CORNERSTONE

We have a written confession of faith which we believe to be a good and accurate summary of the Bible’s teaching. Our confession consists of the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms. These documents do not carry Biblical authority, yet they do contain carefully worded summaries of the Bible’s content. Some churches claim they have “no confession but Christ” or “no creed but the Bible.” However, every church has a confession, whether formal or informal. Every church summarizes its convictions in some form in order to distinguish its members from those who are not believers or those who do not believe in their church’s distinctives. Our officers hold in good faith to our theological standards.   

<<READ MORE>>

“Reformed” is used most commonly to refer to theological distinctives that have marked Reformation believers, particularly those in the Calvinist tradition. We seek to hold to our reformed convictions joyfully, yet humbly, recognizing the sincerity and earnestness of godly men and women who have other positions.

​

Reformed distinctives include the sovereignty of God in His creation, providence, and the election of believers apart from any merit of their own; the irresistible grace of God providing for and preceding the faith of the individual; the sufficiency of God’s grace apart from which man is dead in sin and wholly defiled in all his faculties; the efficacy of Christ’s death for all who believe in Him by grace; the safeguarding of all those for whom Christ died for eternal life. 

We believe that the unifying principle of the Bible is the covenant of grace that God initiated with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. The mediator of this covenant is Jesus Christ. The covenant is a pledge or bond of loyalty that God made to his people. The covenant establishes a relationship of loving loyalty that God has graciously initiated with us as His people throughout human history. There is one way, and one way only, to salvation in both Old and New Testaments: by faith in the only Savior Jesus Christ.

We believe that the Kingdom of God is not only a future hope, but is also a present reality. We believe that the ascension of Jesus Christ means that he presently reigns from heaven. Therefore, we are called to honor and obey him in every area of our lives. We are to plant the banner of Christ’s kingdom rule in every area of human endeavor. Christ’s present reign is at the heart of our worship and activity as a church. Each Lord’s Day we gather together to worship God in Spirit and truth, as we celebrate the risen and ascended Christ. Indeed, everything we do in service to God is empowered by the Spirit of God. He is the gift of the ascended Christ to his church.

"Presbyterian" refers to our form of government. We are governed by presbyters (elders) who rule jointly in sessions (the local church), presbyteries (geographical collections of local churches) and the General Assembly (churches across our nation). In the local church, elders lead in member care, teaching, prayer, and worship. Deacons lead in stewardship, generosity, mercy, and service. Marriage is a formal recognition before God and others that a man and woman have joined their lives together as a family. Similarly, membership is a formal commitment before God and others that a believer has joined himself or herself to a particular church body. 

We take our stand with all those through history who have affirmed the authority of the word of God and the centrality of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Along with all Bible-believing Christians, we strongly affirm the existence of the triune God, the deity of Jesus Christ, the virgin birth, sinless life, and substitutionary and vicarious atonement of Christ. Likewise, we affirm the physical resurrection of Christ, the sure return of Christ, and the infallibility and divine authority of the Bible. It is a faithful and true guide to what we are to believe and how we are to live. We joyfully affirm our unity with those from every tradition and denomination who hold to these truths.

We take seriously the Great Commission, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” We affirm the responsibility of each person to repent and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. We also affirm our responsibility to extend the gospel invitation. We invite all, without distinction, to drink freely of the Water of Life and to live eternally.

The imperative of the Great Commission is to make disciples. A disciple is a learner and follower of Jesus. Every believer must be taught God's word, and be equipped to serve him. As Christians, we must learn from and follow Jesus. In this way, we seek to extend the transforming presence of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ to all peoples in all nations, starting right here in Castle Rock.

Acceptance of all these distinctives is not required for membership in our church. One can join and be a participating member of our church without holding to any but the evangelical distinctive. Officers, however, must hold faithfully to our confessional standards.