Our Beliefs

We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in the Church universal and God’s Word to us. The Scriptures reveal God’s grace and call the church to be reformed and always reforming according to the Word of God in the power of the Spirit.

We believe in the holy Trinity. God has revealed Himself to be three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in the one Godhead. We believe God is able to do all things which are consistent with His holy nature and will. He has unlimited power over nature, human life, and the course of history. His will cannot be ultimately frustrated. Consequently, we believe there is no area of human relationship, endeavor, or culture that is outside God’s domain.

We believe that humanity, though created in God’s image, is sinful in every aspect of its nature and being. We believe humanity is lost and without hope of eternal life, save in God’s redeeming mercy and grace.

We believe God the Son, in the fullness of time, humbled Himself for our sakes. Taking the form of a servant, he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to a virgin, Mary of Nazareth. In the one person of Jesus Christ are two natures: fully God and fully man, yet without sin.

We believe Jesus Christ came to deliver us from our bondage to sin and its condemnation by fulfilling the requirements of God’s law on our behalf. During His earthly ministry He proclaimed the arrival of God’s kingdom on earth and performed miracles that attested to

His deity and power.  He presented Himself as the final, complete sacrifice for our sin by His death on a Roman cross. There He died for each of his people in their place. By His bodily resurrection from the grave, He not only conquered sin and death for us, but has also given us the promise, that all who believe and trust on Him, shall experience the same redemption of their bodies on the Last Day.

We believe that by the grace of God, through the effectual calling and regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to depend upon this work of Christ on our behalf in repentance and faith. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells each and every believer, and has endowed every believer with spiritual gifts for the work of ministry.

We believe there is one Holy Catholic Church in heaven and on earth. The Church on earth, though visibly divided by different denominations, is one body, united with Christ and with the Church in heaven. It is made up of every man, woman, and child throughout the generations who has looked to Jesus Christ in hope for their salvation.

We believe Jesus has commissioned His Church, through His apostles, to take the gospel message of his salvation to every race, tribe, and tongue; to make disciples of all nations. We believe obedience to this missionary mandate is the work of the Church at all times and in all places.

We believe that Jesus shall come again, physically and visibly, on a day appointed by the Father. On that Day, the trumpet shall sound. Jesus shall appear. The dead shall be raised. He shall bring all His enemies to judgment. And Jesus shall gather His Church to Himself to dwell with Him forever. He will wipe away every tear from the eyes of His people, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things will have passed away (Rev. 21:4).

Sola Scripture, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, Solo Deo Gloria!

Affiliations
First Presbyterian Church of Salem, NJ is a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This denomination is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States.  We are a theologically conservative congregation and remain proud of our Presbyterian heritage.