What is a Reformed Baptist Church

A Reformed Baptist church shares more similarities with other Protestant denominations than differences. We don’t see ourselves as having all the answers while others are wrong. The differences that set us apart from other churches are just that—distinctives. Just as two brothers can look alike yet have unique features, so do our distinctives set us apart while still sharing the same faith. We don't need to be identical to be united as brothers in Christ. Therefore, while we hold to our Reformed Baptist beliefs, we are eager to join with other orthodox Christians in building the Kingdom of God together.

Reformed Baptist theology blends key ideas from the Protestant Reformation with the unique beliefs of the Baptist tradition. It emphasizes the Bible's authority, God's control over all things, and the importance of the gospel in Christian life.

Bible and Authority

At the core of Reformed Baptist theology is a deep commitment to the Bible. It's seen as the inspired by God, inerrant in the original manuscripts, and the complete Word of God, guiding all aspects of faith and practice. This leads to a focus on teaching the Bible verse by verse in a clear and systematic way that applies to everyday life.

Covenant Theology

Reformed Baptists reject dispensational theology and understand the Bible through the lens of covenant theology, which means they see God's relationship with humanity as being shaped by agreements, or covenants. They believe that before the Fall, there was a covenant of works, and after the Fall, a covenant of grace. Unlike Presbyterians, Reformed Baptists believe baptism should only be for those who have personally chosen to follow Christ, rejecting the practice of infant baptism. They argue that the new covenant, established by Christ, includes only those who have professed their faith.

Church and Practices

In Reformed Baptist theology, the church is a community of believers who have been baptized as a sign of their faith. Each church is independent, led by a group of elders, and practices two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism involves full immersion in water and is a public declaration of faith and union with Christ. The Lord’s Supper is a way to remember Christ’s sacrifice and call professing Christians to continually “examine themselves to see if they are in the faith”.

Worship and Daily Living
Worship in Reformed Baptist churches is simple and focused on the Bible. They attempt to follow the Regulative Principle of Worship, meaning they only include practices in worship that are directly commanded in Scripture. This typically includes congregational singing, prayer, reading scripture, and preaching. Reformed Baptists also stress the importance of living a holy life, obeying God’s commands, and growing spiritually.

God’s Sovereignty and Salvation
Finally, Reformed Baptists strongly believe in God’s complete control, or sovereignty, over salvation. They reject the idea that God just does part of the work and leaves the rest to us. Instead, they affirm that God is fully sovereign in the work of salvation, that Christ’s death will accomplish its designed purpose, and that the Holy Spirit effectively calls the elect to faith. Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace, with no contribution from human effort.

Paul Washer said it best in his magnificent sermon, The Ten Indictments, “I know that there are Calvinists and Arminians here and I know that there are all sorts of strange animals in between, and although I am leaning more toward, I guess I call myself a five point Spurgeonist, I want you to know this. Calvinism is not the issue. I’ll tell you what the issue is. Regeneration. And that is why I can have fellowship with Arminians like Wesley, Ravenhill and Tozer and all the rest because regardless of where they stood on the other issues, they believed that salvation could not be manipulated by the preacher, that it was a magnificent work of the power of almighty God. And with them, therefore, I stand.”

Here is a VIDEO that may help you better understand how God can be sovereign without minimizing the Freewill of man.