Doctrinal Statement

We believe that our heritage at Providence Church is a continuation of what was …

once for all handed down to the saints
– Jude 3

Our church professes to be in line with historic Christianity which embodies orthodoxy that has been preserved through time and tested by the scriptures. There are four distinctives that describe who we are at Providence and what our theological commitments are:

  1. We are Orthodox
  2. We are Evangelical
  3. We are Reformed
  4. We are Baptist
graphic What We Believe link
(1.

We Are Orthodox

What we mean by orthodox is that Providence Church believes in the supreme authority of Scripture because it is God’s written revelation. We believe all sixty-six books of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit and that the Bible in its entirety is true and without any mixture of error. We adhere to the historic Christian doctrines formulated and tested by the Word of God.

Revelation 4:11

We believe in the Apostle’s Creed and its fidelity to the main tenets of the Christian faith. We believe that the affirmations articulated by the Councils of Nicea and Chalcedon correctly explicate the doctrines of the Trinity and Christ’s two natures. Ultimately, we believe that we are in continuity with historic Christianity and our theological commitments are faithful to the Word of God and to historic Christian doctrines.

The primary issue is not us, and our needs, but rather, it is God and His glory. We exist for Him and not, He for us! This desire to exalt and honor and glorify God should fuel every single thing that we do.

As the Apostle Paul makes clear …

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
– 1 Corinthians 10:31

(2.

We Are Evangelical

What we mean by evangelical is that Providence Church believes that its roots are grounded in and are in continuity with historic Christianity; and more specifically, in continuity with the Protestant Reformation. We believe that the Protestant Reformation represented a recovery of essential biblical doctrine concerning the way of salvation.

The Reformers did not invent new doctrines We are also evangelical in that we believe in true Christian conversion and the need for sharing the gospel. We are intentional about Christ’s admonition in Matthew 28 concerning the evangelization of the world. We, as Evangelical Protestants, affirm that Jesus is the only way to God and to a right relationship with him (Acts 4:12). Consequently, we believe that it is our duty to share the Good News of God’s salvation to a lost and a dying world.

We are also evangelical in that we believe in true Christian conversion and the need for sharing the gospel. We are intentional about Christ’s admonition in Matthew 28 concerning the evangelization of the world. We, as Evangelical Protestants, affirm that Jesus is the only way to God and to a right relationship with him (Acts 4:12). Consequently, we believe that it is our duty to share the Good News of God’s salvation to a lost and a dying world.

(3.

We Are Reformed

What we mean by Reformed is succinctly captured in the Latin phrase semper reformanda (always reforming) — for it is at the heart of the Holy Spirit’s activity of renewing the church through the Word.

We believe that we are continually being reformed by the Word of God — it is the life source of all that we are and aspire to be. As a result of the Holy Spirit’s reforming activity through the Word, we believe that all we do and say should be rooted in God’s written revelation.

Being Reformed, we affirm that our ministerial methodology in preaching, teaching, evangelism, discipleship, and fellowship must be driven by clear theological reflection that is grounded in the teachings of the Bible.

Also, we are Reformed in the sense that we affirm the traditional Calvinist doctrines of Grace. We believe the doctrines of grace are the best and most accurate description of how God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility intersect in the salvation of sinners.

(4.

We Are Baptist

What we mean by Baptist is that we affirm traditional Baptist theology and church polity. One of the salient features of Baptist church life and polity is the notion of believer’s baptism. We believe that the Bible teaches baptism as an ordinance of the Lord for those who have repented and have come to faith (Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:21; Gal. 3:26-27). It signifies their union with Christ in his death and resurrection ( 6:3-4).

We believe that the mode of baptism prescribed in the Bible is by immersion (Acts 8:36-39; John 3:23; Rom. 6:34) and in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). We believe that a church is made up of confessing believers who have been baptized as a sign of their union with Christ.

As Baptists, we also affirm the autonomy of the local congregation. We believe that the local church is under the Lordship of Christ and, ultimately, responsible to Him for all its endeavors. This does not negate fellowship or even associational ties with other local congregations, but it does not allow for ecclesial hierarchy in matters of theology or church discipline.