Faith Reformed Baptist Church
Summary of Faith
(Substantially derived in summary form from the 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith 1689, with modifications)
1. God’s Word: We believe that the 66 books of the Old and New testaments are the all-sufficient, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, the only rule for faith and practice. Consequently, we believe that God ceased special revelation with the close of the New Testament canon.
(2 Timothy 3:15-17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29,31; Ephesians 2:20; Romans 1:19-21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalms 19:1-3; Hebrews 1:1; Proverbs 22:19-21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19,20; Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19)
2. God: We believe that there is one true God, existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three consubstantial persons of the Godhead are spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
(1 Corinthians 8:4,6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12; Exodus 3:14; John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:15,16; Malachi 3:6; 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23; Psalms 90:2; Genesis 17:1; Isaiah 6:3; Psalms 115:3; Isaiah 46:10; Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36; Exodus 34:6,7; Hebrews 11:6; Nehemiah 9:32,33; Psalms 5:5,6; Exodus 34:7; Nahum 1:2,3; John 5:26; Psalms 148:13; Psalms 119:68; Job 22:2,3; Romans 11:34-36; Daniel 4:25,34,35; Hebrews 4:13; Ezekiel 11:5; Acts 15:18; Psalms 145:17; Revelation 5:12-14; 1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Exodus 3:14; John 14:11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:14,18; John 15:26; Galatians 4:6)
3. God’s Decree: We believe that God has, according to the counsel of his own will and for his own glory, foreordained whatever comes to pass.
(Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15,18; James 1:13; 1 John 1:5; Acts 4:27,28; John 19:11; Numbers 23:19; Ephesians 1:3-5)
4. God’s Creation: We believe that God made all things out of nothing, by the word of His power, in the space of six literal days, and all very good.
(John 1:2,3; Hebrews 1:2; Job 26:13; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:31)
5. Mankind: We believe that God made man male and female, after His own image in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. Further, we believe that every individual exists as either male or female; and gender/sex classification is determined by biology/genetics alone.
(Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:26; Romans 2:14,15; Genesis 3:6)
6. Man’s Fall: We believe that man was created good and fell from that state by sinning against God.
(Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:26; Romans 2:14,15; Genesis 3:6; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12, etc; Titus 1:15; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-19)
7. Total Depravity: All mankind descending from our first parents by ordinary generation are born dead in trespasses and sins. They are therein predisposed to hate God and their neighbor. They are wholly defiled in all faculties and parts of body and soul, and thereby made opposite to all good and inclined to all evil. So long as they are in this state of fallen nature they are under the wrath and curse of God.
(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12, etc; Titus 1:15; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 7:18,23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8; Romans 7:23-25; Galatians 5:17; Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21; James 1:14, 15; Matthew 15:19)
8. Common Grace: We believe that in a demonstration of mercy, God restrains much of the evil that fallen man could and would commit. Also, God, generally through secondary causes, inclines fallen mankind to perform acts that in form (though not in content) comport with the good works He requires of His creatures. Such benevolence from God is often called common grace.
(Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11; Isaiah 46:10,11; Psalms 135:6; Matthew 10:29-31; Ephesians 1:11; 2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27,29; Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4,6; 1 Corinthians 13:1; Matthew 6:2,5; Amos 5:21,22; Romans 9:16; Titus 3:5; Job 21:14,15; Matthew 25:41-43)
9. Election: We believe that God from all eternity has chosen an innumerable multitude of fallen mankind to be redeemed to eternal life by a redeemer.
(1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:34; Ephesians 1:5,6; Romans 9:22,23; Jude 4; 2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18; Ephesians 1:4,9,11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Romans 9:13,16; Ephesians 2:5,12)
10. Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer: We believe that the only redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 8:30; Romans 11:7; Ephesians 1:10, 11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14; Ephesians 2:1-6; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17, 18; Ezekiel 36:26; Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:27; Ephesians 1:19; Psalm 110:3; Song of Solomon 1:4)
11. Jesus Christ – Natures, Redemptive Work: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, being fully God, was born of a virgin, became fully man. Therefore, he became and continues to be God and man in two distinct natures and one person forever. Furthermore, we believe that while on Earth, He lived a sinless life, was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day, he rose again.
(John 1:14; Galatians 4;4; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 2:14,16,17; Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 1:22,23; Luke 1:27,31,35; Romans 9:5; 1 Timothy 2:5; Psalms 45:7; Acts 10:38; John 3:34; Colossians 2:3; Colossians 1:19; Hebrews 7:26; John 1:14; Hebrews 7:22; Hebrews 5:5; John 5:22,27; Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:36; Psalms 40:7,8; Hebrews 10:5-10; John 10:18; Gal 4:4; Matthew 3:15; Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 26:37,38; Luke 22:44; Matthew 27:46; Acts 13:37; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; John 20:25,27; Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24; Acts 10:42; Romans 14:9,10; Acts 1:11; 2 Peter 2:4)
12. Definite Atonement: We believe that by His vicarious life, death, and resurrection, the Lord Jesus secured eternal salvation for all those predestined to eternal life by his Father. Furthermore, we believe that, on the cross Jesus Christ offered to God the Father a true propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of His people.
