What We Believe 信仰告白
At Atlanta Covenant Church, we believe first and foremost that the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible are the authoritative, inspired, inerrant and infallible word of God. The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “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.” As a result, we desire to be a church that lives in light of the teaching of Scripture in all we do. As we read and study God’s Word, we are convinced that the Westminster Confession of Faith and its Larger & Shorter Catechisms are the best expression of the system of doctrine contained in Scripture. While the Westminster Confession is not inerrant or infallible and is subservient to the authority of the Bible, we believe it is the best human expression of Biblical faith. Below you can find helpful links for reading and studying the Westminster Standards.
在亚特兰大华人恩约教会，我们首要认信《圣经》新旧约中的 66 卷书是上帝的权威、启示、无误和正确的话语。使徒保罗在《提摩太后书》3:16-17 中写道："圣经都是神所默示的，于教训、督责、使人归正、教导人学义都是有益的，叫属神的人得以完全，预备行各样的善事。” 因此，我们渴望成为这样的教会：在我们所做的一切事情中，都按照圣经的教导生活。在阅读和学习上帝话语时，我们认信《威斯敏斯特信仰告白》及其《威斯敏斯特大、小要理问答》是对圣经所载教义体系的最好表达。虽然这些威斯敏斯特公认信条并不是无误的或无懈可击的（它也服从于《圣经》的权威），但我们相信它是人类对合乎圣经信仰的最好表达。下面是阅读和学习《威斯敏斯特标准》的链接：
The Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms
威斯敏斯特信仰告白及要理问答
The Westminster Confession of Faith
Below we offer a brief summary of our convictions:
下面我们将简要概述我们的信仰：
- The Bible 圣经论
We believe that the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
我们相信《圣经》是上帝所写的文字，是圣灵所默示的，原稿完全无误。圣经是上帝真理的启示，是信仰和实践的终极权威，完全无谬。
- The Trinity 三一神论
We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, infinite and unchanging, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
我们相信神圣三位一体。上帝是无限的、永恒不变的，祂以圣父、圣子和圣灵三位一体的形式永恒存在。
- Man and Sin 人论和罪论
We believe that all people are sinners by nature, are guilty in God’s sight, and are totally unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure. His free grace alone provides a way of salvation.
我们相信，所有人生来都是罪人，在上帝眼中都是不洁的，没有人能自我拯救取悦上帝。唯独上帝以祂的恩典提供了救赎之路。
- Election 论拣选
We believe that this salvation is the work of God alone. He sovereignly chooses whom He will save. We believe that His choice is based solely on His grace, not on any merit found in his people, their foreseen faith, or their religious activity.
我们相信，救赎是唯独上帝作成的（而非神人合作）。祂凭着自己的主权拣选要拯救的人。我们相信，祂的拣选是唯独基于祂的恩典，而不是基于被拣选的人有任何可取之处（包括他们的信心或善行）。
- Jesus Christ 论耶稣基督
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death as the representative and substitute of his people, atoned for the sins of all who would trust in Him alone for salvation.
我们相信耶稣基督是上帝的永恒儿子，祂代表祂的百姓，完美地顺服，也代替祂的百姓，牺牲了自己，为所有单单信靠祂的拯救的人赎罪。
- Justification 论称义
We believe that the only way to acceptance with God is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.
我们相信，唯有在耶稣基督里以信心领受神的恩典，才是获得上帝悦纳的唯一途径。
- God’s Covenant Promises 上帝恩约的应许
We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people not simply as individuals but as families in successive generations according to His covenant promises.我们相信，上帝对祂的子民是有恩慈且信实的。根据祂的恩约的应许，这不仅体现在个人身上，这也体现在他们世世代代的后裔身上。
- The Church 教会论
We believe that the church is the covenant community of God and the sphere within which the grace of God is available to all, through the preaching and teaching of the Bible, and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Outside the church there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.
我们相信，教会是上帝的立约的群体。在这个群体里，上帝借着圣经的宣讲和教导、洗礼和圣餐的实施，施恩给祂所有的人。在教会之外，没有寻常蒙拯救的方式。
- The Holy Spirit 圣灵论
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and enables them to trust Christ and follow Him. Faith is the gracious gift of God.
我们相信圣灵内住在上帝的子民生命中，使他们能够信靠基督并跟随祂。这信心是上帝恩赐的礼物。
- Perseverance of the Saints 圣徒的坚忍
We believe that having come to saving faith in Christ, believers can never be lost, but persevere to the end, being kept by the power of God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This perseverance is both the responsibility of every believer, and the infallible promise of God to all his people.
我们相信，信徒一旦对基督有了得救的信心，就永远不会失丧，而是通过圣灵的内住，靠着上帝的大能坚忍到底。这种坚忍既是每个信徒的责任，也是上帝对祂百姓可信的应许。
- The Return of Christ 基督再来
We believe that Jesus will return at the last day, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people to Himself.
我们相信耶稣将在末日以肉身显现的方式再临，审判全人类，并接祂的子民。
- Living the Christian Life 基督徒的生活
We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ as we wait for the day of his glorious appearing.
我们相信，在等待耶稣基督荣耀显现的日子里，我们生活的方方面面都要在耶稣基督的掌管之下活出神的荣耀。