Church
Third Presbyterian
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Public details for this congregation.
TraditionPresbyterianAbout →
Sourcing statusTradition default
Beliefs on file942 positions
Statement of faithNot on file
Where they stand
Each position below is labelled by how it was sourced, so you can weigh it for yourself.
VerifiedConfirmed by the church
From their statement of faithEstimated, not verified
Tradition defaultEstimated, not verified
Showing 85 of 942 positions across 18 topics. Expand any topic to see the rest.
God & the Trinity59 positions
- Analogical LanguageAffirmsTradition defaultHuman language about God is analogical: true but never capturing God univocally as it captures creatures.Estimated, not verified
- Apophatic PriorityAffirmsTradition defaultWhat God is in himself is ultimately beyond human comprehension, so negative ("God is not...") statements are more reliable than positive ones.Estimated, not verified
Christ69 positions
- Assumed Fallen Human NatureStrongly rejectsTradition defaultChrist assumed a fully fallen human nature (subject to the effects of the Fall) in order to heal it from within.Estimated, not verified
- Assumed Unfallen Human NatureStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChrist assumed an unfallen, sinless human nature, untouched by original sin/corruption.Estimated, not verified
Sin & the fall61 positions
- Adams Sin Brought Physical DeathStrongly affirmsTradition defaultPhysical death entered the human race as a consequence of Adam's sin; humans were not originally subject to death.Estimated, not verified
- All Sin Deserves Death EquallyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultEvery sin, however small, deserves God's condemnation/death: there is no class of sin that does not by nature merit it.Estimated, not verified
Salvation73 positions
- Active Obedience ImputedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChrist's lifelong law-keeping (his "active obedience"), not only his death, is imputed to the believer as their positive righteousness.Estimated, not verified
- Annihilationism Conditional ImmortalityStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe finally lost are ultimately destroyed/cease to exist rather than suffering everlasting conscious torment (annihilationism / conditional immortality).Estimated, not verified
The Holy Spirit48 positions
- Assurance Is Normal For BelieversStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSettled assurance of salvation is normal and to be expected for genuine believers in this life.Estimated, not verified
- Blasphemy Against Spirit UnforgivableStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere is a specific sin against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable.Estimated, not verified
The Church54 positions
- Apostolicity Is Doctrinal Not SuccessionalStrongly affirmsTradition defaultApostolicity consists primarily in fidelity to apostolic DOCTRINE, not in an unbroken chain of ordinations from the apostles.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Is The Entry Into The ChurchStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBaptism is the rite of entry/incorporation into the visible church.Estimated, not verified
Sacraments & ordinances47 positions
- Anointing Sick Is A SacramentRejectsTradition defaultAnointing of the sick with oil is a sacrament conveying grace, healing, and forgiveness to the seriously ill.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Aspersion ValidStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBaptism by sprinkling (aspersion) is a fully valid mode.Estimated, not verified
Worship & liturgy36 positions
- Bowing And ProstrationStrongly rejectsTradition defaultBowing, prostration, or full physical reverence before the altar, icons, or sacrament is fitting in worship.Estimated, not verified
- Cessationism No Charismatic GiftsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe miraculous sign gifts (tongues, prophecy, healing) ceased with the apostolic age and have no place in worship today.Estimated, not verified
Last things29 positions
- A Literal Mark Of The Beast Is ComingAffirmsTradition defaultA literal future "mark of the beast" will be imposed as a condition of economic participation.Estimated, not verified
- Apocalyptic Prophecy Read Literally FuturisticallyRejectsTradition defaultThe prophecies of Daniel and Revelation should be read primarily as literal predictions of still-future events.Estimated, not verified
Scripture62 positions
- Authority Creeds SubordinateStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe ecumenical creeds and confessions are authoritative only insofar as they faithfully summarize Scripture.Estimated, not verified
- Authority Holy Tradition OrthodoxStrongly rejectsTradition defaultScripture is rightly read only within Holy Tradition: the Fathers, councils, liturgy, and consensus of the Church.Estimated, not verified
Revelation, creation & science34 positions
