ABOUT THE EPC
Our name describes us well. The EPC is both evangelical and Presbyterian. We are evangelical in our zeal for the gospel, as well as evangelism, missions, and living obediently as followers of Jesus. At the same time, we are rooted deeply in the Protestant Reformation and especially the theological and pastoral work of John Calvin.
When the EPC started in 1981, we determined that we would not disagree on the basic essentials of the Christian faith, but on anything that was not essential—such as the issue of ordaining women as officers or practicing charismatic gifts—we would give each other liberty.
The EPC consists of more than 600 churches with approximately 145,000 members. We have a world missions program with a priority on sending missionaries to unreached people groups. We are eager to plant churches across the United States and especially in urban communities and college towns.
OUR MISSION: The EPC exists to carry out the Great Commission of Jesus as a denomination of Presbyterian, Reformed, Evangelical, and Missional congregations.
OUR VISION: To the glory of God, the EPC family aspires to embody and proclaim Jesus’ love as a global movement of congregations engaged together in God’s mission through transformation, multiplication, and effective biblical leadership.
OUR BELIEFS: We have one confessional standard: the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. All these documents are subordinate to Scripture, which is “the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks.” We envision our local churches to be evangelical and Presbyterian; hence our name. We affirm that the Bible is God’s inspired and infallible Word, and that it contains eternal truth that speaks with authority to our life, doctrine, and mission (2 Timothy 3:16). We are Reformed in our understanding of the Bible, which means we aim to be confessional.
Our Church
Following Christ’s Great Commission to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), First Presbyterian Church of Tallassee, Alabama was founded in 1950. It was started by a small, but dedicated group of Christians who treasured the Gospel so much that they were willing to build the church building themselves. The men built the church by day and went door to door in the evenings to encourage people within the community to join the newly formed church. Meanwhile, the women cooked and provided moral support.
What a joyful day it was, when we were able to actually worship in the church building we had constructed with our own hands! One of our members, Dr. Sizemore, was unable to do any building, but he stood willing to care for anyone injured.
Our dedication to our community has remained strong and intact. Our dedicated and loving members welcome all who enter through our doors.
First Presbyterian Church is founded in solid Biblical truths, Bible-centered messages, and ordinary people trusting Jesus.
Our church has a Sunday morning service at Tallassee Health and Rehabilitation every week, and our pastor’s Sunday sermon is aired on 106.9 radio every Sunday at 8:00 AM.
Our hearts and hands remain dedicated to help and support the Tallassee community.
What is Reformed Theology?
What is Reformed theology? It is a theology that 1) affirms the five solas with all their implications; 2) recognizes the centrality of the covenant in God’s saving purposes; and 3) is expressed in a historic and public confession of faith.
At its most basic level, the term Reformed Theology refers to the theological conclusions flowing out of the Protestant Reformation.
A better starting place is five statements that have been called the five solas of the Reformation. These five solas (sola is the Latin word for “only” or “alone”) are sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), and soli Deo gloria (God’s glory alone). The “alone” in each is vital, and they emphasize the sufficiency of God’s Word and the gracious nature of salvation, received by faith alone, in Christ alone. The last of the five solas, soli Deo gloria, is the natural outworking of the first four. It reminds us that Reformed theology understands all of life in terms of the glory of God. To be Reformed in our thinking is to be God-centered. Salvation is from the Lord from beginning to end, and even our existence is a gift from Him.
Reformed theology as used today often refers to something less historical. Often it refers to a theology that acknowledges the doctrine of predestination and holds to a high view of the Bible as God’s inerrant Word. Sometimes it is also identified with the so-called five points of Calvinism: total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. These are all important teachings of the Reformed tradition, but there is more Reformed theology.
Beyond the five solas, there are two more aspects of Reformed theology to consider. The first is the doctrine of the covenant. In the Scriptures, we see that God works out His saving purposes by means of successive covenants. In fact, the Bible speaks of an overarching “eternal covenant,” centered on the cross of Christ (Heb. 13:20). Covenants provide the biblical framework for understanding God’s work in Christ and His dealings with His people throughout history. Reformed theology is whole-Bible theology, and the covenant is the biblical framework that shows the unity of both the Old Testament and the New, centering on the Lord Jesus Christ.
What Are the Five “Solas”?
The Protestant Reformers succinctly proclaimed the doctrinal teachings of Scripture as the Five “Solas,” a Latin word meaning “Only” or “Alone.” First Presbyterian Church fervently believes these doctrines, and we endeavor to reflect them in our Bible-based preaching and in all that we do.
Sola Scriptura (Only Scripture)
The Bible, and the Bible alone, is the inspired and inerrant Word of God and therefore the ultimate authority on all matters of doctrine and practice. At First Presbyterian Church our preaching is firmly rooted in the Word of God as revealed in the Old and New Testaments.
Solus Christus (Only Christ)
The central event of human history is declared in John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” We are saved from our sin and assured of heaven because “God commendeth his love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Therefore, Paul says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) There is no salvation apart from Christ, for the Bible says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) And Christ says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
Sola Gratia (Only Grace)
Grace is unmerited favor, God’s gift to us. We cannot earn or purchase our salvation; if we could, it would not be grace. Christ purchased our redemption for us by paying our penalty for us, by dying on the Cross in our place as our substitute. Apart from His grace, we cannot even have the faith necessary to believe and be saved. Even this He must give us, for He says, “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Sola Fide (Only Faith)
We act on God’s grace by believing on Him, trusting in what He did for us on the Cross. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) It is by faith that we receive God’s gift of salvation, for as Paul said to the Philippian jailer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved“ (Acts 16:31).
Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone)
God the Father planned our salvation; God the Son purchased our salvation on the Cross; God the Holy Spirit reveals God’s salvation to us through the preaching and reading of His Word, the Bible. In this man-centered world, we must always remember that man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. And as we glorify God, His glory permeates us and transforms our lives. As He loves us, so we learn to love others – all so that He may be glorified by our lives; “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35) This extends to every detail of life: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31)
Putting all of these “solas” together, we can summarize the Gospel in one compact sentence: “Based on Scripture alone, salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.”