Covenant Church of Jacksonville’s Statement of Faith
1. THE WORD OF GOD. We believe that the Holy Scriptures, consisting of both Old and New Testaments, are the complete and revealed Word of God. Its verbal plenary inspiration is without error in the original writings. We believe that it is wholly sufficient as Divine revelation and it alone has supreme and final authority in all matters of faith, conduct, practice, life, creeds, and confessions. We believe the Scriptures were completed in the first century and the canon of Scripture is closed. (Psalm 12:6; 19:7-11; 119:105; Isaiah 8:20; 40:8; Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 1:1-3)
2. THE TRINITY. We believe that there is one God, living and true, creator and sustainer of all things, ruler of heaven and earth, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These Three, being one in essence, are co-equal, co-eternal, and co-existing, and perform distinct but harmonious functions in creation, redemption, and providence. (Genesis 1:27; 1:31 Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
3. GOD THE FATHER. We believe in God, The Father, an infinite personal spirit, perfect in holiness, justice, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He is unchangeable in His being, all-glorious in His nature, and absolutely sovereign over creation, providence, and redemption. (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 4:23-24; Isaiah 6:1-6; Psalm 115:3; 145:5; I John 4:16)
4. JESUS CHRIST. We believe in Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. (John 1:1-14; Acts 1:11; Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 1:1-10; 4:14)
5. THE HOLY SPIRIT. We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to apply the benefits of Christ’s work to the elect in regeneration and sanctification. We believe that every believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit and indwelt at salvation. The Holy Spirit sovereignly bestows a spiritual gift(s), helps, teaches, and guides every believer (John 3:3-7; 16:8-14; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 3:16; Romans 8:9 & 26; Ephesians 5:18)
6. SALVATION. We believe that all men are sinners in Adam, by nature and by choice, and are therefore dead in sin and under condemnation. We believe that God in His free and sovereign grace saves sinners as He wills. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. True believers will persevere in faith and good works until the end. This good news of salvation is freely offered to all and requires faith in Christ, which is enabled by the Holy Spirit, making those who are ordained to eternal life willing and able to believe. (Acts 13:48; Romans 3:10-18 & 23; 6:23; Jonah 2:9; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5; Hebrews 12:14; Revelation 22:17)
7. THE CHURCH. We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head, composed of people who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the local church, whose membership consists of a company of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, associated for worship, Bible study, prayer, the ordinances, fellowship, and the evangelism of a lost world. We believe in the autonomy and independence of the local church, although cooperation with other churches, associations, or organizations may prove beneficial. However, cooperation is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Ephesians 4:1-15; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:24-25)
8. OFFICES & AUTHORITY. We believe that there are two Scriptural offices, Pastor/Elder/Overseer and Deacon. The office of Pastor/Elder/Overseer is limited by God to men who meet the Scriptural qualifications. These men have the responsibility and authority to shepherd the flock of God and exercise oversight, counsel, preaching, teaching, and discipline as prescribed in the Scriptures. While technology serves as a tool it has no authority in the Church and cannot be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 6:3-6; 14:23, 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4)
9. MAN. We believe that man was created by God, in His image, both male and female, and placed as the crown of His creation, equal in personhood but distinct in role and responsibility. We believe that gender and sex are a gift of God which are intrinsically unified in the person from their conception as part of their nature. We believe in their original state, men and women were innocent, holy, and endowed with freedom of choice. Satan deceived Eve and she ate the fruit God forbid and she gave the fruit to Adam and he ate, plunging all their descendents into sin, corrupting their nature, will, and desires. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:16-18 & 25, 3:1-6 Psalm 139:13-14, Romans 5:12)
10.THE FAMILY. We believe that the family is God’s ordained foundational institution of human society and flourishing. It is composed of persons related by marriage, blood, or adoption. We believe that marriage is between one man and one woman and is a Covenant for life. We believe that Scripture forbids Christians from marrying outside the Christian Faith. The husband is head of his wife and is to love her as Christ loves the Church having the responsibility of discipling his wife and children. The wife is to submit to her husband as to the Lord and teach her children about the Lord. Children are to obey their parents and honor them as they seek to glorify God. (Genesis 1:28; 2:18-25; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; Psalm 78:1-8; 127; 128; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:22-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
11. CHRISTIAN CONDUCT. We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and that we should seek the well-being of our fellow-man; that our conduct should be one of pursuing blamelessness before the world; that we should seek to be a faithful steward of our possessions; that we should seek to realize for ourselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. We disavow a legalistic approach to the Christian life and believe in the liberty of conscience. (Romans 12:1-2; 14:1-15:6; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Titus 2:11-13)
12. THE ORDINANCES. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the church to be observed until the return of Christ: baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper. By baptism a believer publicly declares his forgiveness of sin, union with Christ, and new life in Christ. Baptism is only for those who profess faith in Christ. In the Lord’s Supper, the believer is dramatically reminded of the sacrifice of Christ for our sin. The Lord’s Supper is communion with God in Christ, as the believer spiritually feeds on Christ by faith, and communion with the body of Christ. We believe that these two ordinances are not means for salvation, but are visible signs of an invisible faith. (Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-29; I Corinthians 10:16; 17; 11:23-24).
13. LAST THINGS. We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ to earth. His coming will be visible, for the consummation of His Eternal Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the endless suffering of the wicked, and the eternal blessedness of the believer. (Matthew 24:1-51, 25:41; John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:11-15).
14. CREEDS AND CONFESSION. Covenant Church of Jacksonville affirms historic, orthodox Christianity: the Nicene Creed and Chalcedonian Definition. Affirmation of Protestant Theology as reflected by the 5 Solas: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria and the Doctrines of Grace. We affirm, in principle, most historic Particular Baptist confessions (1st & 2nd London Confession, the Abstract of Principles.)