THE CHURCH

We believe that the church, as the body of Christ, is made up of all who have saving faith in Him, together with their children. We believe that God enters into covenant with believers and their children. This covenant, which is carried out differently under the period of the law and the Gospel, is nevertheless, one and the same. It is called the “Covenant of Grace,” or the “Covenant of Redemption.” Covenant does not equal saving relationship with God, but is a bond by which God promises salvation by faith in Jesus Christ to those who fulfill the condition of the covenant. This condition is faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is a gift from God, it is not something that we naturally have the ability to produce. God also promises curses to all within the covenant community who do not believe. Jesus Christ is the One who keeps the legal demands of the covenant for His people. As they are united to Him, all the benefits of the covenant become theirs.

BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

The sign of the covenant in the Old Covenant was circumcision and baptism in the New.

The only other sign and seal of God’s covenant is the Lord’s Supper. Besides baptism and the Lord’s Supper, as sacraments instituted by Christ, New Covenant Presbyterian does not practice any other.

We do not believe that you are “converted,” “saved,” “regenerated,” or “redeemed” by water baptism. We believe that it is commanded by Christ to be a sign and seal of the covenant. We believe that Christ and the benefits of the New Covenant are signified and sealed by baptism. We believe that you must be baptized by the Holy Spirit, which is another way of saying you must be “converted,” “saved,” “regenerated,” or “redeemed.”

We believe that Christ is spiritually present in the “worthy” partaking of the Lord’s Supper. In order for someone to partake in a worthy manner, you must be able to examine your heart, recognize your need for the saving blood of Christ, and exercise faith in Him. We do not believe that the bread and wine “literally” become the body and blood of Christ. We believe that they represent the body and the blood of Christ, and that He is spiritually present in the “worthy” partaking of the Supper.

LAST THINGS

We believe that there will be a day of judgment, in which all men will stand before the throne of God and will have to give an account of everything done in the body. We believe in a bodily resurrection of both believers and unbelievers. On the last day, when Christ returns, all those who have died prior to this coming will be raised up and will either go to heaven or hell for all eternity. All those who have trusted in Christ will go to be with Him in glory forever. All those who have not trusted in Him will perish eternally.