In unity with the historic Christian church, Revolve believes and confesses the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Definition of Chalcedon as accurate representations of Scripture’s teaching concerning the “faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” [Jude1:3]. In addition, we gladly affirm the following Confessional Statement.  If you have any questions please email the elders and we would be happy to serve you. 

I. THE WORD OF GOD

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, written by men who “were carried along by the Holy Spirit”, so that in its entirety is “breathed out by God” and without error in the original manuscripts. The Holy Scriptures are sufficient for all saving knowledge and alone have supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct, by which all human actions, creeds and opinions are to be measured. 

All things essential to God’s glory and necessary for our salvation are contained within the sacred Scriptures to which nothing can be added. Yet, a true and saving understanding of what is revealed in the Word is only possible by the inward working of the Holy Spirit, who guides Christ’s followers into all truth.

2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31-32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12; John 16:12-15

II. GOD 

We believe that there is only one living and true God. He alone is self-existent having all life, glory, and goodness in and of himself, a perfectly pure spirit. He is eternal and all-sufficient in himself, not dependent upon anything, being infinitely wise, infinitely powerful and having absolute sovereign rule over all creatures. He is unchangeable, transcendent, incomprehensible and absolutely holy in all his plans, works and commands. Every creature owes to him all worship, service and obedience. 

He is most loving, gracious, merciful, and patient. He overflows with goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. He rewards those who seek him diligently. At the same time, he is perfectly just and terrifying in his judgments. He hates all sin and will certainly not clear the guilty.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12; Exodus 3:14; John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:15-16; Malachi 3:6; 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23; Psalm 90:2; Genesis 17:1; Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:10; Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36; Exodus 34:6-7; Hebrews 11:6; Nehemiah 9:32-33; Psalm 5:5-6; Exodus 34:7; Nahum 1:2-3

III. THE TRINITY

This one, perfect and infinite God, as revealed to us in the Scriptures, eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three have the same substance, power, will, perfections and eternity. Each is infinite and without beginning and are therefore only one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, each having the whole divine essence without the essence being divided. All three work inseparably in every act of creation, providence and redemption. Yet these three are distinguished by several distinctive characteristics and personal relations, which are:

The Father in his fatherhood (Paternity) is not derived from anyone, neither begotten nor proceeding. The Son in his Sonship (Filiation) is eternally begotten of the Father, being his word, wisdom and the radiance of his glory. The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Life-giver, eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son (Spiration). This truth of the Trinity is the foundation of all of our fellowship with God and of our comforting dependence on him.

1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Exodus 3:14; John 14:11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:14; John 1:18; John 15:26; Galatians 4:6

IV. CREATION & HUMANITY

In the beginning God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was pleased to create the world and all things in it, both visible and invisible, in a six-day period out of nothing, and all very good. He did this to manifest the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness. 

After God had made all the other creatures, he created humanity. God made humanity in his own image and after his likeness. Being image-bearers, they were made in relationship to God and God’s representatives before all creation. He made them male and female—both with body and soul—suited to life lived towards God for which they were created. 

God, the good Creator of all things, in his infinite power and wisdom, upholds, directs, arranges, and governs all creatures and things, by his perfectly wise and holy providence, to the purpose for which they were created.

John 1:2-3; Hebrews 1:2; Job 26:13; Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:31; Romans 1:20; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11; Isaiah 46:10-11; Psalms 135:6; Matthew 10:29–31; Ephesians 1:11

V. FALL & REGENERATION

After creating man in His own image, God gave a command not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. However, through the temptation of the serpent, Adam sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual and eternal death, both for himself and his descendants whom he represented; so that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature, are also sinners by choice and therefore under God’s just condemnation. 

We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration is a work of the Holy Spirit, creating a change of heart, making alive those who were dead in trespasses and sins. This is a work of God’s sovereign grace, by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit through the proclamation of the gospel, so that God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, producing in us faith and repentance. 

Faith is a gift from God and the result of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. True Saving Faith is one that receives and rests on Christ and his righteousness as the only instrument of justification—our being declared righteous before God. It is a living faith that desires to walk in the good works prepared beforehand by God for those who are created in Christ Jesus.

Genesis 1:26, Genesis 5:2; Genesis 3:1-24; Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 2:11; John 3:14, John 5:24; John 5:30, John 7:13, John 8:12, John 10:26; Romans 9:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 19:3; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 20:14-15, Revelation 21:18; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14; Romans 3:19; Romans 5:19; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9; John 3:16, John 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17

VI. CHRIST THE MEDIATOR

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, who is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. He is the brightness of the Father’s glory, the same in substance and equal with him. He made the world and sustains and governs everything he has made. When the fullness of time came, he took upon himself a human nature, with all the essential properties—body and soul. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without converting one into the other or mixing them together to produce a different or blended nature. Jesus, then, is truly God and truly man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and humanity.

He lived a sinless life, perfectly fulfilling the Law. He performed miracles and taught with authority in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, all in relation to and fulfillment of his threefold mediatorial office as Prophet, Priest and King.

To all those for whom Christ has obtained eternal redemption, he will certainly and effectually apply it. He intercedes for them, unites them to himself by his Spirit, and reveals to them in and by his Word the mystery of salvation. He persuades them to believe and obey and governs their hearts by his Word and Spirit. He gives rest to weary sinners and “a bruised reed he will not break”. He is the good shepherd, the true vine, the way, the truth and the life.

John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 2:16-17; Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 1:22-23; Romans 9:5; 1 Timothy 2:5; Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:26–38; John 1:1; John 20:28; Romans 8:32; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21–23; John 20:30-31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6–8; Romans 6:9-10; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16

VII. THE CHURCH

We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. It consists of the full number of the elect who have been, are, or will be gathered into one under Christ. By the Father’s appointment, all authority is conferred on Christ in a supreme and sovereign manner to call, institute, order and govern the church. In exercising the authority entrusted to him, the Lord Jesus, through the ministry of his Word, by his Spirit, calls to himself out of the world those who are given to him by his Father.

We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, who were baptized on a credible profession of faith, and are associated—by Christ’s commandment—for worship, discipleship, and fellowship. Further, Christ has given all power and authority that is in any way necessary to conduct the form of worship and discipline that he has instituted for them to observe. The regular officers of a local church are Elders (or Pastors) and Deacons. 

We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. This Great Commission is most clearly articulated in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:19–22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19–21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23–25; John 10:16; Matthew 18:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 1 Timothy 3:1-16; 2 Corinthians 2:6–8; Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18-20

VIII. THE ORDINANCES

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the triune God. To those baptized it is a sign of their fellowship with him in his death and resurrection, of their being united to him, of forgiveness of sins, and of submitting themselves to God through Jesus Christ to live and walk in newness of life.

The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus the same night he was betrayed. It is to be observed in his churches to the end of the age as a perpetual remembrance and display of the sacrifice of himself in his death. In partaking we proclaim the Gospel which gives confirmation through faith to believers in all the benefits of Christ’s death, their spiritual nourishment and growth in him, and their further engagement in all the duties they owe their Lord. The supper is to be a bond and pledge of their communion with Christ and each other.

Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3–5; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:27; Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 1 Corinthians 10:21

IX. PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS

We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow men; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. This right conduct, done in obedience to God’s commandments, is the fruit and evidence of a true and living faith.

We believe in the Priesthood of all Believers. Every member of Christ’s church—which is the temple of the Holy Spirit—serves God and offers his whole life as a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” This priestly role is not just a function performed within the church, rather it is an identity of God’s people carried out where they live, work, learn and play.

James 2:18: James 2:22; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1–3; Hebrews 12:1–2; John 14:15; John 14:23-24; 1 John 2:3-6; 2 Corinthians 9:6–9; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 1:9–10

X. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone—who is Lord of each person’s conscience—in all matters of faith; that each church is independent, accountable to God for its doctrine and life, and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other. 

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 2:1-5; Romans 14:7–9; Romans 14:12; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:17

XI. CHURCH COOPERATION

We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another, praying continually for the good and prosperity of all churches of Christ in every place. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches, allowing each church to exercise their gifts and resources to the benefit of others.  Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time.

Acts 15:36: Acts 15:41; Acts 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 1:1–3; Ephesians 6:18; Revelation 1:4-11

XII. THE LAST THINGS

We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked. All people who have lived on the earth will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds and to receive a reckoning according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.

Christ desires that we be firmly convinced that a day of judgment will come, both to deter everyone from sin and to comfort the godly more fully in their adversity. For this reason, he has determined to keep the day secret, to encourage people to shake off any fleshly security and always to be watchful, because they do not know the hour when the Lord will come and so that they may always be prepared to say, “Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Amen.”

Matthew 16:27; Mark 13:35–37; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15:1-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:5–10; Revelation 20:4–6,11–15; Revelation 22:20