O U R B E L I E F S
Rock Village Church is a Baptist church that holds in its teaching and practice, as its basis of faith, the Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. Rock Village Church also holds to the Affirmation of Faith, the statement of faith for the Converge denomination.
Scripture
We believe in the full and verbal inspiration of all the Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures as originally given, and these alone, being in themselves the complete Word of God, without error, and wholly reliable in both fact and doctrine. Their final authority and perpetual sufficiency in all matters of faith, church order and personal and social conduct. (II Timothy 3:15, II Peter 1:21)
The Triune God
We believe in the one true and living God, inexpressibly glorious and infinite in all his attributes and worthy of all honour, love and obedience. The unity of the Godhead and divine co-equality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit eternally. The Sovereignty of God in creation, providence and redemption. (Genesis 1:1, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30, Rev. 5:12; I Peter 1:1,2; Acts 5:3,4)
God the Son
We believe in the true and proper deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His real and perfect manhood, the authority of His teaching, and the infallibility of all His utterances. His substitutionary death on the cross as being the full, sufficient, and only atonement for sins. His bodily resurrection, His ascension into Heaven, and His present priestly intercession for His people. His personal return in glory. (Jn 10:33, Is 7:14; Heb 4:15; 7:26; I Cor 15:3; Eph 1:7; Jn 11:25; Heb 7:25; Rev 19:11)
God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the work of the Holy Spirit as essential for a true understanding of the Scriptures and for regeneration and conversion of the sinner, by leading an individual to repentance towards God and saving faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Also, the work of the Holy Spirit for the sanctification of those regenerated and converted (the redeemed). (Jn 3:5-8; Acts 1:8 and 4:31; Ro 8:9; 1 Cor 2:14; Gal 5:16-18; Eph 6:12; Col 2:6-10)
The Sinfulness of Man
We believe in the total depravity of human nature in consequence of the fall of man from the original state of perfection in which he was created. By this fall all mankind is in a state of condemnation and separation from God. Deliverance is only by the divine work of regeneration and conversion. (Psalm 51:5; Jer 17:9; 2 Thess 1:6-10)
Predestination
We believe in the sovereign grace of God, by which we mean His free and unmerited favor. That by His sole choice, certain sinners (the elect) have been predestined to salvation. (Eph 1:3-6, 11; 2:8)
Irresistable Grace
We believe in the salvation of the elect not by their own free will and power but as a result of the irresistible grace of God, through the work of the Holy Spirit. (Jn 6:37,39; Eph 1:13,14; Ro 8:14-17)
Perseverance of the Saints
We believe in the final perseverance of all those who are chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, so that not one of them shall ever perish but shall have everlasting life. (Phil 1:6; Jn 6:37,39)
Christ as Head of the Church
We believe in the sole authority and prerogative of Christ, through the Holy Spirit speaking in His inspired Scriptures, in all matters pertaining to the government of the local church. (Matt 28:18-20; Col 1:18-20)
Justification
We believe in the justification of the sinner solely by faith, through the atoning merits and of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ro 1:17; 3:24)
The Return and the Resurrection
We believe in the resurrection of the body. The return and judgment of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ. The eternal blessedness of the redeemed. The conscious eternal punishment of the impenitent. (1 Cor 15:42; Mark 9:48)
Baptism
We believe in the observance of the ordinance of baptism of believers by immersion, as being instituted by Christ, in loving obedience and as an act of witness, but not as conveying any regenerating grace. (Mt 3:13-17; Acts 8:36-38)
The Lord's Supper
We believe in the observance of the Lord's Supper as a commemoration of our Lord's death but not as being a sacrifice for sin nor involving any change in the substance of the bread and wine. (1 Cor 11:25,26)