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CONFESSIONAL IN REFORMED THEOLOGY

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ~ 2 Timothy 1:13 ~

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What does it mean to be confessional? Christians are commanded to confess the same thing (1 Corinthians 1:10) and to follow the pattern of sound words (2 Timothy 1:13). Thus, the Church is to articulate the faith cohesively, coherently, and concisely. This Christian faith is articulated and subscribed by the Church in the Creeds (Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian). Furthermore, the biblical (reformed) doctrine of Scripture is most rightly distilled and expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith, as well as the Westminster Shorter and Larger Catechisms. 

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What is reformed theology? Reformed theology refers the recovery of biblical doctrine at the Protestant Reformation, which began in AD 1517 but finds its roots in succession with the earliest New Testament Christians, being the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). This work of reformation which began in the early days of Martin Luther was clarified even further by the continental reformers (such as John Calvin) and British Reformers (such as John Knox), and is carried on today as the Lord Christ Jesus continues to purify His Church as His spotless Bride. Utilizing the Westminster Confession of Faith, the basic tenets of the Reformed faith are summarized as follows:

  1. Scripture. The Word of God is the only infallible rule for all things pertaining to faith and godliness, including worship and the governance of the Church (Chapters 1, 21-31).

  2. God. There is one true and living Triune God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - infinite, immutable, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, holy, gracious, and just (Chapters 2-3).

  3. Creation. God created all things out of nothing by His Word in the space of six days, and all was very good; He has decreed all things whatsoever comes to pass, and yet is neither the author nor approver of sin; and rules and governs over all things (Chapters 4-5). 

  4. Covenant. God freely entered into covenant with Adam in the garden, promising life upon perfect obedience to His command; Adam, as the representative head of all who come from him, sinned against this Covenant of Works, and all having sinned in Adam, also die in Adam. At this fall of man, God freely entered into a Covenant of Grace with mankind, wherein we are freely given life through the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ (who is true God and true man), the second and last Adam, who died as the substitute for our sins and rose from the grave on the third day; He ascended to heaven and shall return to judge the living and the dead. The totality of the Scriptures are an unfolding of this Covenant of Grace (Chapters 6-8). 

  5. Salvation. All men are dead in sin and enemies of God by nature; and so God, having elected some to salvation and others to condemnation, calls His elect to faith and repentance of sins in the free offer of the Gospel - that Christ died to save sinners and has risen from the grave. We are justified (declared righteous) freely through faith alone in Christ alone. All those who are justified, are progressively sanctified (conformed more to the righteousness of Christ), shall persevere and be received into glory; and those who do not know God and do not obey His Gospel will be condemned to the eternal torments of hell. This salvation shall be completed at the Last Day, when Christ shall return and bring about the resurrection of the body and the New Heavens and New Earth (Chapters 9-18, 32-33).

  6. The Christian Life. Just as the Gospel is good, so the Law is good according to its proper uses: the Law points us to Christ, restrains our wickedness, and is the rule of life. Christians are to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, to love God and their neighbor, and to minister to one another - walking in accordance to the Word of God and in enmity against the flesh, the world and the devil (Chapters 16, 19-20, 23-24).

  7. The Church. The Visible Church is composed of believers and their households, and is known by Her faithful preaching of the Word of God, administration of the sacraments (Baptism and the Lord's Supper) and discipline. The Church is ruled by Christ Jesus Her Head and King, and governed by elders both locally and regionally; the vocation of the Church is to worship God publicly on the Lord's Day, according to the prescription of God's Word; and the mission of the Church is to teach and baptize the nations (Chapters 21-22, 25-31). 
     

PRESBYTERIAN IN CHURCH GOVERNMENT

 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.

~ Titus 1:5 ~

 

What is Presbyterianism? Presbyterianism comes from the Greek Word for elder, and refers to the biblical form of Church as described from even the days of the Old Covenant Church, and finally prescribed in the days of the New Covenant. The following tenets of Presbyterianism could be summarized as follows:

  1. The Word of God alone prescribes the rule of the government of the Church. Thus, we are not at liberty to add to or take away from the offices and authority of the Church, but are to follow the infallible rule for faith and life. 

  2. The Lord Christ Jesus is alone King and Head of Zion. The authority of the Church is accordingly ministerial and not magisterial.

  3. The Lord Christ has given the rule and governance of His Church to qualified and ordained elders. The rule and discipline of the Church is not given to unbiblical offices, nor to the congregation as a body, but to the particular men lawfully called and ordained by the Church.

  4. The Church is governed by a plurality of elders. There are to be multiple elders leading and exercising rule over Christ's Church as undershepherds of Christ's flock.

  5. The Church is governed by a parity of elders. Though some elders are particularly called and ordained to be pastors, or ministers of Word and Sacrament, all elders are equal in their vote and standing before the Lord in the governance of the Church.  

  6. The Church exists, and is therefore governed, not only locally but regionally. The Church is connected organically together as the communion of saints and holy catholic (universal) church. Just as the apostolic letters were written to local ministers and congregations (such as Philemon, Timothy and Titus), others were particularly written to territorial churches (such as Galatians and Philippians). The Church is accordingly governed not only locally, but regionally. 

  7. There is a successive gradation of these courts of the Church from local to regional. These courts of the Church governance are called by a variety of names within the Reformed branches of the Visible Church. In the RPCNA, they are the Session (local elders), Presbytery (which is composed of the elders of all Sessions in a particular region), and Synod (which is composed of all elders of the all the Presbyteries of the denomination).

  8. The Lord Christ has also established the office of deacon, who though they do not exercise rule and governance, oversees the ministry of mercy. Just as in our Lord's ministry, Christ carried out these two ministries of the Word and Mercy, so He has given these particular offices (elders and deacons) to oversee the ministry of the Word and the ministry of mercy respectively.

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What is the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA)? Reformed Presbyterians have also been referred to historically as Covenanters because of their identification with public covenanting in Scotland, beginning in the 16th century. This act was a protest for Christ's crown rights over the state and the recognition of Christ as King over the Church without interference from the government. Our roots also include those referred to as the Seceders, who share in the testimony for Christ's Crown and Covenant.​ In 1743 the first Reformed Presbyterian congregation was organized in North America. In this continent, too, the Kingship of Christ has been maintained as a foundational principle of our denomination. Today, congregations reach all across North America. As a part of the Reformed Presbyterian Global Alliance, we also have sister churches of Reformed Presbyterians in Canada, Ireland, Scotland, and Australia. The RPCNA is also a member of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC). 

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CONSISTENT IN THE CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

~ 2 Corinthians 10:5 ~

 

How is Christ Jesus the King? The Triune God is the almighty ruler over all. Yet, the Lord Christ, as the Son of God and only Mediator between God and man, being true God and true man, is particularly given all things by the Father, that He should be King of His Church and King over all the nations. Jesus Christ is not only King, but the Mediatorial King. He is the Prophet King, ruling all things by His Word; and He is the Priestly King, reconciling all things to Himself. And so our Lord declared before His ascension: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Matthew 28:18). 

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What is the purpose of Christ's Kingship? As Ephesians 1:22 says, the Father put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church. The purpose of Christ's Mediatorial Kingship is the advancing of His Church throughout every nation, so that the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9).

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What is the Church's purpose? Because of Christ's Kingship, our Lord gave His commission to the Church: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19). And so the Church is to worship God and to proclaim Christ. 

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What is the Christian's purpose? As Christians who delight in the rule of Christ our Mediatorial King, man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever (Westminster Shorter Catechism 1). We do this by faithfully living and serving in our particular families and vocations, ministering to one another, and showing hospitality to neighbors and strangers. 

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