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Statement of Faith
 Londonderry
Church has adopted the
The Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 as our doctrinal standard.
This detailed doctrinal formulation, like The Westminster Confession
of Faith (1646) and the Savoy Declaration (1658), was written by
dozens of Puritan scholars and pastors who were concerned that their
particular churches reflect Biblical teaching. This great Reformation
by-product has stood the test of time for over 300 years. Please
visit the link above to read the entire text of the 1689 Confession.
The summarized statement of faith below provides a overview of many of
the great truths found in the Confession.
1. God and the Trinity - 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.
2. The Holy Scripture - 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.
3. Election - We believe that God,
before the foundation of the world, for His own glory did elect a
great multitude 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.
4. Adam Our Representative - 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.
5. The Fall and Its Effects - We believe that Adam fell from
his original righteousness into sin and brought upon himself and all
his offspring death, condemnation and a sinful nature.
6. Man's Inability - We believe it is utterly beyond the power
of fallen man to love God, to keep His laws, to understand the gospel,
to repent of sin or to trust in Christ.
7. Christ Our Representative - 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 His elect people.
8. Particular Redemption - We believe that God's Son died at
Calvary to effect propitiation, reconciliation, redemption and
atonement for His elect people. God bore testimony to His acceptance
of His Son's work by raising Him bodily from the dead.
9. The Ascension of Christ - 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.
10. Irresistible Grace - We believe that God the Son has poured
out the Holy Spirit to work alongside the preached Word. The Spirit of
God regenerates elect sinners and draws them irresistibly to faith in
Christ the Savior.
11. Justification - 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.
12. Perseverance - We believe that all who are regenerated,
called and justified shall persevere in holiness and never finally
fall away.
13. Evangelism - We believe it is the calling of every local
church to participate in fulfilling the Great Commission by making
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything Christ has commanded us.
14. The Church - We believe that the local church is under the
authority of Christ alone. Nevertheless, He has appointed men to be
elders (undershepherds) to represent Him as they care for His body.
Deacons also serve Christ as His ministers of mercy. Furthermore, the
communion of saints requires the recognition of and fellowship with
other local evangelical churches.
15. Church Ordinances - We believe that baptism by immersion
and the Lord's Supper are gospel ordinances belonging only to
regenerated believers.
16. Eschatology - We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ shall
come again to raise the dead bodily, both righteous and unrighteous,
and that the righteous shall enjoy everlasting life and the wicked
endure everlasting punishment.
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