Statement of Faith
(NOTE: This is currently a work in progress)
Introduction
 
The purpose of The DRB Church’s Statement of Faith outlined below is to promote unity among the members of the Church and to protect the future of the fellowship. It is our desire for all Christians who fellowship within this local assembly to have unity in the essential doctrines of the Christian faith that are clearly found in the Holy Scriptures, at the same time have the liberty to disagree on doubtful matters, but in all that we do and say be done in love.
 
To Promote Unity among Church Members The statement of faith is designed to promote unity among members. It
  • protects the teaching of elders against subjective interpretations of Scripture.
  • establishes doctrinal essentials (and distinctives).
  • provides unifying language to explain complex doctrinal truths.
  • protects the integrity of the church’s gospel message.
  • identifies what doctrines and distinctives are (and are not) primary to the identity of the church.

For example, if one member of the church is a strict Sabbatarian, but Sabbatarianism is not among the tenets in that particular church’s statement of faith, the Sabbatarian and the non-Sabbatarian can practice (or not practice) their conviction in freedom and love.   To Protect the Future of the Church The statement of faith will protect the future of the church. It

  • establishes benchmark standards for the selection of teachers.
  • fortifies the church against shifting cultural and denominational beliefs.
  • trains potential members in basic Christian doctrine and distinctives of the church.
  • becomes a tool in the discipline process for those promoting false doctrine.

The Statement of Faith is based upon the Doctrine Grid from the ministry of the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry (Carm.org) and the Elders favorite Confession of Faith, The London Baptist Confession of 1644/46. (Both documents linked to below)   The Statement of Faith is divided into Four Sections:

  1. Primary Essentials (What Christians must believe)
  2. Secondary Essentials (What Christians should believe)
  3. Primary Non-Essentials (What Christians might believe)
  4. Secondary Non-Essentials (What Christians may believe)
 
 Section I. Primary Essentials
 
Stated specifically in scripture that these cannot be denied and still be a Christian. They deal with the nature of God, the atonement, and its method of salvation applied to the believer. Denial of any Primary Essential constitutes lack of regeneration, lack of salvation. Note: Regeneration means the believer is indwelt by God, changed, and enabled to understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:15).
ALL members of The DRB Church are required to hold to the Primary Essentials (1-5) of the Statement of Faith.
 
1) Jesus is still both God and man (John 1:1, 14; 8:24; Col. 2:9; 1 John 4:1-4).
 
1644/1646 Confession: XVI THAT He might be a prophet every way complete, it was necessary He should be God, and also that He should be man: For unless He had been God, He could never have perfectly understood the will of God; and unless He had been man, He could not suitably have unfolded it in His own person to men. John 1:18; Acts 3:22; Deut.18:15; Heb.1:1. Note That Jesus Christ is God is wonderfully and clearly expressed in the Scriptures. He is called the mighty God. lsa.9:6. That Word was God, John 1:1. Christ, who is God over all, Rom.9:5. God manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim.3:16. The same is very God, 1 John 5:20. He is the first, Rev.1:8. He gives being to all things, and without Him was nothing made, John 1:2. He forgiveth sins, Matt.9:6. He is before Abraham, John 8:58. He was and is, and ever will be the same, Heb.13:8. He is always with His to the end of the world, Matt.28:20. Which could not be said of Jesus Christ, if He were not God. And to the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, Heb.1:8. John 1:18. Also, Christ is not only perfectly God, but perfect man, made of a woman, Ga1.4:4. Made of the seed of David, Rom.1:3. Coming out of the loins of David, Acts 2:30. Of Jesse and Judah, Acts 13:23. In that the children were partakers of flesh and blood He Himself likewise took part with them, Heb.2:14. He took not on Him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham, verse 16. So that we are bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh. Eph.5:30. So that He that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified are all of one. Heb.2:11. See Acts 3:22; Deut.18:15 Heb.1:1.
 
2) Jesus rose from the dead physically in the same (John 2:19-21; 1 Cor. 15:14).
 
1644/1646 Confession: XIX CONCERNING His kingly office, Christ being risen from the dead, and ascended into heaven, and having all power in heaven and earth, He doth spiritually govern His church, and doth exercise His power over all, angels and men, good and bad, to the preservation and salvation of the elect, and to the overruling and destruction of His enemies. By this kingly power He applieth the benefits, virtue, and fruits of His prophecy and priesthood to His elect, subduing their sins, preserving and strengthening them in all their conflicts against Satan, the world, and the flesh, keeping their hearts in faith and filial fear by His Spirit: By this His mighty power He ruleth the vessels of wrath, using, limiting and restraining them, as it seems good to His infinite wisdom. 1 Cor.15:4; 1 Pet.3:21,22; Matt.28:18,19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:1, 5:30,31; John 19:36; Rom.14:9; John 5:26,27; Rom. 5:6,7,8, 14:17; Ga1.5:22,23; Mark 1:27; Heb.l:14; John 16: 15; Job 2:8; Rom.1:21; Eph.4:17,18; 2 Pet.2.
 
3) Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Rom. 3:28; 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 3:1-2; 5:1-4).
 
