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Statement   of Faith

 

1. There is but one living and true God, working all things according to the counsel of His most immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory.

2. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestined unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death. Those predestined unto everlasting life, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, and effectually called unto faith in Christ by His Spirit. They are justified, adopted, sanctified and kept by His power, through faith, unto salvation.

3. Lord Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, is the Mediator between God and man, the King, and Judge of the world. He perfectly fulfilled the law. He suffered, was crucified and died, taking upon Himself the punishment due for the transgressions of the law by the saints. On the third day He arose from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and sits there at the right hand of His Father, and shall return to judge men and angels, at the end of the world.

4. Believers were created to bring glory to God and to do good works. Good works, done in obedience to God's law/commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ. We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life, but the good works of believers are accepted through Christ.

5. God's law/commandments shall continue to be the standard of righteousness and love until heaven and earth pass away. It is summarized in the ten commandments delivered to Moses: the first four (or five) commandments containing our duty to God; and the other six (or five) our duty to man. Besides this law God gave the people of Israel several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ. All which ceremonial laws no longer apply now that Christ has died, has been resurrected, and has ascended into Heaven. The judicial laws were particular to Israel as they were written, but their equity obliges all persons, defines justice, and establishes the power, authority, and limits of all civil government. The works of the law never produced salvation. Even Adam and all those under the first covenant were not saved by the blood of animals or any good works done in obedience to the law, but by grace through faith they were saved by the blood of Christ.

6. With the ceremonial laws now no longer applicable, the ceremonies under the New Testament include Baptism and the Lord's Supper. These sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace that have spiritual and physical significance. They are for believers and their households, including children.

7. Under the New Testament, the liberty of Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and in fuller commications fo the free Spirit of God. We have also had the direct example of the Son of God and His interpretation of the Scriptures as He lived a life in perfect obedience to the commandments, and He has commanded us to follow His example and teachings.

Much of the above is quoted from or a summary of the Westminster Confession of Faith, 1646, but there are some elaborations which are my own. Noteably, the Confession does not address the issue of children partaking of the Lord's Supper. ~ CR Bingham