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Were we to condense the sum of our beliefs into a single statement, it would be that expression
uttered by Jonah from the belly of a great fish: "Salvation is of the Lord"
(Jonah 2:9). When we can see ourselves as the weak, sinful creatures that
we are, and God as the exalted, sovereign, holy, pure essence that He
is, we understand that apart from His grace and mercy, we would be
utterly lost. Salvation is of the Lord. It is all of the Lord. It
is not decisional. It is not earned. It is entirely
by His grace.
We subscribe to the biblical doctrines of sovereign grace commonly described using the acrostic TULIP:
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T
T |
TOTAL DEPRAVITY
All men are sinners by nature, and are dead to spiritual things. Apart from God they are unable
to do good or to seek Him. They are not only passively overcome by sin, but actively and willingly
engage their strength, ability and gifts in its pursuit. |
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U
U |
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
Election is God's eternal choice of certain definite individuals unto salvation. This choice was
not based on any seen or foreseen merit in these individuals, but was motivated solely by His sovereign
love. |
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L
L |
LIMITED ATONEMENT (PARTICULAR REDEMPTION)
The benefit of Christ's atoning death accrues to all of the elect. His
redemptive work did not make salvation a possibility, but was alone sufficient to secure the salvation
of all those loved and elected by the Father. |
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I
I |
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
All of the elect will be quickened, or born again: this
infallible, irresistible operation of the Holy Spirit in the hearts
of the elect turns them from the power of Satan unto God. God
doesn't try to save men. He doesn't plead with them. He saves them!
What He purposes, He does; nothing can stand in the way. |
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P
P |
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Through God's preserving grace, the indwelling Holy Spirit powerfully enables and equips each of
the elect to persevere through faith, growing in grace. Though they may stumble along the way, God's
elect will never finally be lost, for they are kept by the power of God. All those loved by God before
the foundation of the world will thus eternally delight in His presence. |
The truth of God's sovereignty in salvation ensures that only God receives glory. It is He alone who
is worthy to be adored, worthy to be praised, worthy to be worshiped. Crowning Him as King is a central
focus in our lives, for we believe that the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.
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