Sovereign Grace Fellowship Church Covenant
AFFIRMATION OF COVENANT
God has graciously entered into a covenant relationship with His believing people (Jer. 31:31-34; 32:40; Heb. 8:7-13; 10:16, 17; 13:20,21). Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 8:6). His blood is the blood of the New Covenant, which infallibly secures all the benefits of the covenant for all of God's people (Matt. 26:26-28; Heb. 13:20,21). God has in this New Covenant made us members one of another (Rom. 12:4,5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph.4:25).
Therefore, we have covenant responsibilities to each other, as well as to God. God has promised in this covenant to write His laws in our hearts and to cause us to walk in His ways (that is, to enable us to keep our covenant responsibilities). The motivation and ability to obey God's laws spring from the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who, by His death, satisfied the holy wrath of God that was against us due to our sins. It is by the Holy Spirit that we are enabled to obey, in loving gratitude for Christ's righteousness, which has been imputed to us, and not to establish our own righteousness before God. The following is a statement of the agreed duties for those wishing to adjoin themselves in membership to this church:
1. All the members of this church have a duty to gather with the corporate body in worship (Heb. 10:24- 25). Minimally, the early church gathered on the first day of the week (Sunday) for worship, teaching, and the sacraments (Acts 20:7). The weekly gathering was also supplemented by voluntary gatherings for the purpose of study, prayer, and fellowship (Acts 2:46). Such a pattern is commended to members of this church.
2. Christians should financially support the work of the Lord by systematic and joyful giving made through the local church (1 Cor. 16:1- 2, 2 Cor. 9:7), thus supporting the ordained leaders and ministry of the local church (1 Tim. 5:17-18).
3. All the members of this church are required to obey the teachings of Scripture in respect to the family. The husband is the God-appointed head of the family and must serve his household with gentleness, love, wisdom, and firmness (Eph. 5:25ff; 1 Tim. 3:4, 5; 1 Pet. 3:7). The wife must also render loving support to her husband in all things (Eph. 5:22-24; 1 Pet. 3:1-6). The husband and wife must bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:1-4). This includes setting a godly example before them, consistently instructing them from the Scriptures (Deut. 6:4-9), and administering appropriate chastening to them when needed (Prov. 13:24; 22:15; 29:15; Heb. 12:7). Children, for their eternal good, are called upon to render obedience and honor to their father and mother (Eph. 6:1-3).
4. All members must conduct themselves honorably in society and outside the household of faith, whether it be in employment, submission to government and its laws, or recreation (Eph. 5:6-17, Col. 3:22-25, 1 Pet. 2:11-20, Rom. 13:1-7, 1 Cor. 10:31-32).
5. It is the duty of every Christian, as an individual and as a member of a local church, to labor by prayer, word, and deed for the extension of the kingdom of God in ever widening circles, beginning at home and stretching forth to the ends of the earth (Isa. 54:1-3; Acts 1:8).
6. Each member of the church by virtue of self-discipline has a duty to render loyal obedience to all the moral precepts of God's Word in his daily life (Rom. 8:3, 4; 1 Cor. 9:20, 21; James 2:12). If God has not condemned or forbidden a practice in His Word either explicitly or implicitly, a Christian is at liberty to participate in it. The exercise of Christian liberty, however, must at all times be governed by an earnest desire to walk in the fear of God and to glorify Him in all things (1 Pet. 1:17; 1 Cor. 10:31), a loving regard for the consciences of weaker believers (1 Cor. 8:9; Rom. 15:1-3), a compassion for the lost (1 Cor. 9:19-22), and a zealous regard for the health of one's own soul (Rom. 13:14; 1 Cor. 6:12; 9:24- 27; Gal. 5:22, 23; 1 Pet. 2:16).
7. All who come into the membership of this church by virtue of self-discipline, have a duty to recognize and to submit to the authority of the overseers of the church (1 Cor. 16:15,16; 1 Thess. 5:12, 13; Heb. 13:17).
8. We who have been joined to Christ by faith and are members of this church are also members one of another (Rom. 12:5). With this privileged relationship come particular responsibilities. We must maintain mutual transparency and honesty (Eph. 4:25). We must rejoice in each other's honor and bear one another's sorrows (1 Cor. 12:26). We must discreetly confess our faults one to another (James 5:16). We must mutually oversee each other, faithfully admonish and encourage one another, avoid all backbiting and gossip, and keep in strict confidence all matters which the elders determine are of private concern to the church (Prov. 11:13; Matt. 18:15ff; 1 Thess. 5:14, 15; Heb. 3:12, 13; 10:24, 25). Also, we must, when necessary, help meet the material needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ (Gal. 6:10; James 2:14-16; 1 John 3:16-18).
