1. Election in Christ
  2. Covenant Life
  3. Baptism and Lord’s Supper
  4. Sanctification
  5. Priesthood of All Believers
  6. Mission of the Church
  7. Stewardship


ELECTION IN CHRIST

Our salvation and sanctification are based entirely on God’s initiative and God’s grace. It is not primarily about our choice but God’s choice. The Reformed understanding of election is that God has chosen us in Christ  for salvation and service- 

  • To be redeemed,
  • To be God’s own “treasured possession,” a holy nation and a kingdom of priests,
  • To live holy and exemplary lives, zealous for good works,
  • Resulting in praise for the glory of God’s grace.

Our salvation is not an accident we stumble into or a destiny we create. It is God’s gracious purpose for our life and it is for God’s glory.

God has elected us out of grace. God has elected us from eternity. We are elected in Christ, that is- Christ is God’s elected Son, chosen to redeem God’s creation and to be Mediator and Savior for humankind. Our election is not direct, but indirect-we are elected on account of Christ, with the result that those who are now grafted into Christ by faith are also be elected.

As those chosen by God, we are predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Our purpose, then, is to glorify God by our redeemed and sanctified life. Our faith in Christ and our good works are evidence and confirmation that we are chosen by God to be His.

Election is a doctrine intended to reassure Christians of the security of their salvation and of the steadfast love of God for them, and to instill in them a sense of divine purpose and a zeal for good works.  A person may know with complete assurance, on the basis of the promises of scripture and God’s faithfulness, that if they are trusting in Christ for their salvation, they indeed are in Christ and are elected.

What Is Not Affirmed
Any doctrine-

  • That denies God’s initiative in calling persons to Himself.
  • That asserts that all people will ultimately be reconciled to God.
  • That asserts a profession of faith without bearing any fruit.

Scripture
Psalm 139:16; John 15:5, 8, 16; Ephesians 1:4-7, 11-13; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Timothy 1:9

Confessions
Scots Confession 3.08; Second Helvetic Confession 5.052, 5.053, 5.059-60

COVENANT LIFE

Covenant, in the cultural context of the Bible, described the strongest relationship of love and loyalty between persons. It was a solemn relationship and bond, often with explicit oaths and obligations, often sealed solemnly with the blood of sacrifice. Reconciliation after hostility and conflict was often marked by a covenant ceremony. A covenant was entered into by faith as a relationship of trust and solemn promises; it was held together by faithfulness. Covenant faithfulness led to blessing and life; breaking covenant invoked a curse. Covenants described the relationship between rulers and subjects, wife and husband, business partners, neighboring nations. God adapted this covenant model to describe his special relationship and bond with the people he redeemed.

God’s covenants had different forms and details at different times in salvation history (for example, with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David), but they reflected a single sovereign and gracious purpose to redeem, sanctify, and preserve a people who belonged to God. The divine covenant was always initiated by God; it was sustained by God’s faithfulness in spite of humankind’s history of unfaithfulness; it was an expression of God’s steadfast love (Hebrew, hesed); and it reached a culmination and fullness in the “new covenant” (Luke 22:20) established and perfected by Jesus Christ.

In Jesus, the promised Messiah, we encounter personally and directly the Mediator of God’s perfect and everlasting covenant (Hebrews 9:15). Jesus has perfectly fulfilled the obligations of the covenant for us; he has demonstrated complete faithfulness to God as a covenant partner. In his substitutionary death he took on himself the curse for our covenant breaking, ended the hostility our sins had caused, reconciled us and made us right with God. Those who put their faith in Christ are spiritually united with him, enter the new covenant where there is salvation and redemption, become members of the covenant community called the church, and enjoy the covenant promises of eternal life and blessing.

Every believer is called to be a faithful and participating member of a local church, where “the community of the new covenant” has local expression and where they can be discipled into holiness and maturity. The community of the new covenant is to be a demonstration of the supernatural reality and power of the kingdom of God-what the world looks like and might become where God is acknowledged as King; a community of love and wholeness; a ministry extending the healing, deliverance, and grace that marked the life of Jesus and his disciples.

What Is Not Affirmed
Any doctrine-

  • that promotes a covenant life which is to be lived out in a solitary manner, devoid of community;
  • that suggests that covenant life need not be different than the life of the unbeliever in any profound way;
  • that would seek to lay the foundation of our covenant life on anything other than or contrary to God’s Word.

Scripture
Genesis 6:18; 9:8-17; 17:1-8; Exodus 19:3-6; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; 31:31-34; Luke 22:20; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 2:9-10

Confessions
Scots Confession 3.16; Second Helvetic Confession 5.125-5.126; Confession of 1967 9.31

BAPTISM AND LORD’S SUPPER

The church receives from the Lord Jesus Christ two sacred and symbolic actions, called sacraments, which enact and perform (symbolize and seal) the promises of the gospel. These sacraments are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Baptism is the sign and seal of incorporation into Christ and of the washing away of sin through his sacrifice. Baptism publicly acknowledges that the one baptized is part of the covenant community of faith. Baptizing infants reminds us that God reaches out to us even before we are able to respond in faith.

The Lord’s Supper, using bread and wine, is the sign and seal of our ongoing communion with the living Christ and of his life continuing to nourish us.  Celebrating the Lord’s Supper, we give thanks as we remember that Christ lived for us, Christ died for us and Christ will come again.