- Adam Special Creation From DustStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe first human was specially and directly created by God from the dust, not biologically descended from earlier hominins.Estimated, not verified
- Angels Created BeingsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAngels and other spiritual beings are part of God's created order, made by God.Estimated, not verified
Life & bioethics58 positions
- Abortion Gravely Wrong In PrincipleStrongly affirmsTradition defaultDeliberately ending a pregnancy by killing the unborn is in itself a grave moral wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Abortion Permitted To Save Mothers LifeAffirmsTradition defaultAbortion is morally permissible when continuing the pregnancy would directly threaten the mother's life.Estimated, not verified
Sexuality & marriage50 positions
- Abortifacient Contraception WrongStrongly affirmsTradition defaultContraceptive methods that may act after fertilization (potential abortifacients) are morally wrong even if other contraception is permitted.Estimated, not verified
- Annulment Recognizes Invalid MarriageRejectsTradition defaultSome unions that appeared to be marriages were never valid marriages, and the church can rightly declare them null (annulment).Estimated, not verified
Society & politics45 positions
- Active Nonviolent Resistance ObligatoryAffirmsTradition defaultChristians should actively resist injustice through nonviolent means (protest, civil disobedience, noncooperation), not merely abstain from violence.Estimated, not verified
- Capital Punishment LegitimateAffirmsTradition defaultThe civil authority may rightly execute criminals for grave crimes.Estimated, not verified
Angelology Demonology52 positions
- Angelic Fall Caused By PrideStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe angels fell primarily through pride: refusing subjection to God / seeking to exalt themselves.Estimated, not verified
- Angelic Fall Predates Human FallAffirmsTradition defaultThe angelic rebellion occurred before the fall of humanity, and the serpent's temptation issued from an already-fallen angel.Estimated, not verified
Anthropology53 positions
- Body Essential To PersonStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe body is essential to being a complete human person, not an accidental or dispensable container for the soul.Estimated, not verified
- Body GoodStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe material human body is intrinsically good as created by God.Estimated, not verified
Covenant Law Israel51 positions
- Abrahamic Covenant Foundational And OngoingStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Abrahamic covenant is foundational and its promises remain operative for the people of God today.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Replaces Circumcision Covenant SignStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBaptism is the New Covenant counterpart to circumcision, marking entrance into the covenant community.Estimated, not verified
- Believers No Longer Under Laws CondemnationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBelievers are entirely free from the law's condemning function but remain under its directing function.Estimated, not verified
- Ceremonial Law Fulfilled And AbrogatedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe ceremonial/cultic laws (sacrifices, dietary rules, festivals, purity codes) are fulfilled in Christ and no longer binding.Estimated, not verified
- Christians Obligated To Keep DecalogueStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChristians are positively obligated to keep the Ten Commandments as a covenant rule.Estimated, not verified
- Church Is True Israel SupersessionAffirmsTradition defaultThe church is the true and continuing Israel, having inherited the covenant promises so that ethnic/national Israel has no distinct remaining covenant role.Estimated, not verified
- Civil Government Should Enforce Mosaic LawStrongly rejectsTradition defaultCivil governments today are obligated to enforce the moral and judicial laws of Moses, including their penal sanctions.Estimated, not verified
- Civil Judicial Laws Expired With IsraelStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe civil/judicial laws of Israel expired with the Old Testament nation and do not bind modern states except as their general equity informs justice.Estimated, not verified
- Covenant Of Redemption Pactum SalutisStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBefore creation, the persons of the Trinity entered an eternal covenant of redemption (pactum salutis) in which the Son agreed to redeem the elect.Estimated, not verified
- Covenant Of Works With AdamStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod established a pre-fall covenant of works (or "covenant of life") with Adam, conditioned on his obedience, such that Adam acted as a federal representative of humanity.Estimated, not verified
