CHURCH COVENANT

God has graciously entered into a covenant 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 of one 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 enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that we obey, in loving gratitude for Christ’s righteousness, which has been imputed to us, and not to establish our own righteousness before God. We obey with confidence that the end of Christ’s death will be realized in us; that is, “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us” (Rom. 8:1-4) and that we should be a people “zealous for good works” (Tit. 2:14). 

Having, as we trust, been brought by divine grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to give up ourselves to him, and having been baptized upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, we do now, relying on His gracious aid, solemnly and joyfully renew our covenant with each other. (Jn 1:12; 6:63; 16:7-11; 1 Thess. 2:13; Acts 2:41; 8:38; Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Acts 2:42)

We will submit to the authority of Scripture as the final word on all matters of life and doctrine. (Matt. 5:17-19; 2 Tim. 3:14-17; 1 Thess. 2:13)

We agree to worship only the one true and living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who has revealed Himself to us in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. (Exodus 20:3; Jn 4:21-24)

We will work and pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:1-3)

We will walk together in brotherly love, exercising an affectionate care and watchfulness over each other. We will faithfully admonish and entreat one another as occasion may require. (Jn. 13:34-35; Eph. 4:32; 1 Pt. 1:22)

We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, nor neglect to pray for ourselves and others. (Heb. 10:23-25)

We will bring up our children and our community in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by a pure and loving example to seek the salvation of our family and friends. (Eph 6:4; 1 Pt. 3:1)

We will rejoice at each others’ happiness and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows. (Rom. 12:15)

We will seek, by Divine aid, to live carefully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living new and holy lives. (Lev. 19:2; Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 1:15)

We will defend and maintain a Christ-exalting ministry in this church by supporting and upholding the preaching of the Bible, the right administration of believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper and, when necessary, the exercise of church discipline. (Mt. 18:15-20; Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 5:9-13, 11:26; 2 Tim. 4:2)

We will submit to the leadership and wisdom of the elders, knowing that they have been appointed to keep watch over our souls and help us understand and apply the Scriptures to our lives for God’s glory, our good, and the unity of the Church. (Heb 13:17)

We will contribute cheerfully and sacrificially to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations. (2 Cor. 9:7; Gal. 6:10; James 1:27; 1 Jn. 3:17-18)

We will, when we move from this place, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.