 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Overview of Our Faith and Practice
Providence OPC is a Bible-believing congregation. We are
reformed and evangelical, holding to teachings of the
Protestant Reformation, as summarized in the 17th century
Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. The
Reformed faith pulls together the most significant doctrines
taught in the Bible. Here are links to those documents:
The Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Larger Catechism
The Westminster Shorter Catechism
By clicking the buttons to the left, you can see shorter
statements about what we believe.
Providence OPC is a Bible-believing congregation. We are
reformed and evangelical, holding to teachings of the
Protestant Reformation, as summarized in the 17th century
Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. The
Reformed faith pulls together the most significant doctrines
taught in the Bible. Here are links to those documents:
The Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Larger Catechism
The Westminster Shorter Catechism
By clicking the buttons to the left, you can see shorter
statements about what we believe.
The Bible is Our Final Authority
We are a church that believes what the Bible says and we try to
put it into practice. We believe that the Bible is the inspired,
inerrant Word of God, and is the only source of special
revelation for the church today. The Bible, having been inspired
by God, is entirely trustworthy and without error.
We believe that the Bible teaches us all that we can accurately
know about God and salvation. Therefore, we are to believe and
obey its teachings, and are not required to believe or do
anything contrary to, or in addition to, the Word of God in
matters of faith or worship.
We are a church that believes what the Bible says and we try to
put it into practice. We believe that the Bible is the inspired,
inerrant Word of God, and is the only source of special
revelation for the church today. The Bible, having been inspired
by God, is entirely trustworthy and without error.
We believe that the Bible teaches us all that we can accurately
know about God and salvation. Therefore, we are to believe and
obey its teachings, and are not required to believe or do
anything contrary to, or in addition to, the Word of God in
matters of faith or worship.
God is Soverign
We believe that there is only one eternal God, who is three
persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The one true God is
personal, yet beyond our comprehension. He is an invisible
spirit, completely self-sufficient and unbounded by space or
time, perfectly holy and just, yet loving and merciful.
God created the heavens and the earth, and all they contain.
He upholds and governs them in accordance with His eternal
will. As sovereign, God is in complete control, yet without
diminishing human responsibility.
We believe that there is only one eternal God, who is three
persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The one true God is
personal, yet beyond our comprehension. He is an invisible
spirit, completely self-sufficient and unbounded by space or
time, perfectly holy and just, yet loving and merciful.
God created the heavens and the earth, and all they contain.
He upholds and governs them in accordance with His eternal
will. As sovereign, God is in complete control, yet without
diminishing human responsibility.
Man is Sinful
We believe God created man perfect and good, but man
rebelled against God. Adam, the first man, stood in the place of
all mankind and represented those who descended from Him.
When Adam sinned, all mankind became corrupt by nature,
dead in sin, and subject to the wrath of God.
Man made himself the enemy of God, no longer able to please
God or escape God's wrath and curse. Although man tries to be
religious, his sinful nature drives him to make up religions and
ways of salvation that oppose the Word of God.
We believe God created man perfect and good, but man
rebelled against God. Adam, the first man, stood in the place of
all mankind and represented those who descended from Him.
When Adam sinned, all mankind became corrupt by nature,
dead in sin, and subject to the wrath of God.
Man made himself the enemy of God, no longer able to please
God or escape God's wrath and curse. Although man tries to be
religious, his sinful nature drives him to make up religions and
ways of salvation that oppose the Word of God.
We are Saved by Grace Alone through Faith Alone
We are saved by grace through faith alone. We are made
righteous before God, not in our own work, but through true
faith in Christ alone. "For by grace you have been saved,
through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God,
not by works so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9. The
Heidelberg Catechism summarizes it this way:
60. Q. How are you righteous before God?
A. Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Although my conscience
accuses me that I have grievously sinned against all God's
commandments, have never kept any of them, and am still
inclined to all evil, yet God, without any merit of my own, out of
mere grace, imputes to me the perfect satisfaction,
righteousness, and holiness of Christ. He grants these to me as
if I had never had nor committed any sin, and as if I myself had
accomplished all the obedience which Christ has rendered for
me, if only I accept this gift with a believing heart.
We are saved by grace through faith alone. We are made
righteous before God, not in our own work, but through true
faith in Christ alone. "For by grace you have been saved,
through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God,
not by works so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9. The
Heidelberg Catechism summarizes it this way:
60. Q. How are you righteous before God?
A. Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Although my conscience
accuses me that I have grievously sinned against all God's
commandments, have never kept any of them, and am still
inclined to all evil, yet God, without any merit of my own, out of
mere grace, imputes to me the perfect satisfaction,
righteousness, and holiness of Christ. He grants these to me as
if I had never had nor committed any sin, and as if I myself had
accomplished all the obedience which Christ has rendered for
me, if only I accept this gift with a believing heart.
Jesus is Our Redeemer
Man's only hope was for God to do for man, what man could not
and would not do for himself. To save man, and rescue him from
His own judgment, God chose to come into the world by taking
on human flesh as Jesus Christ. God determined, by a covenant
of grace, that sinners may receive forgiveness and eternal life
through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Jesus is the eternal Son of God who was united to human flesh
and born of a virgin, so that in her son Jesus the divine and
human natures were united in one person. Jesus Christ lived a
sinless life and died on a cross, bearing the sins of, and
receiving God's wrath for, all those who trust in Him for
salvation. On the third day, Jesus was raised from the dead by
the power of God.
