What is the Evangelical Reformed Fellowship? 


What is the Evangelical Reformed Fellowship? The Evangelical Reformed Fellowship exists to equip the Body of Christ in the work of the Kingdom of God through the faithful and consistent proclamation of the truths of God as revealed in Scripture, and to train and encourage those called by God to evangelize the lost, to disciple believers, and to lead the Church as Under-Shepherds of Christ, to the eternal glory of Almighty God.

Our name indicates our three primary characteristics.



Evangelical

To say that we are evangelical is to identify our mission with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The word evangelical comes directly from the Greek word for good news. The gospel is the ultimate good news: God saves sinners. We believe that God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for sinners. We acknowledge our call to share this good news – this gospel – with as many people as possible, as God grants the opportunities.

The term “evangelical” also distinguishes the Evangelical Reformed Fellowship from so-called “mainstream” churches and parachurch organizations that accept or promote any number of variant doctrines and/or practices that are patently contrary to an inerrant view of the revealed Word of God.

Finally, the term “evangelical” plainly associates the Evangelical Reformed Fellowship with those believers who profess the essential and historic doctrines of the Christian Church, as expressed in the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed.

We believe in:

  • The verbal plenary inspiration of the 66 books of the Bible;
  • The Triune God, revealed as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
  • The creation of all things by God ex nihilo (out of nothing);
  • The literal death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ as a vicarious atonement for sin;
  • The immortality of the human soul;
  • The future, physical resurrection of all humanity; and
  • The future, bodily, visible return of our Lord Jesus Christ


Reformed


To say that we are Reformed is to identify our theology (or, beliefs about God) with the Augustinian/Calvinistic exposition of the Bible. We believe that all doctrine must conform to the Word of God, and any doctrine that does not must be rejected.

Believing the truths of God to be illuminated most reasonably and clearly through a thoroughly biblical and systematic theology, the Evangelical Reformed Fellowship firmly maintains and adheres to the classical, Reformed tradition, as expressed in the Belgic and Westminster Confessions of Faith.[1] Nevertheless, the Evangelical Reformed Fellowship recognizes the written Word to be the supreme authority in all matters of life and faith, and all doctrine and practice must submit to it.

We believe in:

  • Total Depravity. This means that every person is sinful and unrighteous in every aspect of his or her being, and thus is unable to achieve his or her own salvation or even to initiate it;
  • Unconditional Election. This means that God, before the foundations of the world, sovereignly predestined a fixed number of people to be saved from the wrath that all deserve, apart from any present or potential merit, but based, rather, solely on the good pleasures of His own will;
  • Limited Atonement. This means that Jesus Christ willingly chose to lay down His life for the sake of the elect who were chosen by God from eternity. Though His sacrifice is sufficient for all sin, it was purposed explicitly for the elect;
  • Irresistible Grace. This means that the Holy Spirit, by means of spiritual regeneration (commonly known as the new birth), so guides and motivates every elect person, so that each one willingly and joyfully chooses to follow Christ;
  • Perseverance of the saints. This means that every truly elect person shall persevere in the faith and shall be sustained by the grace of God, so that none will ever be finally lost.


The term “Reformed” also identifies the Evangelical Reformed Fellowship with the core doctrines that precipitated and defined the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.

We believe in:

  • Sola Scriptura – The Bible is the God-breathed Word of God and, as such, is our ultimate and final authority, apart from any tradition, interpretation, or supposed personal revelation that stands in opposition to the express teaching contained therein;
  • Sola Fide – Faith alone is the instrument of salvation, apart from any merit or good works;
  • Sola Gratia – The grace (or unmerited favor) of God is the sole source and ground of the offer and the realization of salvation;
  • Solus Christus – Christ alone is Savior, Redeemer, Mediator, and Lord. There is no other path to God and no other Name by which we may be saved from our sins;
  • Soli Deo Gloria – All of creation exists to glorify God, and was, in fact, created for this very purpose.


Fellowship

To say that we are a fellowship is to identify our structure with the New Testament models articulated in the Acts of the Apostles, and further described and defined in the New Testament epistles. Our methodology includes:

  • Study materials (biblical, theological, and apologetical) for the purposes of discipleship and ministry preparation;
  • Books and literature defining our evangelical, Reformed heritage;
  • Grants and scholarships for graduate level education;
  • Prison ministry;
  • Correspondence Bible studies;
  • Domestic missions and church planting;*
  • Foreign missions and church planting.[2]
In summary, we are a creedal and confessional fellowship that operates on behalf of, and in support of, the Body of Christ. We are unapologetically evangelical in nature. Despite the current emphasis on politically correct speech and multicultural inclusiveness, the Evangelical Reformed Fellowship maintains that there is but one Way for humanity to be reconciled with God, and that Way is the Person of Jesus Christ.

We seek to encourage, edify, and inform believers who recognize their biblical mandate to profess Christ and Him crucified to a lost and dying world. It is our sincere prayer that we may be a tool to that end, so that the words and the actions of the Church may consistently reflect the words and the actions of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.



[1] As incorporated in the “Articles of Faith of the Evangelical Reformed Fellowship.” Available upon request.

[2] As to any local fellowships that may be established domestically or abroad, they are encouraged to participate in cooperative missionary and ministry efforts consistent with the stated mission of the Evangelical Reformed Fellowship. Further, they are encouraged to seek affiliation with and placement under the guidance and administrative leadership of a conservative Reformed church or denomination.



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