Coram Deo Baptist Church is one local church that is part of the greater world-wide Church. But there are certainly many different branches of the big tree of the Christian Church, and Coram Deo finds itself on a particular branch.
Coram Deo is a Protestant Church
Coram Deo is not Roman Catholic, and we strongly deny Roman Catholic teaching. We believe the Protestant Reformation (1500s) was an important event in the Christian church and we must continue reforming today! The Christian gospel is a message of salvation by God’s grace in Christ, rather than the message of salvation by grace and works which Roman Catholicism teaches.
Coram Deo is a “reformed” Church
Some use the word “reformed” to refer to a very specific branch of Christianity: usually the Dutch reformed tradition. But what we mean by reformed is that we hold to certain principles of the Reformation and that we are Calvinistic rather than Arminian in our teaching. This does not mean you have to understand these or be a Calvinist to attend our church. But, like sugar and cream mixed into a cup of coffee, these teachings are in our church and will affect its flavor. They can be summed up in two sets of 5 teachings.
The Five Solas
- Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone is our Standard)
- Sola Gratiae (Salvation Is by Grace Alone)
- Sola Fide (Salvation Is through Faith Alone)
- Solus Christus (Salvation Is in Christ Alone)
- Soli Deo Gloria (All Things are to the Glory of God Alone)
The Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP)
- T– Total Depravity (Every part of every human is corrupted by sin)
- U– Unconditional Election (God chooses who is saved freely in his love)
- L– Limited Atonement (Christ’s death effectively purchased his people’s redemption)
- I– Irresistible Grace (Whoever is powerfully called by God will come to Christ and follow him)
- P– Perseverance of the Saints (True believers will never be snatched out of God’s hand)
Coram Deo is a Baptist Church
Coram Deo is in the reformed Baptist tradition. This branch of the church goes back to 1600s England. They believed that local churches were to govern themselves rather than be governed by denominations or civil governments. They believed the local church should be made up of members who have come to personal faith in Christ, been baptized by immersion, and show the fruit of a holy life.
Conclusion
Ultimately, though Coram Deo belongs to the reformed Baptist tradition, we want to be known as a Bible-believing, Christ-centered, gospel-preaching, loving community of faith, that is salt and light in the world and active in the Great Commission. If that’s what you’re about, we welcome you to come and join with us!
Pastor Rory St. John