Reformed Church Beliefs
General Information
We believe that the basis of truth and education must be found
in the Triune God and His infallible Word. All core beliefs must
be based upon principles established in the infallible sixty-six
books of sacred Scripture.
These core beliefs are explained in these doctrinal standards:
The Heidelberg Catechism
The Belgic Confession of Faith
The Canons of Dordt
A short summary of these core beliefs is as follows:
- We believe that there is one true God, and that He is eternal,
incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, in finite, omnipresent,
independent, omniscient, indivisible, almighty, perfectly wise,
just, gracious, and the overflowing fountain of all good.
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise
God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen"(I Tim. 1:17).
We believe that this God, though one in essence, has revealed Himself
in three distinct and coequal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit. "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one"
(I John 5:7)
- We believe that God has revealed Himself to man by two means:
first, by general revelation through His creation, His providence,
and man's conscience; secondly, He makes Himself far more clearly and
fully known by special revelation through His Word, the Holy Bible.
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world
are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even
his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse"
(Romans 1:20). "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures
of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God,
made known to all nations for the obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26).
- We believe that the Bible is not the reflection of the will of man,
but that holy men of God spake as they were inspired and moved by the
Holy Spirit. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost"
(II Peter 1:21). The Bible is the complete and only infallible Word of
God delivered to mankind, essential to know unto salvation. In the
English language, we believe that this Word is most accurately and
soundly conveyed to us by the King James Version.
- We believe that this Word of God not only teaches the truth about
God but also about man. We believe that God created man perfect and
upright, and after His own image in knowledge, righteousness, and
holiness. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of
God created he him; male and female created he them" (Gen. 1:27).
"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge
after the image of him that created him" (Col. 3:10).
"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created
in righteousness and 'true holiness' (Eph. 4:24).
- We believe that man willingly subjected himself to sin and fell
from his holy state. Consequently all are born in sin and will die in
sin, unless regenerated by the Spirit of God to find complete salvation
in the one Mediator, Jesus Christ. "Wherefore, as by one man sin
entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all
men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). And you, being dead
in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened
together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses" (Col. 2:13).
- We believe in the one and only Mediator between God and man, the
Lord Jesus Christ, Who in OnePerson is both God and man:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of theVirgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried: He
descended into hell:
The third day he rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the
Father Almighty:
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
(Apostles' Creed)
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"
(Act 4:12).
- We believe in the so-called Five Points of Calvinism.
- In man's total depravity:
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only
evil continually" (Gen. 6:5). "God looked down from heaven
upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand,
that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether
become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one"
(Psalm 53:2,3).
- In unconditional election:
"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
So then it is not ofhim that willeth nor of him that runneth, but
of God that sheweth mercy" (Rom. 9:15-16).
- In limited atonement:
"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which
thou hast given me: for they are thine" (John 17:9).
- In irresistible grace:
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me
draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in
the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore
that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me"
(John 6:44-45).
- In the perseverance of the saints:
"And I give unto them eternal life: and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28).
- We believe that the Word of God provides clear instruction not only
for the way of salvation, but also for man's everyday life in the
world. We believe that all spheres and domains of life, education
inclusive, must be subject to the ordinances and glory of God.
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do
all to the glory of God" (I Cor. 10:81).
- We believe that although infant baptism places us under the
privileges of an external (non-saving) covenant relationship with God,
we need the personal regenerating work of the Holy Spirit to bring
us into the covenant of grace in an internal (saving) covenant
relationship with God. "For he is not a Jew, which is one
outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the
flesh. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly: and circumcision is
that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter: whose praise
is not of men, but of God." (Romans 2:28-29)
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"
(John 3:8).
Also, see:
Canons of Dort
Belgic Confession
Heidelberg Catechism
The individual articles presented here were generally first published
in the early 1980s. This subject presentation was first placed
on the Internet in December 1997.
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