Covenant Reformed Church

What does Reformed Mean?

We could very easily be called Reformed "Western Catholics". Historically, the Reformed Tradition is a Continental European branch of the Western (or Roman) half of the Christian Church. We adhere to the traditional Ecumenical Creeds (go to the Confessional Standards page at the left) of the Christian Faith as do the Roman and Eastern Orthodox branches of the Church.

We, however, differ significantly from the Roman church headed by the Pope of Rome in several ways. We also have several differences with the broad evangelical beliefs held in many American churches. Our beliefs are stated in the Three Forms of Unity, but a simple comparison below will outline the main differences.

Scripture and Tradition

• We believe that Holy Scripture is completely infallible and inerrant, the only rule of faith and practice that directs our lives. – Belgic Confession, Article 7
• We believe that the tradition of the Church is important to serve as a guide to Biblical understanding and interpretation. This is contrary to the Roman church that believes that tradition and Scripture are equal in authority as well as broad evangelical belief that has no respect for the tradition of the Church and is similarly awash with new and strange, frequently conflicting, doctrines.
• We believe that in order to preserve what has been entrusted to us, it is beneficial to hold to confessional statements. These are summaries of Scriptural teaching as understood by the Western and Protestant traditions. – 1 Timothy 6:20-21; Jude 3-4
• The Three Forms of Unity (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of the Synod of Dordt) are anchors to the past that help prevent deviant doctrinal development into errors such as Arminianism, Dispensationalism, The Immaculate Conception of Mary, Open Theism and Papal Infallibility.

Church Government

• We are presbyterial in hierarchal polity and our local congregational government consists of three offices - the minister of the Word, the ruling elder, and the deacon. This is opposed to the hierarchal polity of Episcopacy (bishops) and Independency (no broader assemblies) as well as the local structure of Episcopacy and Baptists (ministers and deacons). – Belgic Confession Article 30
• Scripture does not command that regional churches are to be ruled by a single man, whether bishop or supra-local ruler. Instead we see, as in the case of the council in Jerusalem, that adjudicating responsibilities above the local congregation lay in broader assemblies consisting of multiple office-bearers. – Acts 15:1-31
• Our broader assemblies (classis & synod) have responsibility for adjudicating mutual doctrinal and polity concerns within the various churches of our federation and provide a forum for appealing a lower assembly's decision.  We believe this structure to be the most Biblical and one that meets the needs of Christ's Body in ministering, teaching, and ruling.

Salvation

• The Father, in the counsels of eternity, chose a people out of the mass of humanity for His Son to redeem unto eternal life. We believe that the number of elect is already determined and that Jesus died in the place of these only to receive salvation. The elect is a number known only to God and is a part of the secret things that belong to Him. – Belgic Confession, Article 16
• We believe that salvation is the work of God from beginning to end. Our faith in Jesus Christ is a work of the Holy Spirit and not something that man generates on his own. Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of this work. He is both the first fruits of the resurrection and the one who will resurrect believers at the Last Day. – Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
• We believe that all of God's saints will persevere in the Christian faith through the work of the Holy Spirit by being united to Christ's Body, the Church. God's elect will persevere precisely because of their faithful clinging to Christ all of their lives and through their use of the means of grace which are the preaching of God's Word, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion. This is contrary to the broad evangelical doctrine of "Eternal Security" or a "once saved always saved" view of the Christian life. This doctrine can and does breed a false security in "decisions" made for Christ and a go-it-alone individualism instead of lifetime faithful obedience to Christ and communion with His Body. – Belgic Confession, Articles 24, 28, 33
• We do not believe in the doctrine of purgatory that is taught by the Roman church. Scripture nowhere engenders this intermediate state for the purpose of "purifying" or punishing us for sins committed in this life in order to enter heaven. The Apostle Paul teaches us that to die is to be with Christ in heaven. Christ has paid the full penalty of all His People's sins by His death on the cross of Calvary. There is no longer any payment of sins that need to be made. If you abide in Christ, then the punishment Christ endured is reckoned as your punishment.

Sacraments

• We believe that Jesus Christ has instituted only two sacraments or ordinances for His Church. These are Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Marriage, Holy Orders, Extreme Unction, and Penance are not sacraments. – Belgic Confession, Article 33
• We believe that the Sacrament of Holy Baptism is neither regenerative (Roman Catholics) or merely a sign (Baptist). We believe that it is a covenantal sign that truly imparts the grace of God to the subject. Baptism does not save the individual, washing away original sin as the Roman church teaches, but neither is the Spirit of God inactive in its use as Baptist theology would hold. Baptism transforms an adult or child from being a subject of Satan's Kingdom by nature into a subject of Christ's Kingdom by covenant. The Spirit moves in the recipient of Holy Baptism during his entire lifetime applying the grace of salvation. – Belgic Confession, Article 34
• We believe that the Sacrament of Holy Communion was given to the Body of Christ for both the nourishment of our faith in Christ and the nourishment of our fellowship both as a Body and as individuals with our Lord. We believe that in eating the bread and wine we truly eat the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a great mystery and is maligned by the doctrine of transubstantiation of the Roman church. This doctrine teaches that the elements are transformed literally into the body and blood of Christ and as such are to be worshipped as Divine. The Roman church also teaches that the sacrifice of the Mass atones for the sins of both the living and the dead. It, thereby, denies the all-sufficient sacrificial atonement of Christ's body and blood on the cross of Calvary. This mystery is also maligned by the Baptist doctrine that teaches that Holy Communion is merely a memorial and that the grace of God is not given to His People in partaking of the Supper. Christ clearly teaches us that unless we eat His flesh and drink His blood we have no life in us. – Belgic Confession, Article 35