1644/1646 Confession; XXII FAlTH is the gift of God, wrought in the hearts of the elect by the Spirit of God; by which faith they come to know and believe the truth of the Scriptures, and the excellency of them above all other writings, and all things in the world, as they hold forth the glory of God in His attributes, the excellency of Christ in His nature and offices, and of the power and fulness of the Spirit in its [His] workings and operations; and so are enabled to cast their souls upon His truth thus believed. Eph.2:8; John 6:29, 4:10; Phi1.1:29; Ga1.5:22; John 17:17; Heb.4: 11,12; John 6:63.
 
4) The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus according to the scriptures (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:8-9).
 
1644/1646 Confession; XXV THE preaching of the gospel to the conversion of sinners, is absolutely free; no way requiring as absolutely necessary, any qualifications, preparations, or terrors of the law, or preceding ministry of the law, but only and alone the naked soul, a sinner and ungodly, to receive Christ crucified, dead and buried, and risen again; who is made a prince and a Saviour for such sinners as through the gospel shall be brought to believe on Him. John 3:14.15.1:12; Isa.55:1; John 7:37; 1 Tim.1:15; Rom.4:5.5:8; Acts 5:30.31,2:36; 1 Cor.1:22,24.
 
5) There is only one God in all existence (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6, 8).   1644/1646 Confession; I THE Lord our God is but one God, whose subsistence is in Himself; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light, which no man can approach unto; who is in Himself most holy, every way infinite, in greatness, wisdom, power, love: merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; who giveth being, moving, and preservation to all creatures. 1 Cor.8:6; lsa.44:6. 46:9; Exod.3:14; 1 Tim.6:16; Isa. 43:15; Ps.147:5; Deut.32:3; Job 36:5; Jer.10:12; Exod.34:6.7; Acts17:28; Rom.11:36.
 
Section II. Secondary Essentials
 
Not stated in scripture as essential but are derivatively essential, since they deal with accurately describing the true God, and they are based, in part, on the Primary Essentials. While some new believers may not understand some of the Secondary Essentials (6-8), rejection of these would disqualify them membership within the church fellowship.
 
6) God exists as a Trinity of persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
 
1644/1646 Confession; II IN this divine and infinite Being there is the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; each having the whole divine Essence, yet the Essence undivided; all infinite without any beginning, therefore but one God; who is not to be divided in nature, and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties. 1 Cor.1:3; John 1:1, 15:26; Exod.3:14; 1 Cor.8:6.
 
7) Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary (nature of incarnation).
 
1644/1646 Confession; IX THE Lord Jesus Christ, of whom Moses and the Prophets wrote, the Apostles preached, He is the Son of God, the brightness of His glory, etc. by whom He made the world; who upholdeth and governeth all things that He hath made; who also when the fulness of time was come, was made of a woman, of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David; to wit, of the virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her, the power of the most High overshadowing her; and He was also tempted as we are, yet without sin. Gen.3:15, 22:18, 49:10; Dan.7:13, 9:24, etc.; Prov.8:23; John 1:1,2,3; Heb.1:8; Ga1.4:4; Heb.7:14; Rev.5:5; Gen.49:9,10; Rom.l:3, 9:10; Matt.l:16; Luke 3:23,26; Heb.2:16; Isa.53:3,4,5; Heb.4:15.
 
8) Jesus is the only way to God the Father (John 14:6).   1644/1646 Confession; X JESUS Christ is made the mediator of the new and everlasting covenant of grace between God and man, ever to be perfectly and fully the prophet, priest, and king of the Church of God for evermore. 1 Tim.2:5; Heb.9:15; John 14:6; Isa.9:6,7.
 
Comments: God is a Trinity; and though a person may not understand or initially affirm the Trinity doctrine upon regeneration, he will eventually come to accept it since it is a biblically true revelation describing the true God. Jesus was born of a virgin which is essential when defending the two natures of Jesus: divine and human. If Jesus were not born of a virgin, then His patronage would be in doubt as well as His divine nature. Without a divine nature, Jesus would not be able to atone for the sins of the world.
 
Section III. Primary Non-Essentials (1 John 2:4). Denying these can bring one’s salvation into question, since the regenerate seek to live according to God’s word. Violating them does not automatically mean the person is not saved, since Christians fall into various sins. However, abiding in sins with unrepentance would be evidence that the person is not regenerated.   All members of The DRB Church are called to love Christ and obey His commandments. We understand that everyone is being sanctified by the Lord of Glory, and all struggle with sin of the flesh. However, this does not mean that they are free to willfully live in such a way that is disobedient to the Word of God. We are called to live Holy lives within the fellowship of the church. If any member of the body is practicing any sin that is condemned in Scripture (9-11), and, upon correction (via Church Discipline Matthew 18), is not repentant, that member can and will be disqualified from Church membership).
 
9) Moral integrity (Exodus 20:1-17).
 
10) Fidelity in marriage in heterosexual relationships. (See link to additional information in the Nashville Statement on sexuality).
 
11) The condemnation of homosexuality. (See link to additional information in the Nashville Statement on sexuality).
 
