We are a Reformed Baptist Church which means, first, that we are historically in the Baptist tradition. As Baptists we believe that baptism must be performed by immersion and applied to believers only. We believe that only baptized believers should be members of local churches.
However, we add the term “Reformed” to our name; we are a REFORMED Baptist Church. What do we mean by that? There are some who believe that it is impossible to be Baptist and Reformed at the same time because historically (they say) Baptists were not part of the Protestant Reformation, and also because they connect the word “Reformed” with the baptism of infants which is inconsistent with Baptist doctrine.
However, by using the term “Reformed” we are not implying that Baptists were part of the protestant Reformation (regardless of whether that statement is true or not), nor that we baptize infants. What we mean is that we hold to certain Biblical doctrines that were…
- believed and practiced by the early Church
- buried to a great extent during subsequent centuries, and
- revived at the Protestant Reformation
Some of those doctrines are:
The five “solas” of the Reformation
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone): Scripture alone is the only inerrant, infallible, and sufficient rule and authority in all matters of faith and practice.
Solus Christus (Christ Alone): Christ is our only savior and mediator. The Reformation called the church back to faith in Christ as the sole mediator between God and man teaching that salvation is by Christ’s work alone.
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone): Another central doctrine of the Reformation was that salvation is by grace alone and that there is nothing that the sinner can do to earn or to merit salvation or God’s favor. Salvation is the free gift of God to men and this can only be obtained by the sovereign grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone): Sola fide is the teaching that justification (being declared just by God) is received by faith only, without any mixture of or need for good works, though, saving faith is always evidenced, but not determined, by good works.
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone): This is the teaching that all glory in the salvation of sinners must be given to God alone, since salvation is accomplished solely through His sovereign will and action.
The doctrines of Grace
We believe that the effects of sin have extended to all parts of our being rendering us incapable of spiritual understanding and love towards God; therefore, we are in a totally hopeless condition, unable to do anything to get ourselves out of this fallen state. For this reason, God, who is sovereign in all areas including the salvation of sinners, calls His elect to salvation through faith in Christ and obedience to the Gospel. The way God does this is by sending his Holy Spirit to work a great change in the sinner’s heart, enabling them to see their sin and their need of a savior and leading them to put their faith in Christ alone for salvation. Those who have been regenerated and called by God in this manner will be preserved by His power and the operation of his grace and will persevere in the faith unto the end of their lives.
We believe that God does this through the human will and He does not force anyone doing violence to the will of his creatures; rather we believe that God transforms our hearts and that we willingly obey to His call. This is a great mystery that moves us to say with the apostle Paul: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33)
The regulative principle of worship
We believe that the Bible describes the only acceptable ways to worship God, either by command or by example. God is not to be worshiped according to the imagination and devices of men.
The means established by God in the Scriptures for His worship are: Prayer, thanksgiving, reading the Scriptures, preaching and hearing the Word of God. Teaching and admonishing one another with hymns, psalms and spiritual songs, and also the administration of the ordinances established by our Lord: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
The centrality of the Church
God declares in his word that the Church is “the house of God… the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1Timothy 3:15), therefore He commands that all believers should be members of a local Church for mutual edification of its members, for the exercise of the spiritual gifts given to each believer, and for subjection and accountability to the local authorities established by God on each congregation.
Lordship salvation
True salvation is evidenced by a life of submission, sanctification and obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord; therefore we reject the notion that it is possible to accept Jesus as savior only by responding to an altar call and praying the “sinner’s prayer” without any visible manifestation of a renewed life of faith and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible declares that the same grace that saves us also teaches us to deny ungodliness and live soberly and righteously in this present world.
Family integration
We believe that families must worship God together; we don’t have a special church for children and we encourage parents to train their children to be disciplined and sit quietly during the service and worship God with their parents.
We don’t reject Sunday School as something intrinsically wrong, rather, we see it as a time of Bible study.
More
We use the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith as a foundation of our articles of faith. This non-inspired document is an excellent summary of biblical truth.
We also have a statement of faith that summarizes the most important doctrines contained in our confession.