(Psalms 40:7,8; Hebrews 10:5-10; John 10:18; Gal 4:4; Matthew 3:15; Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 26:37,38; Luke 22:44; Matthew 27:46; Acts 13:37; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; John 20:25,27; Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24; Acts 10:42; Romans 14:9,10; Acts 1:11; 2 Peter 2:4)
13. Regeneration, Preservation: We believe that only those predestined unto eternal life will in history be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Once given new life, they will repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to the saving of their souls. Those who truly repent and believe can never totally fall away in that they are preserved by the power of God.
(1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:34; Ephesians 1:5,6; Romans 9:22,23; Jude 4; 2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18; Romans 8:30; Romans 11:7; Ephesians 1:10,11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14; Ephesians 2:1-6; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17,18; Ezekiel 36:26; Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:27; Ephesians 1:19; Psalm 110:3; Song of Solomon 1:4)
14. Sanctification: We believe that all who truly repent and believe will experience the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit through sanctification. In this process of sanctification they will be increasingly enabled to die to sin and live to holiness.
(Acts 20:32; Romans 6:5,6; John 17:17; Ephesians 3:16-19; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23; Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:24; Colossians 1:11; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14)
15. Free Offer of the Gospel: We believe that the eternal purpose of God in electing only some individuals to eternal life, in no way contradicts the Christian’s and Church’s responsibility to declare that God commands all men everywhere to repent and believe the Gospel.
(Ephesians 1:4,11; Acts 17:30)
16. The Gospel, Salvation by Faith Alone: We believe that the Gospel message is this: Jesus Christ died for sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. Believe on (i.e., trust in) Him alone, and you will be saved.
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
17. The Church: We believe that all those who are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as he is offered in the gospel, ought to, so far as it is possible, join themselves to a fellowship of believers, a local expression of the church of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of ministry, mutual encouragement, accountability, and participation in the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
(John 10:16; John 12:32; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 18:15-20; Romans. 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 2:41,42; Acts 5:13,14; 2 Corinthians 9:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14,15)
18. The Last Judgment: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. Further, we believe that, at the final judgment, those who are united to Christ by faith, will be openly acknowledged and acquitted and will be made perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God for all eternity. Those who die unrepentant and without faith in Christ shall be condemned and cast into the torments of hell for all eternity.
(Acts 17:31; John 5:22,27; 1 Corinthians 6:3; Jude 6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:10,12; Matthew 25:32-46; Romans 9:22,23; Matthew 25:21,34; 2 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2 Corinthians 5:10,11; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7; Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-40; Revelation 22:20)
19. Right to Life: We believe that all persons from the time of conception to the time of natural death have an inherent right to life. Therefore, we condemn as sinful all unjust taking of life. This includes murder by abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia, as well as any other unjust killing.
(Exodus 20:13; Exodus 21:22-25)
20. Marriage: We believe that marriage can only exist between one biological man and one biological woman. Marriage is ordained by God for the mutual help of husband and wife, the generation of godly offspring, and as an antidote to sexual immorality. Further we believe that all sexual desire and behavior outside of monogamous, heterosexual marriage between one biological man and one biological woman is sinful and must be repented of.
(Genesis 1:23-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Malachi 2:15; Proverbs 5:15-19; Matthew 5:28-29)
21. Civil Government: We believe that God has ordained civil government for the orderly operating of civil society. We believe that civil government's legitimate authority exists within a sphere regulated by scripture. All people are obligated to contentedly and respectfully submit to civil authorities when their legislation is not contrary to the Word of God and when it is within their God-ordained sphere. The boundaries of the civil authority’s sphere must be drawn by God’s Word. (God determines what things are Caesar’s and what things are God’s.) When civil authorities legislate contrary to God’s law Christians must disobey. When civil authorities legislate outside of their God-ordained sphere, Christians may disobey.
(Footnote: To further understand our reasoning on this point (as well as the first two application points below) please access the sermon and notes on this website titled “A Christian View of Civil Government”, 8-15-2021).
In our contemporary setting we would apply the above principles so as to assert:
· Except in a few rare circumstances, civil authorities are operating outside of their God ordained sphere and may be resisted when they attempt to legislate an individual's medical decisions. (Decisions relative to vaccinations, mask wearing, social distancing etc. are decisions that are within the authority sphere of the individual or family).
(Footnote: Scripture records individuals seeking or being given medical treatment. (2 Kings 20:7, Prov. 31:6, Mark 5:25-26, Mark 15:23, 1 Tim. 5:23) There are no examples mandating medical treatment (other than quarantining the certifiably diseased). God has not delegated authority or responsibility to civil authorities in these areas. Therefore, they have none.)
· Except in a few rare circumstances, civil authorities are acting outside of their God ordained sphere and may be resisted when they attempt to regulate or hinder the public or private meeting, teaching, preaching, singing, fellowship or worship of the Church.
(Footnote: The church is to be governed by Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:22) and those human leaders to whom he was delegated authority (Heb. 13:17). God has not delegated authority or responsibility to civil authorities in these areas. Therefore, they have none.)
· Except in a few rare circumstances, civil authorities are acting contrary to the word of God and should be resisted when they attempt to exercise authority over the spiritual or intellectual development of children in opposition to parental desires.
(Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Proverbs 4:1; Ephesians 6:4)
· Civil authorities are acting contrary to the word of God and should be resisted when they attempt to compel speech of any kind.
(Ephesians 4:15; Ephesians 4:25; Romans 12:9)
· Civil authorities are acting contrary to the word of God and should be resisted when they attempt to conscript or register women for present or future military service.
(Deuteronomy 22:5; Numbers 1:3; Titus 2:5)