Reformed Distinctives

To be Reformed is to hold a biblical view of Christian faith and practice shaped by the principles of the Protestant Reformation — a movement committed to bringing all of life, doctrine, and worship under the supreme authority of Scripture.

Thus, a Reformed church recognizes that the key theological distinctives recovered in the Protestant Reformation align with Scripture and mirror historic Christian orthodoxy, throughout the centuries & dating back to the early church & the apostles and prophets.

To be Reformed is to continuously reform our hearts, through the Holy Spirit’s ministry in accordance with the Word of God, turning from all unbiblical practices and pursuing biblical worship, sound doctrine, and godly living.

Salvation by Grace Alone

Sola Gratia

We reaffirm that in salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by his grace alone. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to sin and raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life.

We deny that salvation is in any sense a human work. Human methods, techniques or strategies by themselves cannot accomplish this transformation. Faith is not produced by our unregenerated human nature.*

*Taken from the Cambridge Declaration of 1996; https://alliancenet.org/about/cambridge-declaration

Because the covenant of works was broken by sin and was unable to confer life, God was pleased to proclaim the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect and producing in them faith and repentance. In this promise the gospel in its substance was revealed and made effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners.

- 1689 London Baptist Confession, 20:1

Sin

We live in a suffering & dying world because we are all guilty of sinning against the righteous laws of the righteous King. Because we sin every day, there is no hope that we can fulfill God's perfect law perfectly. On our own, we only earn eternal damnation, a debt that only daily increases.

The Righteous Mediator

Yet God did not leave us without hope. Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, was born of a virgin and did not share in our forefather Adam’s sinful nature. He lived the sinless life that no one else could live, fulfilling all righteousness on behalf of His people. Out of love, He took their punishment upon Himself, dying in their place on the cross.

The eternal Son of God paid the eternal debt for sin, that we might receive eternal life. After three days, He rose from the dead, proving that He is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament Scriptures, and securing for believers the hope of resurrection and everlasting life. This Gospel, or Good News, is good not because we can work our way to God, but because we have Jesus to bring us to God.

Faith That Produces Obedience

This saving work of Christ is applied to all who trust in Him. We are not made righteous by our own deeds, but by faith alone in Jesus Christ and His finished work. Those who truly believe are reconciled to the Father and made new by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

This new life necessarily bears fruit. We obey not to earn salvation but because we have been saved. As redeemed children of God, we joyfully pursue righteousness, love others, and proclaim the gospel of Christ. We read Scripture, pray, gather in worship as the Church, the family of God, and share our faith — not to climb into heaven by effort, but because grace has renewed our hearts to love and obey our King.

Salvation by Grace Alone

Sola Gratia

*Taken from the Cambridge Declaration of 1996; https://alliancenet.org/about/cambridge-declaration

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,

work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

- Philippians 2:12-13

1. Total Depravity

In contrast to the popular Arminian view that man is merely wounded by sin, Reformed theology teaches the doctrine of total depravity. This does not mean that every person is as bad as he could possibly be; it means that the fall corrupted every aspect of human nature and that fallen man is dead in sin. Not sick, dead.*

2. Unconditional Election

In contrast to the Arminian view that God elected some based on their foreseen faith in Christ, Reformed theology teaches the doctrine of unconditional election. This means that God’s election of sinners to salvation is not conditioned on anything outside of God’s nature. God is not dependent in any way on His creatures.*

3. Limited Atonement

In contrast to the Arminian view that Christ’s death was for all of humanity, making the redemption of all human beings possible, Reformed theology teaches the doctrine of limited atonement (or better, definite atonement). This means that rather than making redemption possible, Christ actually accomplished the redemption of those for whom He died.*

4. Irresistible Grace

In contrast to the Arminian view that grace is resistible, Reformed theology teaches the doctrine of irresistible grace. Reformed theology teaches that the Holy Spirit will regenerate all those for whom Christ died. While unbelievers may resist the external call of the gospel, the elect among them will hear and respond to the internal call. God will sovereignly give them the gift of faith, and they will walk out of the tomb of spiritual death.*

5. Perseverance of the Saints

Finally, in contrast to the Arminian view that truly regenerate Christians can fall away permanently from the faith, Reformed theology teaches the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. Those who have been chosen by God, those for whom Christ died and who have been called out of death and into life, God will preserve by His grace until the end. No one will ever snatch them out of their Father’s hand.*

*Cited from What Are the Five Points of Calvinism, by Dr. Keith Mathison

Salvation by Grace Alone

Sola Gratia

*Taken from the Cambridge Declaration of 1996; https://alliancenet.org/about/cambridge-declaration

“But this is the covenant which I will cut with the house of Israel after those days,” declares Yahweh: “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

- Jeremiah 31:33

What is Covenant Theology?

Covenant theology is the Bible’s own storyline told through the promises God makes and keeps. Rather than reading Scripture as a loose collection of stories or moral lessons, covenant theology recognizes that God reveals Himself and His redemptive work through covenants—binding commitments He makes with His people to redeem His people.

At its core, covenant theology sees two great covenants that structure humanity’s relationship to God: the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. Given to Adam, the covenant of works promised life by demanding perfect obedience. After Adam’s failure, God did not abandon His creation; rather He established the covenant of grace, promising to save sinners through a Redeemer. Every subsequent biblical covenant—Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and the New Covenant—unfolds, clarifies, and advances that one promise: salvation by grace through Christ alone.

Why Covenant Theology Matters

Covenant Theology guides how we read & understand the Bible. Because God is consistently working out His history of redeeming His people, we can then read the Scriptures with this understanding. We do not see many unconnected stories & values; instead we see God's unified plan of redemption from Genesis to Revelation. Relationally, Covenant Theology provides us the confidence that God has always worked in history to reconcile His people to Himself, looking to the Day of Christ where we will see Him face to face. Practically, Covenant Theology reminds us to frame our Christian lives within God's redemptive story, taking our marching orders & values from God's redemptive story, not the world's trends or expectations.

Salvation by Grace Alone

Sola Gratia

*Taken from the Cambridge Declaration of 1996; https://alliancenet.org/about/cambridge-declaration

The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule

of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.

- Second London Baptist Confession, 1:1

Purpose

In light of the affirmation above, the church throughout history has recognized the value of openly declaring the faith once for all delivered to the saints. It has never been sufficient to merely say, “I believe the Bible”; demons can say the same. The real question is: what do you believe the Bible teaches?

For this reason, the church has expressed its doctrinal unity in creeds and confessions. We gladly stand with the believers who came before us, echoing with clarity and conviction the great truths of Scripture.

Definition

Creeds are shorter summarized declarations of the redemptive plan of God, His character & attributes, & the hope we have, both in life & death, in Christ.

Confessions are larger, more robust bodies of systematic doctrines. They address the authority of Scripture, the nature of God, the covenants, salvation in Christ, Christian liberty, the church, and the final judgment. They give a clear, organized articulation of what the Bible teaches across the whole range of Christian belief.

Function

Creeds and confessions serve two primary purposes in the life of a church.

First, they provide a unified and public standard of faith, teaching, and practice. They remove confusion by plainly stating what we believe the Scriptures teach. This clarity strengthens the church’s unity and helps members know exactly where their church stands.

Second, they act as doctrinal guardrails. By articulating biblical teaching before or when controversies arise, creeds and confessions help protect the church from confusion, drift, and false teaching. They do not replace Scripture, but they clarify the church’s understanding of Scripture.

To be clear, creeds and confessions do not create truth, establish new standards of righteousness, or compete with Scripture. They simply echo, summarize, and confess the truths God has revealed in His Word.