What We Believe

Sovereign Grace Family Church is an evangelical church in the tradition of those which were born out of the Protestant Reformation, specifically the 17th Century English Baptists. We would affirm as sound teaching the articles of the First London Baptist Confession of Faith (2nd Ed. 1646) to which we would subscribe for guidance but not absolute adherence. 

We would also affirm the Five Solas of the Reformation as defined in the Cambridge Declaration (Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, 1996), which are: 

1. Sola Scriptura [Scripture Alone] We reaffirm the inerrant Scripture to be the sole source of written divine revelation, which alone can bind the conscience. The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured. We deny that any creed, council or individual may bind a Christian’s conscience, that the Holy Spirit speaks independently of or contrary to what is set forth in the Bible, or that personal spiritual experience can ever be a vehicle of revelation (2 Tim. 3:14-4:2; Isa. 8:20; Ps. 19, 119; 2 Pet. 1:3, 20-21).
2. Solus Christus [Christ Alone] We reaffirm that our salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone. His sinless life and substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father. We deny that the gospel is preached if Christ’s substitutionary work is not declared and faith in Christ and his work is not solicited (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:13-2:17; Hebrews 1-13).
3. Sola Gratia [Grace Alone] 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 (Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 3:3-7; 2 Timothy 1:9; Romans 11:6). 
4. Sola Fide [Faith Alone] We reaffirm that justification is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. In justification Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of God’s perfect justice. We deny that justification rests on any merit to be found in us, or upon the grounds of an infusion of Christ’s righteousness in us, or that an institution claiming to be a church that denies or condemns sola fide can be recognized as a legitimate church (Romans 4-5; Luke 18:9-14; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
5. Soli Deo Gloria [The Glory of God Alone) We reaffirm that because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is for God’s glory and that we must glorify him always. We must live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God and for His glory alone. We deny that we can properly glorify God if our worship is confused with entertainment, if we neglect either Law or Gospel in our preaching, or if self-improvement, self-esteem or self-fulfillment are allowed to become alternatives to the gospel. (Isaiah 43:7; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 1:3-14).

In addition to the above affirmations, all of the teaching of this church will be in accord with the following points of faith and practice: 

1. God. We believe in one (Deut. 6:4) eternal (1 Tim. 1:17), knowable (Heb. 1:1ff), sovereign God (Dan. 4:34-35). He knows all things (Psalm 139:1-4), and providentially oversees all things (Mt. 10:29-31). He is merciful (Exod. 34:6) and just (Acts 17:31), loving (1 John 4:8) and holy (Rev. 4:8), great in power (Psalm 147:5) and good in purpose (Rom. 8:28). His glory is our chief concern (1 Cor. 10:31).
2. Trinity. We believe in one God who exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19). All three are uncreated, coeternal, and equal in power, glory, and honor. They are rightly worshiped as the one true God — One in essence, Three in person (see Rev. 22:13; Acts 5:3-4). 
3. Scripture. We believe, that while God has revealed Himself in His creation, He has spoken to us most clearly in His word (Psalm 19; Rom. 1:18-20). The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are breathed out by God, holy, complete, and entirely without error in the original manuscripts (2 Tim. 3:16; John 10:35; 2 Peter 1:20-21). The Bible is our final authority in life, doctrine, and godliness (Mt. 4:4; 2 Peter 1:3-4). 
4. Creation. We believe God created the entire universe out of nothing (Gen. 1:1; Heb. 11:3). Man and woman were the crown of God’s good creation, being created in His own image (Gen. 1:26-27). As image-bearers, we were created to worship God and reflect Him in true knowledge, righteousness, and holiness (Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:9-10). 
5. Fall. We believe that Adam and Eve, our first parents, rebelled against God and plunged themselves and all their offspring into ruin (Gen. 3). Because of Adam’s sin, we are all guilty sinners (Rom. 5:12-21). We come into the world with corrupt natures through and through (Psalm 51:5). We are unable to come to God unless He first draws us (John 6:44; Rom. 3:10-18; Eph. 2:1-5). 
6. Person of Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus of Nazareth was and is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. We believe He is also the Son of the Living God (Mt. 16:16). He is fully man and fully God (1 Tim 2:5;Titus 2:13). He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, taught the way of God’s kingdom, worked miracles, suffered, died, and bodily rose again (1 Cor. 15:1-8). 
7. Work of Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and died a substitutionary death that we might be counted righteous and forgiven of our sins (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18). He redeemed us, removed our guilt, and satisfied the wrath of God (1 John 1:8-2:2). 
8. Salvation. We believe that we are justified (declared righteous before God) by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Gal. 2:16). The only way to be adopted into God’s family is through union with His Son Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:5). 
9. Holy Spirit. We believe the Holy Spirit, working through the word, supernaturally converts (regenerates) the hearts of God’s people by making alive what was spiritually dead (Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23). The Spirit causes us to grow in holiness (2 Cor. 3:18), seals us for the day of redemption that we might be assured of our salvation (Eph. 1:13-14), and equips us with spiritual gifts for the building up of the body (1 Cor. 12:7). 
10. Church. We believe the church is the communion of God’s people drawn from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Eph. 2:11-22; Rev. 5:9-10). This invisible body, of which Christ Jesus is the head, exists locally, and imperfectly, as the visible church. 
11. Ordinances. Jesus Christ has given His church two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Mt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26). The ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are for believers only. The Lord’s Supper will be a regular part of corporate worship. 
12. Marriage. We believe that marriage is always to be between one man and one woman only. Homosexual unions and same-sex marriages, even if sanctioned by the civil authorities, are aberrations of God’s law (Genesis 1:28, 2:18; Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:10) and thus ungodly and not permissible; neither is it biblical, godly or permissible for a man to have more than one wife at the same time or a woman to have more than one husband at the same time (Genesis 2:24, Malachi 2:13-15, Matthew 19:4-6), nor for a couple to live together as husband and wife outside of the covenant of marriage (Hebrews 13:4).
13. Marks and Mission. We believe God’s people should be marked by Christlikeness (Eph. 5:1-2), prayerfulness (Rom. 12:12), joyful obedience (John 14:15), love of God, and love of neighbor (Mt. 22:37-40). We believe the mission of the church is one of word and deed (1 Peter 4:11). As salt and light (Mt. 5:13-16), we seek to reach the lost (1 Cor. 9:19-23), make disciples (Mt. 28:19-20), work for righteousness and justice (Amos 5:24), and care for the hurting and needy (1 John 3:16-18). The Church must take care to uphold the Word of God, and not engage in moral compromise or affirm any sin such as sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, transgenderism, stealing, greed, drunkenness, slander, swindling, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, factions, or envy. God’s people are called to holiness in all aspects of life, with the goal of being conformed to the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; John 3:16-18; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Romans 1:21-32; Galatians 5:19-21; Galatians 5:22-25; Romans 8:29). 
14. Last Things. We believe Jesus Christ will return to earth personally, visibly, and bodily as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Acts 1:11). At His appearing the dead shall be raised and the living and the dead will be judged (1 Cor. 15). The wicked and unbelieving will be consigned to hell, a place of eternal conscious punishment (Rev. 20:10, 14-15). Those belonging to Jesus will have eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth and live in ever-increasing joy to the glory of God (Mt. 25:21; Rev. 21-22).