A Confessional Church

We live in an age where the bride of Christ is under a worldwide attack. The assaults are numerous and varied from physical, to cultural, political and educational. The goal is to undermine the foundational truths of God’s Holy Word. As with the undermining of education to move away from truth to a new narrative (multiple genders and the like) error has crept into the church in a multi-faceted agenda, from seeker-sensitive to a widely welcoming approach, worldly music, dumbing down biblical worship and a move away from biblical counsel. Of course, the errors of our day are neither unique nor new; church history has been marked by those who twist and misuse the scriptures to assert their own novelties of doctrine and practice. Thus, the primary source of the scriptures is expounded and described in the Second London Confession of Faith, which scripture commands clear statements of doctrinal belief and practice. We must not minimize or obscure what the scriptures clearly hold forth as essential and clear. Furthermore, we observe how creeds and confessions have been profitable tools throughout church history to guard the clear authority and preserve the doctrines set down and contained in God’s Word. Subsequently, a Confession of Faith serves as a helpful tool for our assembly to pass on to those who by God’s grace should find comfort and harmony through “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3 ESV).

Sufficiency and authority of the Word of GodConfessional churches are distinguished by their conviction regarding the inerrancy, sufficiency, and authority of God’s Word. Although all true Christians believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of God’s Word, not all believe in the sufficiency of the Bible. All true believers believe that the Bible was “breathed out” by God and that it is infallible and without error in all its parts. To deny this would be to call God a liar and therefore to lose one’s soul. But while all true Christians believe this, not all seek to regulate their Christian worldview and church life by the Word of God.The Church exists for the glory of God!We as a church should be identified by an unshakable conviction that the church exists for the glory of God. Because the Church exists for the glory of God, the worship of God and the Word of God must be central to its life. The Church is the house of God, not of man. It is the place where He meets with His people in a special way. However, this does not mean that it should be a dull, gloomy, impassive, and insensitive place. The place where God dwells is the most glorious place on earth for the saint and is an oasis for the soul thirsty for sin that seeks God’s grace.

However, God’s dwelling place is also solemn and holy. “How awesome is this place! This is nothing but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven,” was Jacob’s exclamation in Genesis 28. Scripture defines the Church.All the great confessions have agreement on what the Bible defines as the Church. The Bible and only the Bible defines the offices of the Church. The Bible speaks of their number [two offices, elders (overseers) and deacons (servers)], their qualifications, and their function. The Bible is sufficient guidance as to what worship is and how it is to be offered, as well as who may be a member of the Church and what is required of those members. The Bible is also sufficient to instruct about what the Church should do, how to cooperate with other churches, how to send missionaries, train men for the ministry, and many other things related to God’s will for His people.The local church is central to God’s purposes.The local church is central to God’s purposes on earth. The current age of para-church organizations only supplants what the local church should be doing. It is also the age of independent-minded Christians who hop from church to church without ever committing to any church. This attitude is not only spiritually dangerous, but it is completely contrary to the revealed will of God.

Although they may have correctly diagnosed the failure of a church in its mission, the answer is not to abandon the church, but to seek its biblical reformation and restoration. The great commission of the Church is fulfilled as preachers of the gospel are sent out by local churches to plant new churches through conversion, baptism and discipleship. Preaching is central to the local church.We should be distinguished by the conviction that preaching is central to the life of the Church. How is God most pleased to save sinners? How is God most pleased to exhort, challenge, and edify his saints? How does Christ manifest himself most powerfully to the mind and heart? In and through the preaching of the Word of God! Thus, we reject the tendency toward superficial teaching, canceled preaching services, the exchange of worship services for testimonials, movies, drama, dance, or song. The Word of God must be central in the worship of God. Paul warned of the day to come when even pious people will have itching ears, heaping up teachers according to their own lusts. Salvation is a radical transformation.We are to be distinguished by the conviction that salvation radically changes the life of the convert. We oppose sentimentalism and decisional regeneration, which poses the idea that someone prays a formulated prayer and is then declared saved. It doesn’t matter if he abandons sin or seeks holiness. When Paul describes the conversion of the Ephesians, he uses the greatest antonyms in human language: “You were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” And in 2 Corinthians 6:14, Paul asks a rhetorical question: “What fellowship does light have with darkness?” Jesus does not leave his people in their worldly darkened condition. Jesus came to save his people from their sins.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. Jesus came to form a people zealous for good works. It is an unbiblical idea that a man can embrace Christ as Savior and reject lordship from him. The Word of God in no place teaches that Christ can be divided. If anyone has Christ, he has received a complete Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King.The law of God regulates the lives of believers.Confessional Christians are confessing Christians. Our lives are lived out confessing who we are and so we hold to the conviction that the Law of God (as expressed in the Ten Commandments) regulates the lives of New Covenant believers. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:19 that “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.” The present age of Antinomian (lawless) Christianity makes no demands on its converts. But God’s way of holiness has not changed. The law written in the heart at creation (Romans 2:14-15) is the same law codified in the Ten Commandments on Sinai, and it is the same law written in the hearts of those who enter the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31: 33 and 2 Corinthians 3:3). The Apostle John wrote: “He who says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, such is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Jesus told his disciples that the way they would show that they truly loved him is by obeying his commandments. Jesus said in Matthew 7 that many professing Christians will be cast out at the last day because they were evildoers who did not do the will of the Father.

Among God’s laws none is more abhorred than the thought that God requires believers to give of their time to worship him and to withdraw from worldly pursuits. In recent years many have relentlessly attacked the fourth commandment. Presbyterian pastor and biblical commentator Albert Barnes once wrote: “In this land there is a situation that tends to do away with the Sabbath altogether. The Sabbath has more enemies on this earth than all other religious institutions combined.” At the same time, John Bunyan wrote: “A man will show his heart and life, what he is, more for one Lord’s Day than for all the other days of the week. Delighting in the service of God on His Holy Day gives a better proof of a sanctified nature than grumbling at the coming of such [holy] days.” Male leadership in the Church.A biblical understanding of God’s creation of man is characterized by male leadership in the Church. This era has witnessed the feminization of Christianity. God created two sexes and gave each a different corresponding role (complementarianism). Though the sexes are equal at Creation, Fall, and Redemption, nonetheless, God has sovereignly ordained that leadership in the home and church be male. Those whose minds have been unduly influenced by this generation find the worship, leadership, and family structure alarming. When the Bible talks about husbands and fathers leading the home, it is not conditioned by culture. When the Bible speaks of men leading in teaching, preaching, and serving as elders and deacons, Christians need to be obedient to scripture. Church membership.We need to be distinguished by a conviction regarding the serious nature of being a Church of regenerate and covenanting believers. We take to heart the admonition in Hebrews 10:24-25 to “stir up love and good works; not failing to congregate.”

Thus, we must take seriously the duties and responsibilities of belonging to a Church and taking responsibility through Church membership. It is impossible for someone to participate in the life of the Church in the way God intended and yet be voluntarily absent from its public meetings. Few Churches would make such a demand. Baptistic.The name “Baptist” summarizes the certain biblical truths concerning both the subjects and the mode of baptism. Regarding the subjects of baptism, we believe the Bible teaches that only those with a credible profession of faith may be baptized (Matthew 28:19), and only baptized believers should join the membership of a local Church (1 Corinthians 1:2 ; 12:13; Ephesians 1:1). Likewise, we take evangelism and missions seriously. As more people believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God advances, and new Churches can be established. Therefore, we preach the gospel to every creature, calling all people without distinction to trust in Christ for salvation (Matthew 28:19-20).