Our Beliefs

These are our core convictions that shape our faith and practice.

People often ask what kind of Church we are. We would identify ourselves as Christian, Reformed, and Baptist. What do we mean by these things? 

CHRISTIAN

We affirm what all other orthodox Christians have confessed throughout the history of the church. We confess the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed.

REFORMED

We hold to the foundational conviction that the Scriptures alone are the final authority for faith and practice as they proclaim that our salvation is in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, and to God’s glory alone.

BAPTIST

While we desire to be loving and humble in how we communicate the truth of God’s word, we are convinced that the Scriptures teach what have been identified as Baptist doctrines. These are not a litmus text for true orthodox Christianity yet we believe they are significant as they are instructions given by God in Scripture for ordering his church here on earth.

Our identity as a Reformed and Baptist congregation is secondary to our commitment to and declaration of the gospel. So, as a local church, we will joyfully seek fellowship and partner with all congregations who are committed to the same historical, evangelical gospel of Jesus Christ that has marked biblical orthodoxy throughout church history. 

Many people self-identify as Christians. And some protestant and evangelical Christians reject clearly stated confessions of faith or creeds insisting they “just follow the Bible.” While this impulse is commendable, this statement demands further explanation as to what they understand the Bible to teach. We all have a theology. The question is, will we clearly state our theology so it can be examined for its faithfulness to the God’s Word.  

The following Statement of Faith summarizes our understanding of the Bible’s teaching on essential Christian beliefs. We don’t believe these are cold, dead facts. We believe these truths fuel our worship, direct our living, and motivate our mission as a Church. They also demonstrate our unity in Christ with other Christians and guard our congregation against error.

I.The Scriptures

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.  (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)

II. God

There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself, all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 Timothy 1:17)

III. The Trinity

God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

IV. Providence

God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures. (Isaiah 46:9-11; Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 10:31-33; Proverbs 16:33)

V. Election

Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life-not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ-in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified. (Romans 8:30; Ephesians 1:3-6; Acts 13:48)

VI. The Fall of Man

God originally created Man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3:4-7; Romans 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3)

VII. The Mediator

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law; suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe. (Matthew 3:17; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7; 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 5:6-11; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:3)

VIII. Regeneration

Regeneration is a change of heart, brought about by the Holy Spirit, who quickens the dead in trespasses and sins enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone. (John 3:1-8; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3)

IX. Repentance

Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things. (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; 2 Corinthians 7:9)

X. Faith

Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is brought about in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness. (John 1:12, John 5:24; Ephesians 2:8-9)

XI. Justification

Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything worked in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith. (Romans 3:23-24; Romans 5:1-2, 18-19; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

XII. Sanctification

Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ’s commands.  (John 17:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 12:14)

XIII. Perseverance of the Saints

Those whom God has accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (John 10:28-29; 1 John 2:19; Romans 8:30)

XIV. The Church

The Lord Jesus is the head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies or churches; and to each of these churches He has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a Church are Elders and Deacons. (Colossians 1:18; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 18:15-18; 1 Timothy 3:1-15; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

XV. Baptism

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein the individual is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of their fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving themselves up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church fellowship, and to participation in the Lord’s Supper. (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 6:3-5; Acts 8:38-39)

XVI. The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship. (Matthew 26:26-27; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

XVII. The Lord’s Day

The Lord’s Day is a Christian institution for regular observance, and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private.  (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; Colossians 3:16; Revelation 1:10)

XVIII. Liberty of Conscience

God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:17)

XIX. The Resurrection

The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God-the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.  (1 Cor. 15; Jn. 5:28, 29; Phil. 3:21)

XX. The Judgment

God has appointed a day, on which He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to his deeds; the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.  (Mt. 25:31-46; 1 Cor. 15:35-58; 2 Cor. 5:10)