Detailed Beliefs | Free North Church

The gospel is the good news that God came to Earth as the human Jesus in order to save some from judgement of their sins, redeem them from slavery to sin and will come again to institute His new Kingdom. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus is the lens through which we understand Scripture, view the world and conduct our lives.

Evangelistic Mission

Evangelicism (with a capital E) started in the 1730s with four distinctive beliefs: Biblical authority, The Atoning work of Christ on The Cross, Being born again and Active Mission

Biblicism The Bible is a compilation from many writers acting under the influence of The Holy Spirit (Luke 1:1–4). These writings are therefore God-breathed. The Bible was not dictated therefore the distinctive culture, history, language, idiom and thought process of the human author is evident and markedly differentiates the text produced by each author at the time of writing. The canon of Scripture includes texts accepted as showing evidence of God’s supernatural revelation to humans. The written Bible is necessary to enable us to interpret what we see in creation (General Revelation) and to avoid errors of oral transmission. It tells us of the triune God’s plan to redeem sinners at the price of the death of God The Son, Jesus. The Bible is perspicuous, that is to say it is self interpreting, therefore each individual may use Scripture to interpret Scripture. The Evangelical hermeneutic is historical-grammatical literalism, striving to discover God’s meaning in the text. This presumes that God exists, God can not lie, although men wrote the words, God inspired the thoughts recorded in The Bible (Special Revelation), God’s Word is Truth, The Word of God remains forever and Scripture can not be set aside.

Crucicentrism Jesus is God The Son who was born by the power of God The Holy Spirit, lived a perfect life according to the Law of Moses under which humankind was unable to live, was nailed to a cross and paid with His life on our behalf, then was raised from the grave, conquering death and securing eternal life for all who believe in Him. This atoning work of Christ on the cross together with faith form the basis of Salvation.

Conversionism Only by believing The Gospel of Jesus Christ can one be born again. This is not a physical rebirth or reincarnation but a spiritual rebirth into the Kingdom of God. A convert embraces God, renounces sin and undergoes a change of thinking, priorities, commitments and the whole direction of their life. You need to be converted to be saved.

Activism Some people are called to undertake a specific mission from God. We believe all Christians are called and commanded to take part in the mission of revealing The Gospel to the world. Jesus commanded us to take the message of the cross, which we call The Gospel to the ends of the earth. All Evangelicals actively express their beliefs and enthusiastically share The Gospel in their walk and talk by engaging conversation, preaching and social intervention.

Reformed Faith

Reformed churches are Protestant, following the teaching and practice of many theologians from the Reformation. Reformed faith has been developed by several contributing theologians. It was first called Calvinism as a pejorative term by Lutherans who distinguished themselves separate from it. After the Arminian controversy, Calvinism remained as the only Reformed school of thought.

During the Reformation several phrases epitomised Protestant understanding, each involving the word Alone or Only. Five of them were compiled together as a summary of distinctive Protestantism by Metz in 1965 but each phrase was coined individually in the 1500s and subsequently published in groups of two, three or four. These statements were designed to match the four Aristotelian causes: Material (substance of a thing), Formal (a thing’s layout or plan), Efficient (the actions to create a thing) and Final (the purpose of a thing). After Aristotle, the Instrumental cause (tool used to create a thing) was theorised and in the Roman church equates to the role of the priest at Mass and administering sacraments where the principal agent (Efficient cause) is Jesus Christ.

“Sola Dei Verbum” (which includes tradition) is rejected by Protestants but “solo verbo” and “sola experientia” are agreed within the Western Church. The five below distinguish Protestant belief.

By Faith Alone

Sola Fide Justified by Faith Alone. This asserts that Faith, not baptism is the means of Justification. Saving faith always shows itself in good works but being declared Just by God is predicated by Faith Alone with no requirement for or assistance by good works. Righteous acts are the result and evidence of a Justified and Regenerate believer who has been declared righteous and born again by Faith Alone. Faith is absolutely necessary and sufficient for Justification. Faith yields Justification and good works.

This is the material cause of The Reformation: The doctrine by which the Protestant church stands or falls. Faith is the substance of the born again believer.

By Scripture Alone

Sola Scriptura The Bible is the only inspired authoritative Word of God. It is the only source for church teaching and is accessible to everyone. This excludes all church tradition or church interpretation informing doctrine. No apostolic tradition or magisterium is required to understand The Bible because it is transparently clear. It is self interpreting therefore each individual may use Scripture to interpret Scripture. All reformed churches use The Bible as their only source for church doctrine.

The Bible is the formal cause of the Reformation and the source of the material principle: The Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible contains God’s formal plan for humans, given to us by special revelation.

By Grace Alone

Sola Gratia Salvation is an unearned gift from God for the sake of Jesus Christ and is given by unmerited favour. Grace is a free gift and means that God has saved according to his design alone, not based on any cooperation, achievements or good deeds by us. This also means that even acting under the influence of grace, we can not merit greater grace.

This is the doctrine of Monergism in Salvation, that God alone saves a sinner and His action equates to the efficient cause.

Glory to God Alone

Soli Deo Gloria All Glory is due to God Alone. Salvation is given by both the atonement of Jesus on the cross and the gift of Faith in that atonement delivered to each believer by The Holy Spirit.

This means that saints and angels are not worthy of the glory given to them since their good works were authored and sanctified by God. Good religious men are honoured because of the glory they gave to God and in honouring them we also honour God for His goodness in creating them.
This equates to the final cause, the purpose of human existence which is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Christ Alone

Solus Christus Christ is the only mediator between us and God and there is no Salvation except through Christ. This excludes the requirement for a special priestly class to conduct sacraments. When we repent, we can be reconciled with God directly through Faith in Christ’s forgiveness.
This does not easily equate to the instrumental cause as Christ is no mere tool but rather He is the ground of Salvation as the only Mediator (cause materia) and Saviour (causa impulsiva) of sinners.

Historical References

Philipp Schwartzerdt aka Jacob Melanchthon: Opera: 1554: sola gratia, sola fide

Theodore Engelder: “The Three Principles of the Reformation”: 1916: sola scriptura, sola gratia, sola fides

Emil Brunner: “The Mediator”: 1934: sola gratia, sola fide, soli deo gloria

Emil Brunner: “Dogmatics”: 1962: sola gratia, Christus solus, soli Deo gloria, sola fide

Johanes Baptist Metz: “The Church and the World”: 1965: Page 143

Between 1517 and 1648 during the Reformation, Christian understanding and practice were wrestled from professional priests and given to individuals. Once The Scriptures were in the hands of ordinary people, Europe saw revolutionary change in culture, fashion, philosophy, science, politics and economics

Presbyterian Governance

There are three features distinguishing a Presbyterian church

Connection

Each congregation is governed by elders who meet in a body known as the Kirk Session. The local elders meet with elders from neighbouring congregations in a body called the Presbytery. Delegates from the Presbyteries meet annually in a national gathering known as the General Assembly which regulates the practice of the church and is the authoritative church court.

Covenant

We believe that God has always worked through His promises also called covenants or dispensations.

Confession

A comprehensive statement of our beliefs as a church is codified in the Westminster Confession of Faith. This is a creed written in Westminster, London between 1643 and 1645. Members of the Free Church of Scotland know and live by the principles in the Westminster Confession of Faith. Each statement is supported by Bible references.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.

Ephesians 3:16-17