Statement of Faith

The following excerpt is taken directly from a page on our church’s website entitled “What We Believe” and reflects what we, also, wholeheartedly believe and affirm.

At the end, I have listed our family’s personal beliefs about male/female roles, headcovering, modesty, family planning, and our children’s education. (On these topics, our beliefs and those of our church leadership and fellow members are generally in agreement — praise the Lord for that! — though the degree may vary based upon each family’s convictions.)

Doctrine & Convictions

Biblical, Confessional, and Historical

We believe the Bible is the final standard of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ and for His Church. While recognizing the historical, interpretive, and guiding value of creeds and confessions of faith made throughout church history, we affirm the Bible alone as the infallible and final authority in the life of a believer.

Our Statement of Faith is an abridged version of The Westminster Confession of Faith for your reading convenience. You can read a complete version of the confession at The Westminster Standard.

1. We believe in the one true and living God, in three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who is invisible, personal, omnipresent, eternal, dependent on none, unchanging, truthful, trustworthy, almighty, sovereign, omniscient, righteous, holy, good, loving, merciful, long-suffering and gracious.

1 Cor. 8:4,6; Deut. 6:4; Jer. 10:10; Isa. 48:12; Exod. 3:14; John 4:24; 1 Tim. 1:17; Deut. 4:15–16; Mal. 3:6; 1 Kings 8:27; Jer. 23:23; Ps. 90:2; Gen. 17:1; Isa. 6:3; Ps. 115:3; Isa. 46:10; Prov. 16:4; Rom. 11:36; Exod. 34:6–7; Heb. 11:6; Neh. 9:32–33; Ps. 5:5–6; Exod. 34:7; Nahum 1:2–3; 1 John 5:7; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Exod. 3:14; John 14:11; I Cor. 8:6; John 1:14,18; John 15:26; Gal. 4:6.

2. We believe that Almighty God has revealed all that is necessary to life and salvation in the sixty six books of Holy Scripture which are the Word of God. All Scripture was given by inspiration of God, is infallible and inerrant, and is the final arbiter in all disputes. Its authority is derived from its Author and not from the opinions of men.

2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 4:12; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; Rom 15:4; John 17:17; Matt. 4:4; Ps. 119:160; Isaiah 40:8; Matt. 24:35; Luke 24:44.

3. We believe that God made our first father Adam perfect, holy and upright. He was appointed representative and head of the human race thereby exposing all his offspring to the effects of his obedience or disobedience to God’s commands.

Gen 1:31, 3:12,13; Rom. 5:12-21.

4. We believe that Adam fell from his original righteousness into sin and brought upon himself and all his offspring physical and spiritual death, condemnation and sinnership.

Gen. 3:6, 17-19; Rom. 5:12, 19; 1 Cor. 15:21-22; James 1:15, Ps. 51:15; Isaiah 59:2; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 7:9-11; Job 15:14; John 3:6.

5. We believe it is utterly beyond the power of spiritually dead and fallen man to love God, to keep His laws, to effectually understand the Gospel, to genuinely repent of sin, or produce saving faith in Christ.

Eph. 2:1-3; 1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 8:7, Eph. 4:18; Rom. 3:10-18, 23.

6. We believe that God, before the foundation of the world, for His own glory did elect an innumerable host of men and women to eternal life as an act of free and sovereign grace. This election was in no way dependent upon His foresight of human faith, decision, works or merit.

Eph. 1:4-5; 2 Tim. 1:9; Rom. 8:28-30; Matt. 25:34; Rev. 13:8; John 15:16; Tit. 1:1-2; Rom. 9:23-24, 2 Thess. 2:13.

7. We believe that God sent His Son into the world, conceived of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, unchangeably sinless, both God and man, born under the Law, to live a perfect life of righteousness, on behalf of all who will believe in His name.

Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Gal. 4:4; Luke 1:34-35; John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10; Rom. 8:32; John 3:15; John 11:25-26; 1 John 3:5; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15.

