What We Believe

Essential Doctrines

This category contains the essential doctrinal positions held by River Church that we hold to and will die for. We believe holding a different view from these positions will affect one's salvation and provide a barrier to the intimate fellowship we seek as the body of Christ here at River Church. These essential doctrines also provide us with a clear guide on what other churches we will partner with for evangelistic efforts.

  • The gospel, or “good news,” is of first importance in matters of the church and the individual life of the Christian. The essence of the gospel is that Jesus Christ was crucified for the forgiveness of sins according to the Scriptures, buried, and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures, and many people witnessed the risen Jesus.

    John 3:16-17; Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

  • We believe that salvation is by the grace of God in Christ through faith in the gospel. Faith is expressed by confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead. We see that repentance and baptism accompany this confession. This does not mean that salvation depends on these things but is demonstrable of true faith in Jesus.

    Acts 2:41; Acts 4:12; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10

  • The one true God of the universe reveals himself as Trinity, which is self-evident in the Scriptures, although not explicit. While incomprehensible, he has made himself knowable. All persons of the trinity have the same essential attributes equally and undivided. All work together in all things; we refer to a trinity in unity and to a unity that is trinal as one essence, three individual subsistences.

    Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 46:9; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-18; John 8:58; John 15:26

  • The Father is the Most High, eternal, and reigns over all creation. He is all-loving, all-knowing, all-wise, and all-powerful. He is over all and through all and in all. In work, he initiates all things.

    Genesis 1:1; Genesis 2:7; Jeremiah 10:10; Ephesians 4:6

  • The Son is the eternal begotten, fully-God, fully-man Son of God. All things are created through him and for him. He became incarnate as Jesus Christ through the conception of the Spirit and the miraculous birth by the Virgin Mary. He is the firstborn of all creation and the dead. In work, he accomplishes all things. This is most evident in accomplishing salvation through his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and rising three days later. 

    Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-3; John 1:14; John 3:16; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-4

  • The Spirit is eternal and is sent from the Father and Son. He brings life, convicts the world of sin, testifies to the Son, and teaches to and advocates for believers. In work, he applies all things.

    John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:8; Romans 8:9-11; Romans 8:26-27; 1 John 2:27

  • The 66 books of the Bible, in their original manuscripts, are inerrant and infallible. Our Bible is reliable for understanding God’s Word through faithful transmission and translation.

    Matthew 5:17-20; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21

Essential Distinctives

This category contains the essential distinctive theological positions held by River Church that we hold to and will divide over. While holding a different view of these positions does not necessarily affect one's salvation, they will provide a barrier to the intimate fellowship we seek as the body of Christ here at River Church. These essential distinctives also provide us with a clear guide on what other churches we will partner with for discipleship efforts. 

  • The church is a community of spirit-enabled, gospel-centered Christians who have repented, been baptized in Jesus' name, covenanted together, assembled in a place to proclaim the gospel, affirm one another through the ordinances, and follow the teachings and example of elders as they imitate Christ’s example.

    Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Hebrews 10:25; Hebrews 13:17

  • The first ordinance of the church is Baptism. Baptism is the sign of the New Covenant, commanded by Christ to the church, where the individual publicly confesses their allegiance to Christ. This is generally done through the immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This act signifies the believer's death to sin, the old life, and being raised to walk in the newness of life in Christ’s likeness. It is the duty of the elders to administer baptism and ensure that only regenerate believers are baptized. However, we understand that we cannot perfectly administrate this. Therefore, not all who have been baptized will be finally saved. The act of baptism and the water is not magical and does not save someone. Baptism is a prerequisite to be a part of the church. 

    Acts 2:41-42; Acts 8:35-39; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 6:3-5

  • The second ordinance of the church is the Lord’s Supper. Instituted by Jesus Christ during the Passover on the night before he would be betrayed and sentenced to death. The Lord’s Supper is simultaneously a recapitulation and summation of the Passover meal and the deliverance from the powers of sin and death. The meal is given to the church to celebrate and memorialize the work of Christ through the breaking of bread and taking of the cup. It is a time for the individual to reflect and receive the gifts and grace of the meal. It is also a time for the community of believers to celebrate and commune with one another as the people of God. Only baptized believers are invited to participate in this celebration where Christ is present with us. 

    Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:17-29

  • We believe that church planting is vital to fulfilling the Great Commission and is rooted in the early church’s mission. We will train, support, and send people called to take the gospel to other communities worldwide. 

    Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 14:21-23

  • The mission of all churches, as given by Jesus Christ, is to make disciples of all nations through baptizing and teaching. This is the duty of the church and every individual believer. 

    Matthew 28:19-20

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to all believers as he wills; no one person has all the gifts, and they are used to build up the body of Christ. In exercising the gifts, the individual is responsible for stewarding them well and doing so in an orderly manner. The elders are responsible for discerning and judging the speaking gifts to ensure they are aligned with the Scriptures. 

    Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:11-13; Hebrews 2:4

  • We believe that humanity is a special creation of God. To be human means to be created in the image of God and descended from Adam and Eve. Humanity is fallen through Adam’s disobedience and every individual's rebellion against God. 

    Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 2:4-24; Genesis 5:2; Romans 5:12

  • We believe that the family follows the pattern of the church. The family reflects to the world how God relates to his people. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. The wife is to submit to her husband as the church submits to Christ. Children are to obey their parents, and parents are not to provoke their children. 

    Ephesians 5:22-6:4; Colossians 3:18-21

  • We believe the Scriptures define marriage as a covenantal relationship made before God between one male and one female that is not broken until death. While we see polygamy and divorce throughout the Scriptures, these are a departure from God’s good purposes in marriage and are a result of the hardened heart of humanity and our bent towards sin. Therefore, Christians are to align themselves with God’s definition of marriage and not engage in the sinful expressions it often takes. 

    Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:1-12; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16

  • We believe that humanity is created in God’s image. In His creation of humanity in His image, God states that He created humanity to rule over the earth and to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. In giving humanity this purpose, God created humanity as male and female. Both are created in the image of God and created as distinctly male or female to fulfill this purpose. 

    Because of the Fall and the entering of sin and chaos back into the world, gender identity, sexuality, and marriage have been infected by sin, and therefore, a departure from God’s design has taken place. We hold that God’s good purposes in these areas are still the ideal and that departure from these is sin and a result of sin. Therefore, Christians should live in alignment with these good purposes. 

    Genesis 1:26-30; Romans 5:12

  • We believe that sex is created and defined by God, designed for intimacy between a married man and woman. Therefore, any and all departures from this is sin and must be repented. 

    Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

  • We believe that all life is precious and given by the Lord. Therefore, we will seek to preserve and protect all life. 

    Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Exodus 20:13

We also generally hold to the Baptist Faith & Message 2000