word.
Open to the Spirit, Anchored in Scripture: We believe the Holy Spirit continues to work powerfully in the lives of believers and in the ministry of the church today. We rejoice in His work of regeneration, sanctification, guidance, conviction, gifting, and empowerment for ministry. At the same time, we believe all spiritual gifts and experiences must be tested by Scripture. We seek neither to dismiss what God may be doing nor to embrace every claim uncritically. Instead, we desire to follow the biblical instruction to "test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Whatever one's position, our confidence rests not in extraordinary experiences but in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of God's Word.
Reverent Worship: We seek worship that is God-centered rather than entertainment-centered. Through prayer, Scripture reading, congregational singing, preaching, and the sacraments, we gather to worship God with reverence, joy, and biblical simplicity.
The Great Commission: We believe the church exists not only to gather believers but also to make disciples. We are committed to sharing the gospel locally and globally and helping people grow into mature followers of Jesus Christ.
Biblical Leadership & Accountability: We believe Christ has given His church shepherds to lead, teach, and care for His people. At the same time, Scripture teaches that church leaders themselves must be accountable. Rather than centering ministry around a single personality, our church follows the Presbyterian model of shared leadership through a plurality of elders who serve, pray, and make decisions together. Our pastor and elders are accountable not only to one another, but also to the wider church through the structures of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. We believe this biblical pattern promotes humility, wisdom, integrity, and the long-term health of the congregation.
Rooted in the Gospel, Committed to Renewal: Since 1864, God has sustained this congregation through generations of ministry in South Amboy. The same gospel that gave birth to this church continues to shape our ministry today. While methods may change, our message remains the same: salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ. As we look to the future, we seek fresh opportunities to reach our community and make disciples for Christ.