Both sacraments point to and remind us of the holy sacrifice of Christ for us. The Holy Spirit uses these sacraments-the common signs of water and of bread and wine, combined with the promises in the gospel of eternal life and forgiveness through Christ-to convey grace, salvation, and the real presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, which are received in faith by the believing community in their worship together.

What Is Not Affirmed

  • That the physical body and blood of Jesus are actually present in the Lord’s Supper.
  • That there are other sacraments besides the two instituted by the Lord Jesus.
  • That other sacraments can be instituted as the church deems suitable such as milk and honey, etc.
  • That these sacraments are mere symbols or do not involve a supernatural presence of Christ or do not supernaturally perform what they signify, that is, wash from sins and nourish us with Christ’s very life.
  • That the sacraments confer grace whether or not they are received in faith.

Scripture
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2: 38-39,42; 16:31-33; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:23-26; 12:13

Confessions
Heidelberg Catechism 4.066, 4.069-4.071, 4.074, 4.075-4.079; Second Helvetic Confession 5.169, 5.175, 5.205; Shorter Catechism 7.094, 7.096; Confession of 1967 9.51, 9.52; Brief Statement of Faith 10.4

SANCTIFICATION

The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the individual and collective life of believers effects real transformation-a life of increasing holiness, righteousness, power, and love, as we are changed more and more into the image of Christ. Though Christians are marred by sin and imperfect until Christ returns, there is a substantial manifestation of the righteousness and power of the kingdom of God in the believer, the church, and the world through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit connects us to the life of Christ and releases in us the supernatural and saving power of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and glory.

What Is Not Affirmed
Any doctrine-

  • That proclaims that total perfection occurs in this lifetime. (1 Corinthians 13:10-12)
  • That proclaims “As though there were areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ, but to other lords-areas in which we do not need justification and sanctification through Him.” (Barmen Declaration, 8.15)

Scripture
Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11; Galatians 5:22-25; Philippians 2:12-13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Confessions
Scots Confession 3.12; Westminster Confession of Faith 6.075-6.077; Shorter Catechism 7.035; Larger Catechism 7.188

PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS

Every believer, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, is called to participate in his priestly ministry. A priest functions to reconcile people to God. Jesus Christ is the eternal high priest of God’s new covenant, who offered himself as an atoning sin offering on our behalf and who is our eternal advocate before the throne of God. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.” All believers are called as disciples to do this ministry of Jesus-to participate in his priestly work of reconciling the world to God by proclaiming the gospel, doing the works of Jesus, and manifesting the reality and power of the kingdom of God in the world. This ministry is not reserved exclusively for ordained clergy and officers, but is the vocational privilege and responsibility of every Christian. 

Scripture
Exodus 19:6; Matthew 10:1, 6-7; 28:18-19; 1 Corinthians 12:7, 14, 27; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:5-6

Confessions
Second Helvetic Confession 5.153; Confession of 1967 9.31, 9.38

MISSION OF THE CHURCH

God’s redeeming and reconciling work in the world was accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and continues through the church, the body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven in the world.

Jesus Christ, as the Lord of the church, calls the church into being, declares its mission, and supernaturally equips it for its work. Its mission is: 

  • To be the provisional demonstration of the new reality God intends for humanity;
  • To proclaim the good news of salvation by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, leading persons to repentance, acceptance of Christ as Savior and Lord, and new life as his disciples;
  • To make disciples of all nations;
  • To demonstrate new life in Christ tangibly through its love for one another and the quality of its common life together, sharing in worship, fellowship, and nurture, practicing a deepened life of prayer and service under the guidance of the Holy Spirit;
  • To participate in God’s activity in the world through its life for others.

The church is to commit itself fully to this mission, waiting for and hastening the Lord’s coming again.

What Is Not Affirmed
Any witness of the Church-

  • that distorts the gospel message or holds it captive to culture;
  • that seeks justice apart from the truth of Christ;
  • that elevates sociology, psychology, education or any other discipline above the clear witness of Scripture;
  • that self-righteously appeals to others to live faithful and obedient lives rather than acknowledging the Church’s reliance on the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit in its own life and witness;
  • that is motivated by anything other than the love of Christ.

Scripture
Matthew 9:36-38, 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13-15; 2 Peter 3:10-13

Confessions
Westminster Confession of Faith 6.058; Confession of 1967 9.06, 9.43, 9.44-9.46.

STEWARDSHIP

God has given us all that we have and all that we are. He charges us with the responsibility of using all our abilities and gifts in his faithful service and to his glory-and especially to further the work and mission of the church, to relieve suffering and help the poor, to resist the devil and overcome evil. In particular God has ordered us to manage and care for creation as grateful stewards and obedient servants.

Jesus Christ is Lord of every area of our life-our spiritual life and our physical life; our social life including marriage, politics, justice, and culture; our intellectual life; our work life and our recreational life; the use of our bodies, our possessions, our resources, and our money. We are to be stewards of all of these things to manifest and extend the kingdom of God in the world, to extend the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth, and to bring glory to the name of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Scripture
Psalm 24:1; Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 4:7; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 4:8-11

Confessions
Larger Catechism 7.251; Confession of 1967 9.46; Brief Statement of Faith 10.33, 10.38