There are three words that we use to describe who we are and what we believe at Redeemer Reformed Baptist Church. These words are Evangelical, Reformed, and Baptist.

 

EVANGELICAL

 

By claiming to be “Evangelical,” we are committed to the preservation and the communication of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Historically, Evangelicals have always been those who believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God containing the life-saving, life-transforming gospel. They have been the ones concerned to communicate this gospel (evangel) to the whole world. So over the years, one could speak of “evangelical” Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists and know that they were members of those denominations who believe in the Bible, the power of the gospel which saves those who believe, and the evangelistic preaching of this gospel at home and to the uttermost parts of the world.

 

REFORMED

 

By calling ourselves “Reformed,” we identify ourselves with the theology commonly expressed in the confessions of the 16th and 17th century as a result of the Protestant Reformation. The key ideas of the Reformation were captured in five Latin slogans:

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• SOLA SCRIPTURA – The scripture alone is our final authority in every area of life because it is the Word of God;

• SOLA CHRISTI – Christ alone, in his perfect life and atoning death in the sinner’s place, is the basis for our acceptance by God;

• SOLA GRATIA – The grace of God alone in Christ, not works of human merit or effort, is how God saves sinners;

• SOLA FIDE – Faith alone is the means by which sinners receive or appropriate this grace of God;

• SOLI DEO GLORIA – To God alone be the glory for saving sinners and for everything else in this life and the life to come, eternal.

 

BAPTIST

 

By taking the name “Baptist,” we are stating our conviction that only professing believers should be baptized and become members of the local church. We believe, without reservation, that baptism is for believers only because of the progress of the covenants, the commands of Christ, and the example of the early church. With respect to the purpose of baptism, we believe that it is an outward visible sign or symbol of the inward spiritual reality that a believer is engrafted into Christ through personal repentance and faith in Jesus and his saving work alone. Those who are baptized should join themselves to a local church where they can give themselves to the Word, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.