What We Believe
RBCNC identifies itself as a Christ-centered, Confessional, Gospel driven, Reformed Baptist congregation. "Reformed" is a word that gets thrown around a lot today. By it we mean that we are rooted in the theology of the Reformation regarding salvation (especially the so-called Solas: by faith alone, through grace alone, because of Christ alone), that we are covenantal in our reading of Scripture (God's word is a basic unity, with particular emphasis on the work of Jesus Christ), and that we hold to the principle that the Bible alone has the right to tell us how to worship God (the Regulative Principle of Worship). We have Reformed worship with expository preaching and weekly communion. Seeing and speaking about our Savior, Christ in all of Scripture, as well as our worship together are things we particularly delight in.
We are also Baptistic in our form of church government and our views of baptism.
We believe all of this is expressed faithfully by our historic Confession of Faith (the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689). We hold this Confession substantially, meaning that we hold to the doctrines expressed in each chapter, yet with liberty and charity over minor matters of wording, application, and nuance not essential to those doctrines as a whole. We are charter members of Reformed Baptist Network, a confessional association of churches whose mission is "To glorify God through cooperation in fulfilling the Great Commission to the ends of the earth."
We are proud to be part of the universal church, existing beyond denominational lines, that has faithfully passed that Faith down from generation to generation. We believe in the final authority of Scripture alone, but as public, orthodox (small "o") Christians we eagerly embrace the early creeds such as the Apostle's and Nicene to be faithful, biblical summaries of the most basic teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are also proud to align ourselves with historic Protestant Christianity which sought to reform the church back to a more biblical faith and practice. Ours is a church that believes something substantial and is not afraid to tell others about it.
Below you will find links to various aspects of what we believe and who who we are as a church.
Other Important Beliefs of Our Church
"The faith once and for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3)
To understand this faith, to internalize it, and to work it out into our daily activity, so that we can pass it down to our children, outweighs every other interest - including the numerical success of the church.
Word and Sacrament
"And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42)
The primary focus of our worship is the public reading and exposition of God's Word, and the administration of his sacraments.
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Tim 2:15)
Following the pattern of guilt, grace, and gratitude, our sermons are Christ centered, with special care given to correctly distinguish between Law and Gospel.
Form, Order and Reverence in Worship
God seeks those who worship him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Accordingly, we are called to worship God in an orderly manner (1 Cor 14:40), "with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:28)." Thus we utilize appropriate and biblical liturgical devices in our worship.
Accountability
We belong to the Reformed Baptist Association because we believe that the biblical pattern for ministry demands "checks and balances" and a structure of accountability higher than ourselves. We do not believe "lone ranger" Christianity is appropriate for God's people. Creeds, confessions, a catechism and a historic liturgy link us to other believers not only in this time and place, but across time, geographical boundaries and cultures.
Children and Family
The Biblical notion of covenant theology, as interpreted by the historic Reformed Baptist tradition, provides us with a solid theological basis from which to discuss marriage, family, children and other personal relationships within the church.
Sharing our Faith
"Always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence." (1 Peter 3:15). In addition to growing in our own understanding of the faith, the Scriptures exhort us to share it with those outside the church. We must not only be prepared to give to everyone an answer for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15), but we must be zealous to see that our non-Christian friends, families and neighbors hear the message of Christ crucified (Romans 10:14-15) with the prayerful and confident expectation that God will be pleased to call many to faith in His Dear Son through the ministry of Reformed Baptist Church of Northern Colorado.
Friendship and Camaraderie
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another." (Hebrews 10:23-25)
We also enjoy fellowship in unstructured opportunities of light-hearted conversation. The conversation stimulates us to greater fellowship with God and is done with the utmost kindness, love, and gentle regard for our fellow Christians.
Links to Various Documents of Importance
Links to Various Documents of Importance
