What we TEACH

Come join us as we assemble as believers who are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone! 

What is the Church

The Church consists of all those individuals whom God has saved by Himself, from Himself, for Himself throughout the world. The Church in its individual congregations has defining characteristics of the body of Christ found in Scripture.

These marks are: the right preaching of God's Word, the faithful and accurate declaration of the Gospel, the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, growth in the discipleship and righteousness, discipline of her members, and her submission to Jesus Christ as the only true and rightful head of the Church. (1 Tim. 3:13; Matt. 28:19; 16:19; 1 Cor. 11:24-26).

The 5 Solas of the Reformation

Sola Scriptura emphasizes the Bible alone as the source of authority for Christians. By saying, “Scripture alone,” the Reformers rejected both the divine authority of the Roman Catholic Pope and confidence in sacred tradition. 

Only the Bible was “inspired by God” (2 Peter 1:20-21) and “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Anything taught by the Pope or in tradition that contradicted the Bible was to be rejected. Sola scriptura also fueled the translation of the Bible into German, French, English, and other languages, and prompted Bible teaching in the common languages of the day, rather than in Latin. 

Sola Fide emphasizes salvation as a free gift. The Roman Catholic Church of the time emphasized the use of indulgences (donating money) to buy status with God. Good works, including baptism, were seen as required for salvation. Sola fide stated that salvation is a free gift to all who accept it by faith (John 3:16). Salvation is not based on human effort or good deeds (Ephesians 2:9). 

Solo Christus (sometimes listed as Solus Christus, “through Christ alone”) emphasizes the role of Jesus in salvation. The Roman Catholic tradition had placed church leaders such as priests in the role of intercessor between the laity and God. 

Reformers emphasized Jesus’ role as our “high priest” who intercedes on our behalf before the Father. Hebrews 4:15 teaches, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus is the One who offers access to God, not a human spiritual leader. 

Sola Gratia emphasizes grace as the reason for our salvation. In other words, salvation comes from what God has done rather than what we do. Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

Soli Deo Gloria emphasizes the glory of God as the goal of life. Rather than striving to please ourselves or church leaders, or keep a list of rules, or guard our own interests, our goal is to glorify the Lord. The idea of soli Deo Gloria is found in 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

The 5 Solas of the Protestant Reformation offered a strong corrective to faulty practices and beliefs at the time of their conception, and they remain just as needed and relevant today.  We are called to God by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, all for the glory of God alone.

The Doctrines of Grace

The historic five points of Calvinism, simplified in the acrostic TULIP, distinguish Reformed theology at the key points of issue, but in no way exhaust the content of Reformed theology. 

These five points include:

T

- total depravity

U

- unconditional election

L

- limited atonement

I

- irresistible grace

P

- perseverance of saints

Total depravity declares that all men are corrupted by the Fall to the extent that sin penetrates the whole person, leaving them in a state by which they are now by nature spiritually dead and at enmity with God. This results in the bondage of the will to sin by which the sinner is morally unable to incline himself to God, or to convert himself, or to exercise faith without first being spiritually reborn by the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit (Ps. 51:5, Rom. 5:12, Col. 2:13, John 3:5-7).

Unconditional election refers to God's sovereign and gracious work of election by which, from all eternity, God determines to exercise saving grace to a particular group of people chosen from out of the mass of fallen humanity. God gives this saving grace according to the good pleasure of His will, and not according to some foreseen actions, responses, or conditions met by men. God's election is based purely on His sovereign grace and not upon anything done by humans. The elect are brought to true repentance and saving faith by the work of the Holy Spirit. The elect receives special saving grace from God. The non-elect receive common grace, experience the common benefits of sun and rain, but in the end are passed over, remain in their sin, and receive the justice of God (Deut. 7:6,7, Rom. 8:28-30, Eph. 1:4, 1 Peter 2:8,9, John 6:44, Matt. 5:45).

Limited atonement means that though the value and merit of Christ's atonement are unlimited and sufficient to save the whole world and are offered to all who repent and believe, the efficacy of the atonement is applied only to the elect, and that, by God's design. This means that in God's eternal plan of salvation the atonement was designed to accomplish redemption for the elect and that God's plan of redemption is not frustrated by the refusal of the impenitent to avail themselves of its benefits. In this sense all for whom the atonement was designed to save, will be saved (2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Peter 3:18, Gal. 3:13, John 11).

Irresistible grace refers to the grace of regeneration by which God effectually calls His elect inwardly, converting them to Himself, and quickening them from spiritual death to spiritual life. Regeneration is the sovereign and immediate work of the Holy Spirit, working monergistically. This grace is operative, not cooperative, meaning that those who are regenerate always come to saving faith, as they are made willing to come to Christ to Whom they most certainly flee and cling for their redemption (Ez. 36:26-27, Rom. 8:30, John 3:3-8, Titus 3:5, Eph. 2:1-10).

Perseverance of the saints means that those who are truly regenerate and truly come to saving faith will never lose their salvation. They may fall into manifold temptations and spiritual weakness, but never fully and finally because God, by His grace, preserves them. The intercession of Christ for the elect is efficacious unto eternity (John 3:16, John 10:27-30, Rom. 8:35-39, 1 Jn. 5:13).