1644/1646 Confession; XXIX ALL believers are a holy and sanctified people, and that sanctification is a spiritual grace of the new covenant, and an effect of the love of God manifested in the soul, whereby the believer presseth after a heavenly and evangelical obedience to all the commands, which Christ as head and king in His new covenant hath prescribed to them. 1 Cor.12; 1 Pet.2:9; Eph.l:4; 1 John 4:16; Matt.28:20.
 
12) Inerrancy of the Bible.
 
1644/1646 Confession; (see link to additional information in the Chicago Statement on biblical inerrancy) VIII THE rule of this knowledge, faith, and obedience, concerning the worship of God, in which is contained the whole duty of man, is (not men’s laws, or unwritten traditions, but) only the word of God contained in the holy Scriptures; in which is plainly recorded whatsoever is needful for us to know, believe, and practice; which are the only rule of holiness and obedience for all saints, at all times, in all places to be observed. Col.2:23; Matt.15:6,9; John 5:39; 2 Tim.3:15,16,17; Isa.8:20; Gal.1:8.9: Acts 3:22,23.
 
13) Baptism is not necessary for salvation (Acts 10:44-48). Whereas Baptism is not necessary for salvation, in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, members of the DRB church shall be baptized into membership of the body of Christ, or shall have been baptized previously within another fellowship.
 
1644/1646 Confession; XXV THE preaching of the gospel to the conversion of sinners, is absolutely free; no way requiring as absolutely necessary, any qualifications, preparations, or terrors of the law, or preceding ministry of the law, but only and alone the naked soul, a sinner and ungodly, to receive Christ crucified, dead and buried, and risen again; who is made a prince and a Saviour for such sinners as through the gospel shall be brought to believe on Him. John 3:14.15.1:12; Isa.55:1; John 7:37; 1 Tim.1:15; Rom.4:5.5:8; Acts 5:30.31,2:36; 1 Cor.1:22,24.
 
14) Eternal Security (If salvation is maintained through obedience, then it is outside of biblical orthodoxy).
 
1644/1646 Confession; XXIII ALL those that have this precious faith wrought in them by the Spirit, can never finally nor totally fall away; seeing the gifts of God are without repentance; so that He still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise, and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock, which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief, and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of this light and love, be clouded and overwhelmed for a time; yet God is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palms of His hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity. Matt.7:24.25; John 13:10.10:28,29; 1 Pet.1:4.5,6; Isa.49:13.14,15,16.
 
Comments: The fruit of the indwelling Spirit of God is agreement, in word and deed, with the scriptures. The Primary Non-Essentials are those teachings that the Bible does not declare as essential to salvation; however, to affirm otherwise is evidence of lack of regeneration, since they are the fruit of the regenerate mind and heart.
 
Section IV. Secondary Non-Essentials Any of them can be denied or affirmed, and regeneration is not in question.
 
15) Predestination, election, limited atonement, and free will.
 
1644/1646 Confession; III GOD hath decreed in Himself, before the world was, concerning all things, whether necessary, accidental or voluntary, with all the circumstances of them, to work, dispose, and bring about all things according to the counsel of His own will, to His glory: (Yet without being the author of sin, or having fellowship with anything therein) in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, unchangeableness, power, and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree: And God hath before the foundation of the world, foreordained some men to eternal life, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of His grace; and leaving the rest in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His justice. Isa.46:10; Eph.1:11; Rom.11:33; Ps.115:3, 135:6, 33:15; 1 Sam.10:9.26; Prov.21:6; Exod.21:13; Prov.16:33; Ps.144; Isa.45:7: Jer.14:22; Matt.6:28,30; Col.1:16, 17; Num.23:19.20 Rom.3:4; Jer.10:10; Eph.1:4,5. Jude 4.6; Prov.16:4.
 
16) Communion/Lord’s Supper every week, monthly, or quarterly, etc.
 
17) Saturday or Sunday (any day) Worship/Meeting.
 
18) Pre, mid, post-trib rapture.
 
19) Premillennialism., Amill., Postmill., Partial-Preterism., Fulfilled Eschatology.
 
20) Continuation or cessation of the charismatic gifts.
 
21) Baptism for adults or infants.
 
22) Musical Instruments/Style of music in the church meeting.
 
23) Egalitarian/Complementarian roles of men and women. (See link to additional information in the Danvers Statement on Biblical manhood and womanhood).
 
Comments:
 
The subjects in the Secondary Non-Essentials area, whether affirmed or denied, have no bearing on the status of a person before God. They are opinions – various positions held. Unfortunately, it is because of non-essential differences that many denominations exist.

Non-Essentials are all secondary issues within the fellowship of the DRB Church. Members within the church can hold to any of these beliefs and would not be disqualified from membership within the body. While the believer has freedom in this area, we are called to love each other and not be divisive over such matters. “In essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.”   Our elders’ favorite Statement of Faith is The First London Baptist Confession of 1644/46. You don’t have to hold to these positions to fellowship with us, but understand that you will hear these things (and things in the statements linked below) discussed with enthusiasm.  

Links to Statements: