The Cumberland
Presbyterian Confession of Faith (COF) begins with the gospel in miniature,
that is, with John 3:16.
For God so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should
not perish, but have eternal life.
The Confession of Faith is a statement of what Cumberland
Presbyterians believe. Most people that
attend Cumberland Presbyterian worship have probably not read the Confession of
Faith—at least not start to finish. Classes
on the COF seldom draw a crowd.
What to do?
How about a homiletic rendering of the Confession of
Faith?
Without a line for line review of the COF, this sermon
series hits the essence of each topical section of the basic theology of
Cumberland Presbyterians. Each article
offers a chance for comments and discussion.
FIRST THINGS FIRST! The first thing that you will want to do is
bookmark this page so you may come back to whenever you want to.
1.00 GOD SPEAKS TO THE HUMAN FAMILY
2.00 THE HUMAN FAMILY BREAKS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
3.00 GOD ACTS THROUGH
JESUS CHRIST TO RECONCILE THE WORLD
4.00 GOD ACTS THROUGH
THE HOLY SPIRIT
5.00 GOD CREATES THE
CHURCH FOR MISSION
6.00 CHRISTIANS LIVE AND WITNESS IN THE WORLD
7.00 GOD CONSUMMATES
ALL LIFE AND HISTORY
For further consideration:
Res
Judicata
Read the entire Confession of Faith.
COF FAQs
What is the purpose
of the Confession of Faith?
It has a stated two-fold purpose. First, it is to provide a means whereby those
who have been saved, redeemed, and reconciled by God through Jesus Christ in
the power of the Holy Spirit understand and affirm their faith.
Next, it is to bear witness to God’s saving activity in such
a way that those who have not been saved, redeemed, and reconciled might
believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and experience salvation.
That’s mighty fancy language. Can
you put it another way?
The Confession of Faith is an affirmation of ancient truth
in contemporary language.
Does the COF have an
organizing principle?
Yes. It is to testify
to what God has done and is doing in the world to accomplish the redemption of
his children by telling the story that the Bible tells the way the Bible tells
it.
Does the COF have any
impact on God’s people or the church?
There is a direct relationship between the church’s
confession of faith and her life and witness as a people in covenant with God
and each other. The faith of the church
orders and shapes the life of the people of God—their mission, their government,
their worship, and the orderly conduct of the church’s affairs.
Do Cumberland
Presbyterians worship the COF?
No. We worship God.
Does the COF replace
the Bible?
No. The COF should
clarify many biblical accounts and make the reader hungry to read and
understand more of God’s word.
Do all denominations
have a Confession of Faith?
No. Different
denominations observe different traditions in professing what they believe.
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