8. We believe that God’s Son died at Calvary to effect propitiation, reconciliation, redemption, and atonement for His chosen people. God bore testimony to His acceptance of His Son’s work by raising Him from the dead.

Rom. 5:8; 1 Pet. 2:24-25; Gal. 2:20; 1 Cor. 1:18-22; Col. 2:14; John 19:30; 1 John 2:2; Gal. 3:13; Mark 10:45; Rom. 10:9; 1 Pet. 1:3; 1 Thes. 4:14; 1 Cor. 15.

9. We believe that God’s Son ascended to the right hand of His Father and is enthroned in glory, where He intercedes on behalf of His people and rules over all things for their sake.

Acts 2:33, 5:31; Mark 16:19; 1 Pet. 3:22; Eph. 1:20-23; Rom. 8:27, 34; Heb. 7:25; Col. 2:10; Phil. 2:9-11.

10. We believe that God the Son has poured out the Holy Spirit to work alongside the preached Word. The Spirit of God regenerates the elect sinner and draws him irresistibly to faith in Christ the Savior.

John 14:26; 16, 15:26; 1 Cor. 2:10-13, 6:19; 1 Pet. 1:12; 1 Thes. 4:8; Rom. 10:17; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; James 1:18; John 3:8; 1:13; 3:5, 6:37; 1 Pet. 1:23; Eph. 2:8; Acts 16:14.

11. We believe the elect, who are called by grace, are justified in the sight of God on account of the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ which is received by faith alone.

2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 8:29-30, 4:5, 1:7, 3:21-22, 10:4; Phil. 3:9; 1 Cor. 1:30; 1 Pet. 2:24.

12. We believe that all who are regenerated, called, and justified shall persevere in holiness and never finally fall away.

Phil. 1:6; John 10:27-28; 1 Pet. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:12; Romans 11:29; Jude 1:24; Rom. 8:30.

13. We believe that the moral law of God is summarized in the Ten Commandments and that all the Ten Commandments continue today to be the standard of righteousness which every child of God ought to love and obey.

Ex. 20:1-17; Romans 13:8–10; James 2:8, 10–12; James 2:10, 11; Matthew 5:17–19; Romans 3:31.

14. We believe God has particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath to be kept holy unto Him, which from the beginning of the world to the Resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week which is called the Lord’s Day; and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath; the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.

Ex. 20:8; 1 Cor. 16:1, 2; Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:10, Col. 2:16, Heb. 4:9-11.

15. We believe baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a called and qualified minister of the gospel. This sacrament is not only for those who profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents.

[*Note from Jessica: We currently (April, 2024) have decided to not baptize our children unless they have shown at least a basic understanding of the gospel and professed personal faith in Christ. We adhere to the belief on baptism outlined in the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith.]

(Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 4:11 with Col. 2:11-12. Rom. 6:5; Gal. 3:27; Tit. 3:5; Mark 1:4; Rom 6:3-4; Mat 28:19-20; Matt. 3:11; 28:19-20; John 1:33; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:37-38; Gen 17:7 with Gal 3:9, 14 and Col 2:11-12; Acts 2:38-39; Rom. 4:11-12; Matt. 28:19; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15; 1 Cor. 7:14.)

Romans 6:3–5; Col. 2:12; Galatians 3:27; Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:4, Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36, 37; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8; Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 8:38; Matthew 3:16; John 3:23; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17, 2; 2 Corinthians 6:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 11:26, 29; Matthew 7:6.

16. We believe marriage is only to be between one man and one woman and that marriage was ordained by God and, therefore, cannot be redefined by man.

Gen. 2:24; Mal. 2:15; Matt. 19:5-6; Gen 2:18; 1 Cor. 7:2, 9; Eph. 5:22-33; Mark 10:6-9; Heb. 13:4.

17. We believe that our corporate worship must be regulated by the Scriptures alone and that we are not free to impose extra-biblical elements into our worship before God.

John 4:21-24; Col. 2:23; 1 Cor. 14:26-40; 1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim 2:4; Eph. 5:19.

