The mission of the First Reformed Church of the Palisades is to embrace God's love, as revealed in Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, to spread God's love by:
Actively going outside the church walls to be a light to the world, boldly proclaiming salvation through Jesus Christ. We will share God's love and grace with all those seeking hope and healing.
Glorifying and honoring God through Prayer, Worship and Obedience to His Holy Bible.
Always being committed to biblical instruction and discipleship.
Passionately following the example of Jesus Christ in everything that we say and do.
Empowering and calling each member to serve and to use their spiritual gifts to fulfill this mission.
We believe . . .
- the Bible to be the inspired Word of God and our ultimate and final authority for faith and practice.
- in one God, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God, our perfect heavenly Father, loves and cares for all.
- that God created all humans in His image and that sin has brought separation between God and humans.
- that Jesus Christ, the eternal son of God, became a human and sacrificially died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin.
- that the Holy Spirit was sent by God to live in and transform the lives of believers into the likeness of Christ by turning us from a sinful life and enabling us to live the way God intended.
- the only way to no longer be separated from God and find salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ, trusting in Him as Lord and Savior. Through faith we become children of God.
- that the Church, Christ's radiant bride, is a spiritual body made up of all believers, each of whom is a vital part of God's plan.
Jesus taught us that selfless love of God, our neighbor, and seeking first His Father's Kingdom are sure signs that we are Christ-followers and filled with His Spirit. We value every virtue that Jesus said we would have if we are His followers and filled with His Spirit. Therefore . . . .
- We value Faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Jesus taught us that anyone who wants to approach God must believe that he exists and lovingly responds to those who seek him. When we face the impossible, faith assures us, “With God, all things are possible.” Jesus taught that even with little faith, we could move mountains. Faith gives us hope for the future. The Kingdom that is already here and enjoyed is just a foretaste of that great and eternal Kingdom whose coming is certain.
- We value a Selfless Love for God and one another. As Kingdom People, we follow God as the object of our deepest affections and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Jesus said that these were the two greatest commandments. He said our love for God and one another would prove to the world that we are His disciples.
- We value the Word of God. All Scripture is God-breathed and used by the Holy Spirit to show us truth, expose our rebellion, correct our mistakes, and train us to live God's way. We study and submit to God's Word so that we will be more and more like Jesus.
We value Prayer. Those who are in God's Kingdom pray with faith and confidence for themselves, for others, and the coming of God's Kingdom. Their praying is not a matter of self-glorifying public performance or empty words, but a sincere and straightforward dependence upon God. Without God, our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing of eternal good.
We value Humility. No one gets into the Kingdom on their own merits, so we have no grounds for boasting and no basis for pride or self-importance. Instead, we should desire to serve one another. Jesus saw himself as a servant and expected his followers to imitate his example. For similar reasons, there should be no critical and loveless judging of others.
We value Generosity with our wealth and possessions. Jesus spoke a good deal about how we handle possessions and money. He pointed out that although both are good things, they pose dangers. They provide a misleading illusion of security and can all too easily become preoccupations that get in the way of loving God. Those in the Kingdom are to hold lightly to both wealth and possessions and be prepared to give them away.
We value Integrity. As Kingdom People, we are trustworthy. We do what we promise and do not need to make oaths or vows to strengthen our promises. As Jesus followers, we practice what we preach. The hypocrisy and distorted faith that characterized some of Jesus' contemporaries should be absent in the Kingdom.