- Cultural Transformation Christianize SocietyRejectsTradition defaultThe church's mission includes progressively bringing every sphere of society under the lordship of Christ and biblical law.Estimated, not verified
- Davidic Covenant Fulfilled In Christ Reign NowStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Davidic covenant is being fulfilled now in Christ's present heavenly reign, not only in a future earthly throne in Jerusalem.Estimated, not verified
- Distinct Economies DispensationsStrongly rejectsTradition defaultHistory is divided into distinct dispensations in which God administers His dealings with humanity under different stewardship arrangements.Estimated, not verified
- Dual Covenant Jews Saved Apart From ChristStrongly rejectsTradition defaultJewish people remain in a valid saving covenant through the Mosaic/Abrahamic covenant and need not come to faith in Jesus to be saved.Estimated, not verified
- Feasts Festivals Still To Be KeptStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe biblical festivals (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, etc.) should still be observed by believers.Estimated, not verified
- Federal Headship Adam ChristStrongly affirmsTradition defaultHumanity is organized under two federal heads, Adam and Christ, whose representative acts are imputed to those they represent.Estimated, not verified
- Fourth Commandment Morally PerpetualStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Sabbath commandment is part of the perpetual moral law, requiring a weekly day of rest and worship for all believers.Estimated, not verified
- Full Torah Observance For BelieversStrongly rejectsTradition defaultFollowers of Jesus, at least those of Jewish background, should continue to observe the full Torah (dietary law, festivals, Sabbath, circumcision).Estimated, not verified
- Future Mass Conversion Of Ethnic IsraelStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere will be a future large-scale turning of ethnic Israel to Christ before the end ("all Israel will be saved").Estimated, not verified
- Future Temple With Memorial SacrificesStrongly rejectsTradition defaultA future earthly temple with a (memorial) sacrificial system will be established in a coming kingdom age.Estimated, not verified
- Gentile Believers Free From TorahStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGentile believers were never placed under the Mosaic law and are free from its specific obligations.Estimated, not verified
- Grace Frees From All Law KeepingStrongly rejectsTradition defaultBecause salvation is entirely by grace, the Christian is under no law and obedience to commands plays no necessary role in the believer's life.Estimated, not verified
- Infants Of Believers In The CovenantStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe children of believers are included in the covenant community and are proper recipients of the covenant sign.Estimated, not verified
- Land Promise Literal To Ethnic IsraelStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Old Testament land promises will be fulfilled literally to ethnic Israel in a specific territory.Estimated, not verified
- Land Promise Typological Fulfilled In ChristStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe land promises are typological, fulfilled and expanded in Christ and ultimately in the new creation / whole renewed earth, rather than a parcel of Middle Eastern territory.Estimated, not verified
- Law And Gospel Both In Both TestamentsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBoth law and gospel are present throughout both Testaments, not confined to Old (law) and New (gospel) respectively.Estimated, not verified
- Law And Grace Are Opposing PrinciplesStrongly rejectsTradition defaultLaw and grace function as fundamentally opposing principles, such that the age of law and the age of grace operate under different governing arrangements.Estimated, not verified
- Law Of Christ Replaces Mosaic NormStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe believer's rule of life is the "law of Christ" (the ethical teaching of Jesus and the apostles), which is the proper standard rather than the Mosaic code.Estimated, not verified
- Levitical Sacrifices Permanently EndedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Levitical sacrificial system has been permanently ended and fulfilled by the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ.Estimated, not verified
- Moral Law Summarized In Decalogue PerpetualStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe moral law, summarized in the Ten Commandments, is perpetually binding on all people in all eras.Estimated, not verified
- Mosaic Covenant Was Gracious AdministrationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Mosaic covenant was itself a gracious administration of the one covenant of grace, not a covenant of works for life.Estimated, not verified
- Mosaic Law As Unit AbrogatedStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Mosaic law, taken as a single covenantal package, has been entirely abrogated for Christians, who are not "under the law" in any of its parts as Mosaic legislation.Estimated, not verified