18. We believe that the Scriptures teach that only men—biblically qualified men—are to hold the only two offices Christ has given to the Church, that being elder and deacon.

1 Tim. 3:1-13, 5:17; Acts 14:23, 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5-7; Phil. 1:1; 1 Pet. 5:1-2; Heb. 13:17.

19. We believe that the local church is under the authority of Christ alone and not the civil government. Nevertheless, civil authorities are established by God and Christians should submit in the Lord to them to the extent that their submission does not cause them to disobey God.

Eph. 1:22, 5:23; Col. 1:18; Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:17; 1 Tim 2:1-2; Acts 5:29.

20. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ shall come again to raise the dead, both righteous and unrighteous, and that the righteous shall enjoy everlasting life and the wicked endure everlasting punishment.

Heb. 9:28; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; 2 Peter 3:10; Acts 17:31; John 5:22, 27; 1 Corinthians 6:3; Jude 6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:10, 12; Matthew 25:32–46.

How to be reconciled with God and live with Him forever is the most important subject we can ever discuss. This subject should be top priority for each of us to investigate, carefully consider, and make a decision on. There is no other topic as crucial as this one.

So, why do I spend so much time talking about other things on this blog? Read below for the answer.

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What our Family Believes About . . .

[Please note: I think it’s important to point out that we do not exalt the following issues as essential for salvation, and neither do we obsess over them. However, God does address these topics in the Bible, which gives them significance as part of our walk as Christians.

The reason I focus on these topics in my blog is mainly because I see them as generally neglected teachings (at least, they have been neglected very recently, during our “modern” times), and I believe they deserve more attention and greater research. I also feel that those of us who have chosen to live this sort of counter-cultural lifestyle need the support that connecting with like-minded Christians can bring.]

Male/female roles

We believe that God designed men to function in a role of leadership within the home, church, and community. God designed women to function in a role of submission in general to male authority within the home, church, and community (and submission in particular to their own husband). Unless devoted to a life of singleness for the sake of serving God (1 Corinthians 7:34), a woman should “marry, bear children, [and] manage the house” (1 Timothy 5:14) (The following verses are mainly about the female role, since that is the role I address in my blog: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, 14:34-35; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:11-15, 5:14; Titus 2:4-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7; etc.)

Headcovering

We believe that the headcovering is a symbol related to men and women’s different functions. Men should not wear anything on their heads during the acts of praying or prophesying, while women should cover their heads with a literal piece of cloth during the acts of praying or prophesying. (1 Corinthians 11:2-16)

Modesty

We believe that modesty is important for the Christian. We have agreed that the females in our household will wear modest skirts and dresses only (with very few exceptions), since this seems to us the best way for them to be both modest and make a clear statement of biblical femininity at the same time. (Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; Titus 2:4-5; 1 Peter 3:3-4; etc.)

Family Planning

We believe that since family planning involves the destiny of another human being, and furthermore, since we are incapable of knowing the future, this is an area that is best left up to God’s wisdom and timing. We have allowed Him to take control of our fertility and believe that birth control/pregnancy prevention was never God’s intention for human beings. Children are a blessing, and more children are an even greater blessing. (Genesis 1:27-28; Deuteronomy 7:12-14; Ruth 4:13 compared with 1 Samuel 1:5, as just two examples of God’s sovereignty over the womb; Psalm 113:9, 127:3-5, 128:1-4; Proverbs 14:28; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Malachi 2:15; Galatians 1:15; 1 Timothy 5:14; etc.)

Our Children’s Education

We believe that children should be trained up in the way they should go by their parents. God has given us this responsibility, and our children should be shielded from harmful influences and messages coming from the world. Therefore, we have made the decision to homeschool our children. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 1:1-3; Proverbs 22:6; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Ephesians 6:1-4; etc.)

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If you would like to know more specifics about my opinion on the topics referred to above (our family’s personal beliefs), please read my blog posts on those topics. You can find them by clicking the link provided just now, or by going to Blog on the main menu, then browsing through the categories on the sidebar.

~Jessica