Core Beliefs
Covenant Reformed Baptist Church is a Reformed and Evangelical church. Below is a short list of some of our core beliefs.
Confession of Faith
We subscribe to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. The full confession can be found here.
REFORMED
We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. Nothing a person does merits, warrants, or contributes to God's saving work in us. Salvation is solely and completely the act of God.
(Psalm 37:39, 62:7; Isaiah 43:11, 45:21; Jeremiah 3:23; Hosea 13:4; Jonah 2:9; Revelation 7:10, 19:1)
Five Essentials Comprise Reformed Theology:
1. Grace Alone
Grace is "one way love." Some picture salvation (being saved from sin, Satan, and death) as a cooperation between God and man, like a lifeguard throwing a line to a drowning swimmer and the swimmer reaching back to take the line. Salvation by grace alone means there is nothing man can do to save himself. The portrait of salvation by grace is of the lifeguard jumping in the pool, throwing his arms around a lifeless body, and pulling to safety the drowning swimmer.
(Ephesians 2:4-10; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; Titus 3:5-7)
2. Faith alone
Faith is a gift of God to the sinner that is composed of head, heart, and will, with its object Jesus Christ. Faith is trust in the accomplished work of Jesus to save sinners.
(Romans 3:21-26, 4:3-8, 22-25, 5:1-2; Galatians 2:15-16, 3:6-11, 3:24; Ephesians 2:8)
3. Jesus Christ Alone
In His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ gives to sinners His perfect standing before God, takes their sins upon Himself, and vindicates all God's promises of victory over sin, Satan, and death.
(John 14:6; Romans 5:8-11, 15-17, 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:13-18; Colossians 1:13-20; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; Titus 3:6; Hebrews 1, 2:17, 9:11-28, 10:10-14; 1 Peter 1:18-21, 2:24-25; 1 John 1:7, 2:1-2, 4:14-15, 5:1, 5-13)
4. Scripture Alone
When the Bible speaks, God speaks. The Bible is God's revealing Himself to us. As His unerring, inspired word, it alone is our highest source of authority for faith and practice.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
5. God's Glory Alone
God's glory is the display of His infinite worth and beauty in the world. Life is not ultimately about us, but about Him. Everything in this world is being orchestrated by God for the express purpose of bringing Him glory.
(Romans 11:36; Ephesians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2 Timothy 4:18; 1 Peter 4:11; Jude 25; Revelation 1:6, 7:12)
We believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. Nothing a person does merits, warrants, or contributes to God's saving work in us. Salvation is solely and completely the act of God.
(Psalm 37:39, 62:7; Isaiah 43:11, 45:21; Jeremiah 3:23; Hosea 13:4; Jonah 2:9; Revelation 7:10, 19:1)
Five Essentials Comprise Reformed Theology:
1. Grace Alone
Grace is "one way love." Some picture salvation (being saved from sin, Satan, and death) as a cooperation between God and man, like a lifeguard throwing a line to a drowning swimmer and the swimmer reaching back to take the line. Salvation by grace alone means there is nothing man can do to save himself. The portrait of salvation by grace is of the lifeguard jumping in the pool, throwing his arms around a lifeless body, and pulling to safety the drowning swimmer.
(Ephesians 2:4-10; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; Titus 3:5-7)
2. Faith alone
Faith is a gift of God to the sinner that is composed of head, heart, and will, with its object Jesus Christ. Faith is trust in the accomplished work of Jesus to save sinners.
(Romans 3:21-26, 4:3-8, 22-25, 5:1-2; Galatians 2:15-16, 3:6-11, 3:24; Ephesians 2:8)
3. Jesus Christ Alone
In His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ gives to sinners His perfect standing before God, takes their sins upon Himself, and vindicates all God's promises of victory over sin, Satan, and death.
(John 14:6; Romans 5:8-11, 15-17, 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:13-18; Colossians 1:13-20; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; Titus 3:6; Hebrews 1, 2:17, 9:11-28, 10:10-14; 1 Peter 1:18-21, 2:24-25; 1 John 1:7, 2:1-2, 4:14-15, 5:1, 5-13)
4. Scripture Alone
When the Bible speaks, God speaks. The Bible is God's revealing Himself to us. As His unerring, inspired word, it alone is our highest source of authority for faith and practice.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
5. God's Glory Alone
God's glory is the display of His infinite worth and beauty in the world. Life is not ultimately about us, but about Him. Everything in this world is being orchestrated by God for the express purpose of bringing Him glory.
(Romans 11:36; Ephesians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2 Timothy 4:18; 1 Peter 4:11; Jude 25; Revelation 1:6, 7:12)
EVANGELICAL
The word "evangelical" has its roots in a word meaning "good news." The Good News of the Bible is that Jesus Christ, God-in-the-flesh, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death, and was raised from the dead to declare righteous all those who have, do, and will believe in Him for salvation. As members of the worldwide Church we have been given the Great Commission by Jesus Christ to go and declare this Good News to the world.
(Matthew 28:18-20)
The word "evangelical" has its roots in a word meaning "good news." The Good News of the Bible is that Jesus Christ, God-in-the-flesh, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death, and was raised from the dead to declare righteous all those who have, do, and will believe in Him for salvation. As members of the worldwide Church we have been given the Great Commission by Jesus Christ to go and declare this Good News to the world.
(Matthew 28:18-20)
ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
1. Believer's Baptism By Immersion
Baptism is intended only for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and can give sufficient testimony to the basics of Christian beliefs. We also baptize by immersion because it is the original meaning of the word and best symbolizes the reality to which baptism points: our death and resurrection in Christ.
(Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-11)
2. The Lord's Table (Communion)
The Lord's Table is to be observed only by those who have become genuine followers of Christ. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ's body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation in the atoning benefits of Christ's death. As we come to the table with an attitude of faith and self-examination, we remember and proclaim the death of Christ, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls and signify our unity with other members of Christ's body.
(1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
1. Believer's Baptism By Immersion
Baptism is intended only for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and can give sufficient testimony to the basics of Christian beliefs. We also baptize by immersion because it is the original meaning of the word and best symbolizes the reality to which baptism points: our death and resurrection in Christ.
(Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-11)
2. The Lord's Table (Communion)
The Lord's Table is to be observed only by those who have become genuine followers of Christ. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ's body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation in the atoning benefits of Christ's death. As we come to the table with an attitude of faith and self-examination, we remember and proclaim the death of Christ, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls and signify our unity with other members of Christ's body.
(1 Corinthians 11:23-26)