God has graciously entered into a covenant relationship with His believing people (Jer. 31:31-34; 32:40; Heb. 8:7-13; 10:16, 17; 13:20,21). Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 8:6). His blood is the blood of the New Covenant, which infallibly secures all the benefits of the covenant for all of God's people (Matt. 26:26-28; Heb. 13:20,21). God has in this New Covenant made us members one of another (Rom. 12:4,5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph.4:25).
Therefore, we have covenant responsibilities to each other, as well as to God. God has promised in this covenant to write His laws in our hearts and to cause us to walk in His ways (that is, to enable us to keep our covenant responsibilities). The motivation and ability to obey God's laws spring from the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who, by His death, satisfied the holy wrath of God that was against us due to our sins. It is by the Holy Spirit that we are enabled to obey, in loving gratitude for Christ's righteousness, which has been imputed to us, and not to establish our own righteousness before God. The following is a statement of the agreed duties for those wishing to adjoin themselves in membership to this church:
1. All the members of this church have a duty to gather with the corporate body in worship (Heb. 10:24- 25). Minimally, the early church gathered on the first day of the week (Sunday) for worship, teaching, and the sacraments (Acts 20:7). The weekly gathering was also supplemented by voluntary gatherings for the purpose of study, prayer, and fellowship (Acts 2:46). Such a pattern is commended to members of this church.
2. Christians should financially support the work of the Lord by systematic and joyful giving made through the local church (1 Cor. 16:1- 2, 2 Cor. 9:7), thus supporting the ordained leaders and ministry of the local church (1 Tim. 5:17-18).
3. All the members of this church are required to obey the teachings of Scripture in respect to the family. The husband is the God-appointed head of the family and must serve his household with gentleness, love, wisdom, and firmness (Eph. 5:25ff; 1 Tim. 3:4, 5; 1 Pet. 3:7). The wife must also render loving support to her husband in all things (Eph. 5:22-24; 1 Pet. 3:1-6). The husband and wife must bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:1-4). This includes setting a godly example before them, consistently instructing them from the Scriptures (Deut. 6:4-9), and administering appropriate chastening to them when needed (Prov. 13:24; 22:15; 29:15; Heb. 12:7). Children, for their eternal good, are called upon to render obedience and honor to their father and mother (Eph. 6:1-3).
4. All members must conduct themselves honorably in society and outside the household of faith, whether it be in employment, submission to government and its laws, or recreation (Eph. 5:6-17, Col. 3:22-25, 1 Pet. 2:11-20, Rom. 13:1-7, 1 Cor. 10:31-32).
5. It is the duty of every Christian, as an individual and as a member of a local church, to labor by prayer, word, and deed for the extension of the kingdom of God in ever widening circles, beginning at home and stretching forth to the ends of the earth (Isa. 54:1-3; Acts 1:8).
6. Each member of the church by virtue of self-discipline has a duty to render loyal obedience to all the moral precepts of God's Word in his daily life (Rom. 8:3, 4; 1 Cor. 9:20, 21; James 2:12). If God has not condemned or forbidden a practice in His Word either explicitly or implicitly, a Christian is at liberty to participate in it. The exercise of Christian liberty, however, must at all times be governed by an earnest desire to walk in the fear of God and to glorify Him in all things (1 Pet. 1:17; 1 Cor. 10:31), a loving regard for the consciences of weaker believers (1 Cor. 8:9; Rom. 15:1-3), a compassion for the lost (1 Cor. 9:19-22), and a zealous regard for the health of one's own soul (Rom. 13:14; 1 Cor. 6:12; 9:24- 27; Gal. 5:22, 23; 1 Pet. 2:16).
7. All who come into the membership of this church by virtue of self-discipline, have a duty to recognize and to submit to the authority of the overseers of the church (1 Cor. 16:15,16; 1 Thess. 5:12, 13; Heb. 13:17).
8. We who have been joined to Christ by faith and are members of this church are also members one of another (Rom. 12:5). With this privileged relationship come particular responsibilities. We must maintain mutual transparency and honesty (Eph. 4:25). We must rejoice in each other's honor and bear one another's sorrows (1 Cor. 12:26). We must discreetly confess our faults one to another (James 5:16). We must mutually oversee each other, faithfully admonish and encourage one another, avoid all backbiting and gossip, and keep in strict confidence all matters which the elders determine are of private concern to the church (Prov. 11:13; Matt. 18:15ff; 1 Thess. 5:14, 15; Heb. 3:12, 13; 10:24, 25). Also, we must, when necessary, help meet the material needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ (Gal. 6:10; James 2:14-16; 1 John 3:16-18).