First
Presbyterian
What Presbyterians Believe 
What do Presbyterians believe?
Some of the principles expressed by John Calvin remain at the core of
Presbyterian beliefs. Among these are the sovereignty of God, the authority of
Scripture, justification by grace through faith, and the priesthood of all
believers. Collectively, these beliefs affirm that God is the supreme authority
throughout the universe and our knowledge of God and God's purpose for humanity
comes from the Bible, particularly as revealed in the New Testament through the
life, teachings, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Our salvation (justification) through Jesus is God's generous gift to us
and not something that we can earn through doing good works. (For it is by
God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of
your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it. Ephesians
2:8-9) Although we do not have to do anything to earn salvation—in fact we cannot
do anything because everything already has been done by and through Jesus
Christ—but everyone is called to respond to this free gift through acts of
ministry, mission, and service. We do not respond because we have got to, but because we get to out of our love for
all that Jesus has done for us.