Principles of Faith
We believe in an all powerful God: God of
patience, of consolation, of hope and mercy, who
has called us and justified us in His infinite grace
and because of our works; in creator God who in
recent times has spoken to us about ecological
tragedies the creation has suffered.
( Rev. 4:8, 21:1-8, Rom. 15:5+13, 8:20 -25+30)
We believe in Jesus Christ: the incarnation of God,
who died and rose so that we might be liberated
from sin and reconciled with God; the only one
who can save us and at His second coming will
forever end oppression and suffering.
(Phil. 2:6_8, Col. 1:15-23, Corth. 5:11-19,
James 5:1-20, Acts 4:12 )
We believe in the Holy Spirit: the healer who
guides us down straight paths and convinces
the world of it's sin and injustice; the person
of God who after Jesus' death invigorated His followers and constructed a church capable of developing in the midst of persecution. The third person of the Trinity who has the power to provoke a genuine awakening to return women and men to God. (John 16:5-15, Acts 2:1-42)
We believe in the church, a chosen people of God: community of believers who worship, celebrate and serve God where ever they find themselves. A community called to live in love, integrity and fraternity, a church which only through divine edification and strengthening is capable of implementing the mission it is called to today. (Acts 2:43 -47, 4:32 -35, Gal. 5:16-26 Psalms 127)
We believe in forgiveness: of sins by faith in Jesus Christ, the need that men and women of all social classes have to repent of their wrongdoing and return to God as an indispensable condition for happiness here and in the here to come. Jesus washes us of all our sins. (2 Peter 3:9, Lc 16:19-31, 24:45-47, 1Jn 2:1-6, Rev:1-5)
We believe in the efficacy of preaching the word of God: divinely inspired and effective to correct and teach us the goodness of God in relation to humankind, and in the obligation we have to provide to believers, especially leaders, a broad knowledge of the bible and theology so that we can love God with all our heart and mind and so we can impart extensive Christian education to believers. (1Cor. 1:20-23, 2:1-5, Col 1:24-29, Heb. 4:12, Tim. 3:16, Phil. 2:11, Mark 12:28-31)
We believe in the ecumenical character of the church: as it implies a search for Christian unity as well as abandoning all sectarianism and anything that separates us from being a part of the heterogenic universal church. (Jn 17:1-26, Ef 4:1-16, 1Cor 12:1-31)
We believe that solidarity with the most needy is a mandate of God: this was made real in Christ's own life. Therefore we are called to not only preach the gospel in word but also in deed. We are committed to preach and definitively denounce all sins that separate humankind from God including the sin of insensibility with the weak in society and those who are in need of the basics. For this reason, we look to God for direction to create programs and services that fulfill the needs of our poorest brothers and sisters and to understand the social problems which cause poverty and impedes a social life with dignity. (Mt. 5:12 , Acts 4:32 -35, 6:17 , Luke 10:25 -37)
We believe we are all united in the same faith in God: and that all of us were saved by God's grace. This does not mean we all have the same views on secondary issues nor that we espouse the same understanding regarding God's call. For this reason, we respect one another in the diversity of thinking and different emphasis regarding the message of our Savior. This reminds us that we are not to judge nor condemn anyone who thinks differently from ourselves. (Acts 4:1-22, 15:36 -41, Ef. 4:1-16, Mt. 13:24-30)
We believe that God loves men and women equally: and calls both to ministry and leadership in the church. We are vigilant in wiping out all vestiges of discrimination against women in our organization. (Gal. 3:28, Jn. 4:1-42, Mark 16:9-11, Ef. 5:21-33)
US Contact: Stan de Voogd • 319 Camden Street • San Antonio, Texas • 78215
Phone/Fax 210-299-5011• Email: devoogd@swbell.net
Costa Rica Contact: Rev. Elizabeth Delgado • Apartado 1473-1002, Paseo de los Estudiantes • San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 011-506-225-0442
Fax:011-506-
225-4058 Email: fiecos@racsa.co.cr |
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ECO # 048001
© Costa Rican Presbyterian Church (IEPC), 2005
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