Doctrinal Statement

The King’s Chapel is a church that first and foremost stands on the principle of Sola Scriptura—the belief that Scripture alone is our only and final authority.  Not only is Scripture our final authority, but we also believe that Scripture is sufficient for everything that pertains to life and godliness. With Scripture being our one and final authority, we acknowledge the faithfulness of Christians who have come before us. We stand in the stream of Christian orthodoxy of the early church. We embrace the doctrines and worldview of the Protestant Reformers. We hold to a congregational and elder-led form of church governance and a baptistic understanding of the ordinances. We affirm wholeheartedly the convictions of our conservative evangelical forebearers. 

Christian Orthodoxy

We stand in the lineage of the early universal church and gladly affirm the Nicene Creed, the Chalcedonian Creed, and the Apostles’ Creed.

Reformed

We stand in the heritage and tradition of The Heidelberg Catechism (1563), The Canons of Dort (1618-1619), and The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646).

Baptist

We largely affirm the historic Baptist confessions: The Second London Confession (1689), The Philadelphia Confession of Faith (1742), The Abstract of Principles (1858), and The Baptist Faith and Message (2000).

Conservative Evangelical

Moreover, in addition to these historic creeds and confessions, we affirm the following statements of conservative evangelicalism: The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978), The Danvers Statement(1987), The Nashville Statement (2017), and The Dallas Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel (2019). To that end, we submit all statements and beliefs to Scripture as the final authority. The following beliefs represent a biblical understanding of these topics. They provide a governing document for what the church teaches and what all pastors/elders are to believe.

God

We teach that there is only one living God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet there are not three Gods, but one God.  The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son. God has no beginning and no end and is dependent on nothing but Himself.  He is holy, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.  He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe for His own purposes and glory. 

A. Creator

For His own glory and by His own decree, the triune God created heaven and earth, time, and all things, visible and invisible, living and nonliving, material and nonmaterial. (Gen 1:1, 17:1; Deut 6:4; 1Cor 8:4; 1Tim 2:5; Matt 19:26, 28:19; 2Cor 13:14; 1John 3:20, 5:7;  Ps 90:2, 139:7-10; Is 6:3, 40:28, 43:7, 44:6, 139:1-4; Jer 23:24; Neh 9:6; John 1:1-2, 3, 14, 3:16, 5:26, 10:30, 14:16-17; 15:26, 16:7; Col 1:15; 1Pet 1:15-16; Heb 1:3, 5, 4:13; Rom 11:36; Eph 1:11-12; Acts 2:33, 17:27-28; Gal 4:6; Rev 1:8, 4:8, 11, 19:6 

B. Sovereign Ruler

God from eternity past, present, and future decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of evil nor to destroy the responsibility of man. (Gen 1:1–2:3; Exod 20:11, 31:17; