Why I joined the Reformed Church

After many years of seeking the truth, God finally lead me to join a Reformed Baptist Church. It was an answer to my prayers.

I believe the Reformed church is the most Biblically correct, please show me why it is not if you disagree.

The term “Reformed” has its origins in the 16th century. During this period a work of restoration was undertaken by God after many centuries of spiritual decline in the medieval church. Through men such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and others, priority was given to the faithful proclamation of God’s Word. Scripture once again became the regulating principle of doctrine and practice rather than superstition or church tradition. These men have become known as ‘The Reformers’ and the result of their labours ‘The Reformation’.
It is often asked what it is that constitutes a Reformed church. The following points provide a brief summary.
Belief in a sovereign God
By sovereignty we mean that God controls every detail of the universe; He has a purpose in all things in order to bring glory to Himself. The sovereignty of God by no means violates the free choice of human beings nor does it diminish human responsibility.
Sufficiency of scripture
God communicates to us through His Word, the Bible. We do not rely on extra-Biblical revelation such as dreams, visions or words of knowledge to guide us. God has in time past used such means and could continue to do so, however He has chosen to reveal Himself and His purposes through scripture. By the enabling of the Holy Spirit the scriptures are a light to our path and a lamp for our feet.
The doctrine of salvation
The Bible teaches that God has appointed whom He will save and the method He will use. His people were elected to salvation before the foundation of the world and He calls them to Himself through the preaching of the Gospel. The Reformed view of salvation is often referred to as Covenant Theology. The various steps involved in salvation are outlined in the so called Doctrines of Grace:
Total depravity
Unconditional election
Limited atonement
Irresistible grace
Perseverance of the saints
Reverent worship
Most Reformed churches approach corporate worship according to God’s holy character. As such He is worshiped in a way that is reverent and orderly (this however does not mean joyless!). It is popular today to equate worship with creativity and self-expression, the Bible however doesn’t describe worship in these terms. The aim of our worship is to bring honour to God and to do this we are to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
Creeds and confessions
While we maintain that the Bible is the only infallible rule for faith and practice we also acknowledge the importance of confessions and creeds. Many Christians find the use of these documents unnecessary and even uncharitable. This is unfortunate because they provide an excellent means of studying the Bible and clarifying doctrinal beliefs. The concept of confessional statements is actually found in scripture itself (see 1 Tim 3:16 as an example).
We use the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith as a summary of belief.

After many years of seeking the truth, God finally lead me to join a Reformed Baptist Church. It was an answer to my prayers.

I believe the Reformed church is the most Biblically correct, please show me why it is not if you disagree.

The term “Reformed” has its origins in the 16th century. During this period a work of restoration was undertaken by God after many centuries of spiritual decline in the medieval church. Through men such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and others, priority was given to the faithful proclamation of God’s Word. Scripture once again became the regulating principle of doctrine and practice rather than superstition or church tradition. These men have become known as ‘The Reformers’ and the result of their labours ‘The Reformation’.
It is often asked what it is that constitutes a Reformed church. The following points provide a brief summary.
Belief in a sovereign God
By sovereignty we mean that God controls every detail of the universe; He has a purpose in all things in order to bring glory to Himself. The sovereignty of God by no means violates the free choice of human beings nor does it diminish human responsibility.
Sufficiency of scripture
God communicates to us through His Word, the Bible. We do not rely on extra-Biblical revelation such as dreams, visions or words of knowledge to guide us. God has in time past used such means and could continue to do so, however He has chosen to reveal Himself and His purposes through scripture. By the enabling of the Holy Spirit the scriptures are a light to our path and a lamp for our feet.
The doctrine of salvation
The Bible teaches that God has appointed whom He will save and the method He will use. His people were elected to salvation before the foundation of the world and He calls them to Himself through the preaching of the Gospel. The Reformed view of salvation is often referred to as Covenant Theology. The various steps involved in salvation are outlined in the so called Doctrines of Grace:
Total depravity
Unconditional election
Limited atonement
Irresistible grace
Perseverance of the saints
Reverent worship
Most Reformed churches approach corporate worship according to God’s holy character. As such He is worshiped in a way that is reverent and orderly (this however does not mean joyless!). It is popular today to equate worship with creativity and self-expression, the Bible however doesn’t describe worship in these terms. The aim of our worship is to bring honour to God and to do this we are to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
Creeds and confessions
While we maintain that the Bible is the only infallible rule for faith and practice we also acknowledge the importance of confessions and creeds. Many Christians find the use of these documents unnecessary and even uncharitable. This is unfortunate because they provide an excellent means of studying the Bible and clarifying doctrinal beliefs. The concept of confessional statements is actually found in scripture itself (see 1 Tim 3:16 as an example).
We use the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith as a summary of belief.

After many years of seeking the truth, God finally lead me to join a Reformed Baptist Church. It was an answer to my prayers.

I believe the Reformed church is the most Biblically correct, please show me why it is not if you disagree.

The term “Reformed” has its origins in the 16th century. During this period a work of restoration was undertaken by God after many centuries of spiritual decline in the medieval church. Through men such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and others, priority was given to the faithful proclamation of God’s Word. Scripture once again became the regulating principle of doctrine and practice rather than superstition or church tradition. These men have become known as ‘The Reformers’ and the result of their labours ‘The Reformation’.
It is often asked what it is that constitutes a Reformed church. The following points provide a brief summary.
Belief in a sovereign God
By sovereignty we mean that God controls every detail of the universe; He has a purpose in all things in order to bring glory to Himself. The sovereignty of God by no means violates the free choice of human beings nor does it diminish human responsibility.
Sufficiency of scripture
God communicates to us through His Word, the Bible. We do not rely on extra-Biblical revelation such as dreams, visions or words of knowledge to guide us. God has in time past used such means and could continue to do so, however He has chosen to reveal Himself and His purposes through scripture. By the enabling of the Holy Spirit the scriptures are a light to our path and a lamp for our feet.
The doctrine of salvation
The Bible teaches that God has appointed whom He will save and the method He will use. His people were elected to salvation before the foundation of the world and He calls them to Himself through the preaching of the Gospel. The Reformed view of salvation is often referred to as Covenant Theology. The various steps involved in salvation are outlined in the so called Doctrines of Grace:
Total depravity
Unconditional election
Limited atonement
Irresistible grace
Perseverance of the saints
Reverent worship
Most Reformed churches approach corporate worship according to God’s holy character. As such He is worshiped in a way that is reverent and orderly (this however does not mean joyless!). It is popular today to equate worship with creativity and self-expression, the Bible however doesn’t describe worship in these terms. The aim of our worship is to bring honour to God and to do this we are to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
Creeds and confessions
While we maintain that the Bible is the only infallible rule for faith and practice we also acknowledge the importance of confessions and creeds. Many Christians find the use of these documents unnecessary and even uncharitable. This is unfortunate because they provide an excellent means of studying the Bible and clarifying doctrinal beliefs. The concept of confessional statements is actually found in scripture itself (see 1 Tim 3:16 as an example).
We use the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith as a summary of belief.

SUMMARY OF FAITH
For a fuller treatment please refer to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith

We believe that the Old and New Testament is the inspired and infallible Word of God, and the only authoritative rule for faith and practice.
• 2 Tim 3:15-17; Rom 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

Creeds and confessions
While we maintain that the Bible is the only infallible rule for faith and practice we also acknowledge the importance of confessions and creeds. Many Christians find the use of these documents unnecessary and even uncharitable. This is unfortunate because they provide an excellent means of studying the Bible and clarifying doctrinal beliefs. The concept of confessional statements is actually found in scripture itself (see 1 Tim 3:16 as an example).
We use the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith as a summary of belief.

I don't believe that any local church is best. I believe when you learn the basic things about Jesus you have to get rid of all your own stuff and go out on your own without a mediator. Give up your will, walk, ways, wants and your worship. Give it all up. And be lead by the comforter to take you into all truth.

Hi Slayer


Hallo Slayer
I clicked on your article because I was baptised in the Reformed church and come from Reformed tradition.
I was then, however, surprised that you actually meant a Baptist Church.
You then also go on to talk about Martin Luther and John Calvin as if the Baptist tradition comes from them.

I would just like to point out to you that the Augsburg Confession which is the official document of the Lutheran church compiled at the Diet of Augsburg in 1540 and still is the binding document for the Lutheran Church in 2018 states in article 9:

"Die Taufe ist notwendig zum Heil, da auch durch die Taufe die Gnade Gottes dargeboten wird. Folglich müssen auch bereits die Kinder getauft werden, weil sie in die Gnade Gottes durch die Taufe aufgenommen werden. Die Täufer, die die Kindertaufe ablehnen, werden hier verworfen."
Translation: Baptism is necessary for salvation, and that through Baptism is offered the grace of God. Children are baptized as an offering to them of God's grace. The Baptists, who reject the baptism of Children are hereby rejected.

Also Calvin and Zwingli the "fathers" of the Reformed Church, were VERY MUCH against the Baptists.

We can still talk about the Baptist's movement towards the Reformed Church (and btw. also the Reformed Church's movement towards the Baptists) but for now I would just like to point out that the two movements are not only mutually exclusive but also stood very much opposed to each other for most of history and still are formally two different Churches.

Restoration church but Jesus says his own church shall prevail against the gates of hell. Matthew 16:18 means it continues from the time of the Lord Jesus Christ, the founder and from the time of the Apostles until now. The church doesnt even originated during the reformation. It goes back to the first century.

God bless

That's the worst advice I've ever heard, you are obviously deceived and your soul is in great danger of damnation. You are suggesting I leave the safety of my shepherd and the the flock, to go out on my own with hungry lions roaming around.

Can you see how pathetic your suggestion is, you are asking me to commit suicide

Does your church and pastor truly believe this? Does your pastor ever correct God's word?

Don’t let them fool you they will not come forth outright and say we hold are confessions to that of the Bible. Go ask your pastor or even one of your elders about any one of confessions and point out that there needs to be revesion in some of them because they do not lign up with what the Bible has to say about this or that and see what happens.

I figured you would say that. You have to learn how to put on the full armor of God. If you come up against a hungry lion outside that Church, what are you going to do.

Yes we believe this and we abide by it, there's no need to correct God's Word because it is perfect.

Well, how about this one from the very own 1689 Confession of faith"

We believe that the Church is made up of those who have exercised faith in Jesus Christ and repentance toward God.
• Acts 2:38; Acts 8:37; Acts 20:21.

The Bible on the other hand says:

Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Am I seeing a reformat of God's word?

Thanks,

Well that's exactly why God appointed shepherds to lead us dumb sheep, there's no way any sheep can learn how to defend itself on it's own. We need to be taught how to defend ourselves by those who God appointed to teach us.

Hell is full of "Christians" who rebelled against God's appointed shepherd and went out on their own as rouge sheep. They are quickly deceived by the master of deception, who know exactly how to destroy them. The Bible says "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge", it's speaking about the foolish proud Christians who wanted to do it their way.

Satan deceives Christians today, using the same trap as he used on Eve. He tells his victims that they will become wise and that God is withholding valuable information which would liberate them if they knew it. This is where the term "Liberal" came from, today's Liberal Church allows it's congregation to indulge in all kinds of sinful lifestyles.

I would urge you to find a Church that preaches the whole counsel of God, as a matter of utmost importance. You need to come under a faithful shepherd to lead you on the narrow path, it's far to dangerous to walk that road alone.