- Natural Law Universally BindingStrongly affirmsTradition defaultA natural moral law, knowable by reason and binding on all people, underlies and confirms the moral content of God's revealed law.Estimated, not verified
- New Covenant Already InauguratedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe New Covenant prophesied by Jeremiah has already been inaugurated by Christ and is in force for the church now.Estimated, not verified
- New Covenant Membership Only RegenerateStrongly rejectsTradition defaultMembership in the New Covenant consists only of regenerate, believing persons, with no "mixed" covenant community including unbelieving members.Estimated, not verified
- Noahic Covenant Basis For Common GraceStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Noahic covenant grounds God's ongoing preservation of creation and a sphere of common grace/common order for all humanity.Estimated, not verified
- Obedience Necessary Evidence Of FaithStrongly affirmsTradition defaultOngoing obedience to God's commands is the necessary evidence and fruit of genuine saving faith.Estimated, not verified
- One Overarching Covenant Of GraceStrongly affirmsTradition defaultScripture unfolds a single, unified covenant of grace administered differently across redemptive history, so that Old and New Testament believers are saved in fundamentally the same way.Estimated, not verified
- One People Of God With RemnantStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere is one people of God across the ages; believing Israel and believing Gentiles form a single olive tree, with a believing Jewish remnant rather than two separate peoples.Estimated, not verified
- Ot God And Nt God Same ContinuityStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe God and Scriptures of the Old Testament are fully continuous and authoritative for Christians, not a lower or superseded revelation to be set aside.Estimated, not verified
- Pedagogical First Use Civic RestraintStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe law serves a civil/political use to restrain evil and preserve order in society generally, apart from salvation.Estimated, not verified
- Permanent Distinction Israel And ChurchStrongly rejectsTradition defaultIsrael and the church are two distinct peoples of God with distinct programs and promises that are never merged.Estimated, not verified
- Physical Circumcision Still RequiredStrongly rejectsTradition defaultPhysical circumcision remains a required covenant obligation for the people of God (or at least for Jewish believers).Estimated, not verified
- Progressive Unfolding Of One PlanStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe biblical covenants (Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New) progressively reveal and advance one connected divine plan that culminates in Christ.Estimated, not verified
- Restoration Of National Israel KingdomRejectsTradition defaultGod will yet restore national Israel and fulfill the kingdom promises to her in a literal, future earthly form.Estimated, not verified
- Sabbath Transferred To Lords Day SundayStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Sabbath obligation has been transferred to the first day of the week (the Lord's Day / Sunday) in commemoration of the resurrection.Estimated, not verified
- Seven Dispensations SchemeStrongly rejectsTradition defaultA specific multi-dispensation scheme (e.g., Innocence, Conscience, Human Government, Promise, Law, Grace/Church, Kingdom) accurately maps God's historical economies.Estimated, not verified
- Strict Sabbath Rest From RecreationAffirmsTradition defaultProper Sabbath/Lord's Day observance forbids ordinary work and worldly recreation, devoting the whole day to worship and rest.Estimated, not verified
- Third Use Normative Guide For BelieversStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe law has a positive "third use" as the normative guide for the grateful obedience of justified believers.Estimated, not verified
- Threefold Division Moral Civil CeremonialStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Mosaic law is rightly divided into moral, civil (judicial), and ceremonial categories, which have different applicability today.Estimated, not verified
- Two Kingdoms Church And Civil DistinctStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod governs through two distinct kingdoms: the spiritual (church/gospel) and the civil (state/law/reason), which should not be collapsed into one another.Estimated, not verified
Mariology Saints61 positions
- All Believers Are SaintsStrongly affirmsTradition default"Saints" in the New Testament sense means all believers, not a special canonized class.Estimated, not verified
- Altar Relics Required Or ProperStrongly rejectsTradition defaultIt is fitting (or required) that altars contain the relics of saints.Estimated, not verified
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