RCD Distinctives & Statement of Faith

The Distinctives of RCD are those theological positions with which other churches who hold to the basic beliefs of Christianity might disagree. We do not expect all members to embrace all aspects of these distinctives, but members should expect that the distinctives will be maintained in all ministry environments at RCD, and members may not teach within the church contrary to them.

The Statement of Faith is an outline of the core doctrines that will guide our teaching and the life of our Church at RCD. They serve as a way of clarifying our terms and understanding of the sweep of the redemptive narrative laid out in scripture. First we cover our doctrine of God and his Revelation. After that we lay out God’s purpose of redemption in the pattern of creation, fall, redemption, and future glory.

RCD Distinctives

1. Reformed Doctrine of Salvation

At Redemption Church Denver we affirm the sovereignty of God over all things, including our personal salvation. We therefore affirm what are commonly referred to as the “Five Points of Calvinism,” which are conveniently described by the acronym TULIP.

Total Depravity - In our sin, humanity possesses no capacity to save ourselves.

Unconditional Election - God chooses those who he saves only because of his free grace.

Limited Atonement - Christ’s death effectively saves all who he intends to save.

Irresistible Grace - The call of God effectively regenerates us to receive salvation.

Perseverance of the Saints - Saving faith holds fast to Christ until the end.

2. Complementarian Gender Roles

God has ordained distinctive roles for men and women in the pattern of the loving relationship between Christ and the Church. Therefore, husbands are to exercise headship in a way that demonstrates the sacrificial love of Christ, and wives are to submit to their husbands in a way that models the love of the church towards Christ. This pattern is likewise reflected in the leadership of the church with the role of elder assigned distinctly to qualified men in the church.(Gen 1:26-27, Eph 5:22-33, 1 Tim 3, Titus 1).

RCD Statement of Faith

1. God

We believe in the one true God eternally existing in three persons; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father begets the Son, The Son is begotten of the Father, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. Each person of the Trinity is equally God and deserving of full honor and glory. This one true and living God is infinite and perfect both in his love and in his holiness. (Deu 6:4, Ma 28:18-20, John 14:16-17, Jn 1:1-3, Rom 11:33-36)

1a. Revelation
God has revealed himself generally in his creation and supremely in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the perfect revelation of God. God has likewise revealed himself in his inspired word, the Bible, comprised of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. These writings alone constitute the verbally inspired Word of God, which is utterly authoritative and free from error. The Scripture is sufficient for all that God requires for us to believe and do and is therefore to be believed, as God’s instruction, in all that it teaches; obeyed, as God’s command, in all that it requires; and trusted, as God’s pledge, in all that it promises. The Bible is the highest authority and sustenance of the church. (Rom. 1:20, John 1:14, Heb 1:1-2, 2 Tim 3:16-17)

2. Creation

God is the creator of everyone and everything, and all things exist for him, through him, and to him. God upholds all things by his Word and sovereignly rules all of creation for his glory and the good of his people. God created the world from nothing out of an overflow of the love and goodness within the Trinity. God created all things and declared them good. (Rom 11:36, Col 1:16, Gen 1:1, Gen 1:31)

2a. Humanity
God created human beings, male and female, in his own image, therefore every human being is sacred. Men and women enjoy equal access to God by faith in Jesus Christ and are both called to stewardship of creation. Adam and Eve were made to join in a one-flesh union that establishes heterosexual monogamous marriage as the only normative context of sexual relations for men and women, such that marriage ultimately serves as a type of the union between Christ and the Church (Gen 1:26-27, 2:24-25).

3. Fall

Adam was created in holiness and righteousness to live in immediate covenant relationship with his Maker. Adam denied the glory and honor due to his creator by disobeying God through Satan’s temptation. As a result, all human beings are alienated from God, corrupted in every aspect of their being (e.g., physically, mentally, volitionally, emotionally, spiritually) and are thus positively inclined toward evil. Humanity therefore stands under the domain of satan, condemned finally and irrevocably to death. The supreme need of all human beings is to be reconciled to the God under whose just and holy wrath we stand; the only hope of all human beings is the undeserved love of this same God, who alone can rescue us and restore us to himself. (Gen 3:6, Rom 1:18-23, Rom 3:23, Rom 5:12-14, Eph 2:1-3).

4. Redemption

4a. Atonement
We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. While humanity was still in its sinful state, because of the great love with which he loved us, God purposed to accomplish our salvation in Christ so that we might be rescued from his wrath and brought into immediate joyful and eternal fellowship with him. While we were yet sinners, Christ humbled himself by taking on our sinful flesh, and making himself an offering for our sin so Christ might condemn sin in the flesh. The just punishment for sin is death, and Christ took on the death of his people, so that in him, Christ’s people would have eternal life (Rom 3:24-25).
4b. Calling & Regeneration
God effectively calls his people to himself, regenerating their hearts so that they might respond to him in faith and repentance. All who come to Christ must be born again by the power of the spirit. (Rom 1:6-7, Rom 8:28-30, Eph 2:8-9)
4c. Justification & Adoption
The response of faith is counted to God’s people as righteousness. So that all who trust in Christ alone for their salvation stand justified before God because of Christ. Those who trust in Christ are adopted into the family of God, and are fellow heirs with Christ Jesus. (Rom 3:25, Rom 8:14, Rom 8:30, Col 1:22)
4d. Sanctification
The Father and the Son together send the Holy Spirit to enliven and secure those who trust in Christ. So that those who are in Christ are made new creations and citizens of a heavenly kingdom. The Spirit works to bring about the sanctification of those who are saved so that their lives demonstrate growth in holiness. (Rom 8:13, Phil 1:6)
4e. Glorification
Those who trust in Christ will also be glorified with him to rule with him eternally at the final resurrection in the New Heavens and New Earth. (Rom 8:17, Eph 2:6)
4f. Gospel
This message of our salvation in Christ is the gospel. It is the story of God’s redemptive plan to save sinners by the atoning work of Christ, and it is the power of God for salvation to all who would believe. It is the joyful assignment of all Christians to proclaim and live by the truth of the Gospel. (Rom 1:16-17)
4g. Church
God did not save individuals into isolation, but adopted them into his family, the church. The Church is made up of all who have been saved in Christ, and manifests itself in local congregations who are committed to worshiping Christ and loving one another. The ultimate mission of the Church is to bring glory to God by making disciples. The Church is called to make disciples through worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of the ordinances, fellowship, the exercise of our gifts and talents, and the proclamation of the gospel both in our community and throughout the world. We believe there are two ordinances of the Church established by God. We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordained by the Lord Jesus himself. The former is connected with entrance into the new covenant community, the latter with ongoing covenant renewal. They are God’s pledge to us and our public submission to Christ. (Matt 28:18-20, Eph 3:10, Acts 1:8)

5. Future Glory

The consummation of all things includes the future, physical, visible, personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the glorification of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. In the consummation, Satan, with his hosts and all those outside Christ, is finally separated from the benevolent presence of God, enduring eternal punishment, but the righteous, in glorious bodies, will live and reign with Him forever, serving Him and giving Him unending praise and glory. Then the eager expectation of creation will be fulfilled, and the whole earth shall proclaim the glory of God, who makes all things new (Rev. 21:1-5, Rev. 20:7-15, Rom 8:18, Col 1:20).