Everything we believe flows from the Bible because we are convicted of its inspiration, inerrancy, and authority as God’s written Word. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Humanity’s Condition
All humanity has fallen short of God’s glory; is in a state of sin; and deserves the wrath of God. Because of our sin nature, we cannot seek out or please God on our own (Romans 3:23), and we deserve eternal punishment (Romans 1:18).
Jesus’ Solution
Not only was Jesus Christ a real person in history, he is the sinless Son of God. First century political and religious leaders put him to death because of his “radical” claims to be God in the flesh, the Divine King promised in Scripture (Messiah), and his message of salvation through faith exclusively in him alone (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
Jesus died for his children because he loves us and because we need a perfect Savior to turn away from us God’s justified anger (John 6:37-39). Jesus’ death was not permanent; on the third day he physically rose from the grave and appeared to numerous eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, when we confess our unworthiness and put our faith in him, we are saved from final judgment and granted eternal life (John 6:40).
Our Response
The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Divine Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–Three in One and One in Three); he draws us to Christ; gives us the grace of repentance and saving faith to believe the good news; and strengthens us to live holy (albeit imperfect) lives of obedience to Jesus (Romans 8:5-11). Being a follower of Christ requires personal and often costly sacrifices (Luke 14:25-35).
Church Universal
The visible Church, the Body of Christ, is comprised of all those who profess the true religion along with their children. We are committed to loving and caring for one another. Most importantly, we cultivate relationships to help each other grow in grace and love for our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 12:9-21). Prayer is a powerful gift from God through which we receive grace and forgiveness (Philippians 4:6).
The Church is commanded to reach out to the world with an indiscriminate call to faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16). We are responsible to influence the world, both near and far, for the gospel (Matthew 28:19). Jesus will come again; and when he does, he will renew the cosmos and clothe his people in bodies fit to live on a renewed earth forever. Those without faith in Jesus will receive unending punishment (Matthew 25:31-46).
Biblical, Confessional, Presbyterian
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Tenth is a biblical, confessional, and Presbyterian church.
Biblical means we are a church that believes the Bible is God’s Word written (2 Timothy 3:16-17); therefore it is without error in all that it affirms, and is the supreme authority in the Church. Through scripture alone we discover who God is, who we are, and the way of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.
Confessional means we are a church that subscribes to both the ancient Christian creeds (such as the Apostles’ Creed and the the Nicene Creed); and to historic, protestant, and Reformed theology as expressed in The Westminster Confession of Faith, The Westminster Larger Catechism, and The Westminster Shorter Catechism. As a confessional church we believe it is important to say what we believe and to write it down for others to read and confirm in scripture (2 Timothy 1:13; Titus 1:9). Therefore our confession and catechisms are subordinate to the Bible, while striving faithfully to summarize biblical teachings.
Presbyterian means we are a church governed by a body of elders (also referred to as overseers or shepherds in the Bible) called by God and elected by members of the church. As a Presbyterian church we believe Jesus, the chief shepherd, has given undershepherds to care for God’s people as they journey through their life of faith this side of heaven (Ephesians 4:11-14; 1 Peter 5:1-4). The Presbyterian form of church government emphasizes the cooperative character of the Church as reflected in the New Testament (Acts 15:2-6). Therefore, while the elders of Tenth Church are primarily responsible for overseeing the ministry of Tenth, they also share in the work of overseeing the ministry of sister churches through a regional presbytery and in the entire denomination through a General Assembly.
Additional Resources
See the Creeds and Confessions page for more on what we believe.