Why Does Puritan Church Use the King James Version (KJV)?
We believe that the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures, which is based upon the Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Textus Receptus of the New Testament, is the best English translation of the Word of God as it was given in the original infallible autographs. To listen to three lectures and open a pdf of extensive notes (including a helpful map) on our SermonAudio page about why we use the KJV (with important disclaimers on “both sides” of the issue), click here.
We believe that God has providentially preserved His Word in all ages.
About the Westminster Confession of Faith
We believe that the main emphases and substance of the Holy Scriptures are well expressed by the Puritans in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms which were written by Reformed ministers (mostly Presbyterian) in the 17th Century; we subscribe to these standards as the system of truth taught in Scripture and our own confession of faith and life.
We believe in the perspicuity of Scripture, and reject the Paradox Theory.
God’s Sovereignty
We believe that the God of the Bible is triune, and sovereign over all persons and things bringing to pass perfectly that which He has planned.
The Sin Nature of Man, Salvation and The Elect
We believe that men and women enter this world as sinners at birth both guilty and totally depraved, out of spiritual fellowship with God, and under His wrath.
We believe that man is totally unable to save himself from this condition because he is dead in trespasses and sins, his understanding is darkened, his emotions towards God are as stone, and his will is enslaved by sin and Satan. We believe that God, in grace, has planned to save many, called in Scripture, the Elect, from this condition, and therefore we reject the idea that God desires the salvation of all. We believe that the Trinity eternally covenanted together to accomplish this salvation. The Father ordained many to eternal life, and gave them to the Son, named Jesus. The Son agreed to work out their salvation. This involved His coming to earth as man through the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the Law of God for those that He came to save. This he did actively by total obedience to His commands and passively by bearing the punishment due to His people for their sins. In this way, the justice of a holy God is satisfied and the need of sinners met. Proof of God’s satisfaction is seen in Christ’s being raised bodily from the dead, and exalted to His former glory from whence He shall come on Judgment Day to judge all mankind. We believe that this salvation which Christ has purchased has been and shall be irresistibly applied by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God to all for whom it was accomplished. Each of these persons is given spiritual life by the Holy Spirit whereby they repent, turn to God, and believe upon Christ and His finished work for their salvation. Not one for whom Christ died shall be in Hell. This is helpfully summarized in the Five Points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints.
We believe that when one is saved, one is added to the Church Invisible, and ought, after instruction by the elders, to be added to a local Church visible wherein they can bring glory to God through gathering together with others of like precious faith for the study of the Scriptures, prayer, fellowship, and the extension of the Gospel at home and abroad through giving and going.
About Acapella Worship
We believe that worship should be regulated by Scripture alone and, therefore, reject the use of musical instruments, the singing of hymns, and the celebration of so-called, ecclesiastical holy days such as Advent, Christmas, Easter, etc. We emphasize the joy of singing Psalms exclusively while making melody on the instruments of our hearts, and celebrating the resurrection of King Jesus each and every Lord’s (Christian Sabbath) Day.
The Marks of the True Church of Jesus Christ
We believe that the marks of a true Church of Jesus Christ are found in a church where there is the true preaching of the Word of God and the right administration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, where discipline is exercised, and where there is evangelical zeal as demonstrated in Scripture.
We believe that a church should remain separate from all apostasy and unbelief in the Scriptures.
Our Emphasis on the Five Solas
We believe that the Roman Catholic System is one of the chief manifestations of Anti-Christ. Against the Popish System, we whole-heartedly emphasize the “Five Solas” of the Protestant Reformation: By grace alone, by faith alone, through Christ alone, by Scripture alone, for the glory of God alone.