The death of Jesus on the cross was the atoning sacrifice that
cleanses forever from sin, those who put their trust in Him alone
for their salvation. He satisfied the justice of God which
demands that all sin be punished with death. He not only paid
the penalty for sin, He took on Himself the wrath and curse of
God against sin for those who believe in Him. Consequently, His
resurrection from the dead has given new life eternally to His
people.
He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, where He sits
as Lord and rules over His kingdom - the church. He will return
to judge the living and the dead, bringing His people - with
glorious, resurrected bodies - into eternal life, and consigning
the wicked to eternal punishment.
Man's only hope was for God to do for man, what man could not
and would not do for himself. To save man, and rescue him from
His own judgment, God chose to come into the world by taking
on human flesh as Jesus Christ. God determined, by a covenant
of grace, that sinners may receive forgiveness and eternal life
through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Jesus is the eternal Son of God who was united to human flesh
and born of a virgin, so that in her son Jesus the divine and
human natures were united in one person. Jesus Christ lived a
sinless life and died on a cross, bearing the sins of, and
receiving God's wrath for, all those who trust in Him for
salvation. On the third day, Jesus was raised from the dead by
the power of God.
The death of Jesus on the cross was the atoning sacrifice that
cleanses forever from sin, those who put their trust in Him alone
for their salvation. He satisfied the justice of God which
demands that all sin be punished with death. He not only paid
the penalty for sin, He took on Himself the wrath and curse of
God against sin for those who believe in Him. Consequently, His
resurrection from the dead has given new life eternally to His
people.
He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, where He sits
as Lord and rules over His kingdom - the church. He will return
to judge the living and the dead, bringing His people - with
glorious, resurrected bodies - into eternal life, and consigning
the wicked to eternal punishment.
The Holy Spirit Draws Us to Salvation
The Holy Spirit works in the person whom God has chosen to be
His children. As men hear God's Word preached, the Spirit
opens their hearts to believe. For those He chose—those He
predestined for eternal life—He forgives their sin. They are
declared righteous because of what Christ did on their behalf.
Those who believe are adopted as God's children and are filled
with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works in believers' lives to
enable them more and more to stop sinning and live according
to God's Word.
The Holy Spirit works in the person whom God has chosen to be
His children. As men hear God's Word preached, the Spirit
opens their hearts to believe. For those He chose—those He
predestined for eternal life—He forgives their sin. They are
declared righteous because of what Christ did on their behalf.
Those who believe are adopted as God's children and are filled
with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works in believers' lives to
enable them more and more to stop sinning and live according
to God's Word.
Christians Should Live Holy Lives
Because Christians have new lives, they should live each day
enjoying their Savior and glorifying God in all they say and do.
Their lives should be different than those who don't believe.
Each day, believers strive to keep God's moral law, summarized
in the Ten Commandments. Their obedience, however, is not to
earn their salvation. Their new way of life is because they love
their Savior and want to obey Him.
Because Christians have new lives, they should live each day
enjoying their Savior and glorifying God in all they say and do.
Their lives should be different than those who don't believe.
Each day, believers strive to keep God's moral law, summarized
in the Ten Commandments. Their obedience, however, is not to
earn their salvation. Their new way of life is because they love
their Savior and want to obey Him.
Worship is a Meeting Between God and His People
In worship, we participate in a great drama - the drama of
salvation! God speaks to us about his grace in Christ Jesus
and we respond in trust, rest, and joyful thanksgiving. It's not a
show. It's not entertaining. It's life-giving! Join us!
In worship, we participate in a great drama - the drama of
salvation! God speaks to us about his grace in Christ Jesus
and we respond in trust, rest, and joyful thanksgiving. It's not a
show. It's not entertaining. It's life-giving! Join us!
Why We Worship the Way We Do - Audio Program
An Introduction to Reformed Worship
This program is designed to convey the biblical rationale behind
the what and how of our worship. It is conducted in a round-
table, conversational, style. Each part is half an hour.
Why We Worship the Way We Do - Part 1 (Duration: 28:39)
Why We Worship the Way We Do - Part 2 (Duration: 33:57)
Why We Worship the Way We Do - Part 3 (Duration: 33:01)
An Introduction to Reformed Worship
This program is designed to convey the biblical rationale behind
the what and how of our worship. It is conducted in a round-
table, conversational, style. Each part is half an hour.
Why We Worship the Way We Do - Part 1 (Duration: 28:39)
Why We Worship the Way We Do - Part 2 (Duration: 33:57)
Why We Worship the Way We Do - Part 3 (Duration: 33:01)
Sample Bulletins
Sample Bulletin 1 - Service with Lord's Supper (second Sunday
of Month)
Sample Bulletin 2 - Service without the Lord's Supper (all other
Sundays)
Sample Bulletin 1 - Service with Lord's Supper (second Sunday
of Month)
Sample Bulletin 2 - Service without the Lord's Supper (all other
Sundays)