Adopted By Reformed Baptist Church on 11/06/2016
Having been led, with assurance, by the Spirit of God, to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior (Romans 8:14 & John 3:8),
And upon profession of my repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, having been baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19-20 & Acts 2:42),
I do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with you, as one body in Christ.
I engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk with you in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; even to the laying down of my life in service for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ and my brethren; and if called upon by my Lord, to hazard my life for the gospel’s sake (Matthew 28:19-20 & Acts 2:42; Galatians 5:13-16; Romans 8:13 w/ 16:3-4; Acts 15:26; I John 3:16; & II Peter 1:2-8 w/ 3:18).
To promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain true biblical worship in it; observing its ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s table, its discipline, and its doctrines as revealed in the Word of God (Hebrews 10:25 & Acts 2:42).
To contribute cheerfully and regularly by tithes and offerings to the support of this church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations (Malachi 3:8; I Corinthians 9:7-14; Galatians 6:6-8; Philippians 4:15-20; I Timothy 5:17-18 & Hebrews 13:15-17).
I also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to biblically educate my children; to seek the salvation of my kindred and acquaintances; to be zealous in my efforts to advance the kingdom of my Savior (II Timothy 3:15; Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 6:6-8 & Ephesians 6:4);
To walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in my dealings, faithful in my engagements, exemplary in my deportment, abstaining from all appearances of evil (II Corinthians 6:3-10; Ephesians 5:15-16; Colossians 4:5 & I Thessalonians 4:11-12 w/ 5:22);
To avoid all tattling, backbiting, and unrighteous anger (James 1:26 w/ 3:2-12; Ephesians 4:25-5:7; Colossians 3:3-17; I Timothy 5:5-11; II Thessalonians 3:10-15; I Peter 4:15 & Proverbs 6:16-19, 8:13 w/ 26:20);
I further engage to watch over you, my brethren, in brotherly love (Matthew 22:37-39; John 13:34-35; I John 3:18 w/ 4:11; Romans 5:5 w/ 12:9-10; I Corinthians 13:1-7; II Corinthians 8:7-8; Galatians 5:6,13 w/ 14; Ephesians 4:2, 15-16; Colossians 3:14 & II Peter 1:5-8);
To remember you in prayer; to aid you in sickness and in distress, to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech (I Corinthians 12:26 & Colossians 4:12-13);
To be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the commandments of our Savior to secure it without delay (Matthew 18:1-17).
In recognizing the church’s authority to receive me into, and dismiss me from, its membership, I purpose when seeking to remove myself from her membership to seek the counsel, the approval, and the blessing of the church in seeking to join myself to another church of like faith and practice (Acts 9:26 & Acts 18:27).
If, however, the church does not agree with my reasons for leaving, I recognize that the church may release me from its membership disagreeing with me and expressing their displeasure of my actions but, at the same time, allowing me the liberty of conscience to leave (Acts 15:36-40 & Acts 21:14).
Finally, in the event of sin on my part with regard to any biblical matter, I recognize the church’s biblical right to take disciplinary action toward me, which seeks my restoration (Galatians 6:1-2; Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 16:17-18; I Corinthians 5:1-13; II Corinthians 2:6-11; II Corinthians 7:9-11 & II Thessalonians 3:11-14).
I enter into this covenant realizing my brothers and sisters have already entered into this covenant one with another and that they are responsible to me in like manner.