Our Statement of Faith
We believe that a clear statement of faith is a wonderful gift to the church of Jesus Christ. Similarly, our statement of faith seeks to establish historical continuity and unity with other Christians. We aim to show that we are not given to theological novelties, but stand with two feet firmly planted in the historic Christian tradition.
Salem Reformed Baptist Confession of Faith
SALEM REFORMED BAPTIST
CONFESSION OF FAITH
The Last Things
SECTION VIII
We believe that those who by faith saw Christ’s day before it came and those who saw it later were and are all washed in the same blood, all redeemed with the same ransom price, and made members of the same body. Before the first advent of Christ, all the types and shadows pointed one way—they pointed to Christ, and to Him all the saints looked with hope. In Christ, the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile has been destroyed (Ephesians 2:11-22). It cannot be rebuilt. The two peoples (Jews and Gentiles) have been made one in Christ. Among those who are united to Christ by grace alone, through faith alone, there is no Jew nor Gentile (Romans 10:12; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11). The church has always been the Israel of God and the Israel of God has always been the church. God “grafted” the Gentiles into the people of God (Romans 11).
We believe that with the advent, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ we have already entered what the Scriptures call “the last days.” We believe that in Jesus all the promises of God are “amen and amen.” We believe that the New Testament teaches that the Kingdom of God has already been inaugurated with the first coming of Jesus but it has not yet been consummated. We believe that the consummation of all things waits the second coming of the Lord Jesus.
We believe that Jesus will return to earth personally, visibly, and bodily as King of kings and Lord of lords (Acts 1:11). At his appearing the dead shall be raised and the living and the dead will be judged (1 Corinthians 15:20-28). The wicked and unbelieving will be consigned
Before the first advent of Christ, all the types and shadows pointed one way—they pointed to Christ, and to Him all the saints looked with hope.
consigned to eternal punishment in hell (Revelation 14:15; 20:10). Those belonging to Jesus will have eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth and live in ever-increasing joy to the glory of God (Revelation 21:1-5). Married to Christ as his Bride, the Church will be in the presence of God forever, serving Him and giving Him unending praise and glory. Then shall the eager expectation of creation be fulfilled and the whole earth shall proclaim the glory of God who makes all things new.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life (John 6:39; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14), and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:13-15).
We believe that hell is a real place of eternal wrath. We believe that the souls of the unsaved at death are kept under punishment until the second resurrection (Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:13-15), when the soul and the resurrection body will be united (John 5:28-29). They shall then appear at the Great White Throne of Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) and shall be cast into hell, the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41-46), cut off from all the blessings of God forever (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).