The Authority of Scripture — “Sola Scriptura”
All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God to be the final authority for faith and
life.
God — The Trinity
There is only one living and true God, whom alone we serve, worship, and trust. He is
the creator of all things and has sovereign dominion over them. God has eternally
existed in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Humanity — Creation and Fall
God created humanity, male and female, in his own image and likeness. God gave
humanity free will. Because of the disobedience of our first parents, they fell from the
state in which they were created, bringing all humanity into a state of sin and misery.
Without God’s intervening grace and salvation, all of humanity is lost and condemned.
Jesus Christ — Person and Atoning Work
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born
of the virgin Mary, and was without sin. Jesus willingly sacrificed himself, dying on the
cross as our substitute, and thereby making atonement for our sin. Jesus’ same
physical body was resurrected from the dead and Jesus ascended into heaven, from
where he will come again to earth to judge all of humanity. Salvation is through Jesus
Christ alone.
Salvation — By Grace Alone Through Faith Alone Because of Christ Alone
God promises eternal life to all who truly repent and believe in Christ. The Holy Spirit
regenerates people by his grace and, by so doing, convicts them of sin, moves them to
repentance, and persuades and enables them to embrace Jesus Christ by faith. The
Holy Spirit unites all believers to Christ.
The Church
By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, all believers, being united to Christ who is the
Head, are thus united to one another in the Church, which is his body. True churches
are distinguished by three marks: the true preaching of the Word of God, the right
administration of the sacraments of Christ, and church discipline rightly administered
according to God’s Word.
The Sacraments
The sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace instituted by God to
represent Christ and the promises of the gospel. There are two sacraments: Baptism
and the Lord’s Supper.
05
NORTHMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
MISSION & VISION STUDY 2024
In all these ministries and endeavors, Northminster Church presents itself as a confessional
church guided by seven Essential Tenets of the Reformed Faith, adapted from the
Presbytery of San Diego and here abbreviated: