Statement of Faith

The Resurrection Church Statement of Faith is based largely on the Abstract of Principles (1858), which itself is rooted in the more comprehensive Second London Baptist Confession (1689)

The Scriptures

1

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.

God

2 The Lord’s Supper

The Resurrection

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.

Repentance

The Church

The Lord’s Day

The Trinity

3

God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

The Mediator

Sanctification

The Judgment

Providence

4

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 way to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.

Election

5

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—as a result of which they are called, justified, and glorified.

The Fall of Man

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10

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12

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15

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19

20 Justification

Regeneration

Faith

Perseverance of the Saints

Baptism

Liberty of Conscience

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 descendants inherit a corrupt nature that is wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.

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 Lord of the Universe.

Repentance is a gift of God, in which a person is convicted by the Holy Spirit of the many evils of their sin, so that, by faith in Christ they humble themselves with godly sorrow and hatred of their sin, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.

Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of everything revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is worked in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.

Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners from all sin, through the satisfaction Christ has made; not because of anything worked in them or done by them, but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, which they receive and rest on by faith.

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, striving after a holy life in sincere obedience to all Christ’s commands.

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.

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon all believers, wherein they are 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.

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.

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.

God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in any way contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Civil magistrates, being ordained of God, ought to be obeyed in all lawful things they command, not only for fear of punishment, but also for the sake of conscience.

After death, the bodies of all people return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God—the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness until the judgment. On the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.

God has appointed a day, wherein 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.

A Covenant of Fellowship describes the commitments church members make to one another as they follow Christ together. It summarizes the biblical responsibilities of membership: gathering faithfully, pursuing holiness, caring for one another, seeking peace, giving generously, and living together as a committed local church.

Covenant of Fellowship

Having been led by the Spirit of God to repent of our sin and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and having been baptized upon our profession of faith in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we now, in the presence of God and one another, solemnly and joyfully enter into this covenant as one body in Christ.

We will, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, walk together in Christian love, striving for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We will faithfully gather for worship, uphold the preaching of God’s Word, and gladly submit to the doctrine, ordinances, and discipline of this church. We will give cheerfully and regularly to support its ministry, the care of its members, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the gospel to all nations.

We will pursue personal holiness, walking carefully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly desires. We will be just in our dealings, faithful in our responsibilities, and exemplary in our conduct.

We will practice private and family devotions, bringing up those under our care in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. We will seek the salvation of our family, friends, and neighbors, living as faithful witnesses of Christ.

We will watch over one another in brotherly love, praying for one another, caring for one another in sickness and distress, rejoicing together in God’s kindness, and bearing one another’s burdens and sorrows. We will humbly and lovingly correct, encourage, and restore one another as the Lord leads.

We will put away gossip, slander, sinful anger, and division. We will be slow to take offense, quick to seek peace, and eager to pursue reconciliation.

If we are led to leave this church, we will do so in a spirit of love, openness, and truth, and we will, as soon as possible, unite with another faithful church where we can carry out the principles of this covenant and the teachings of God’s Word.

Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.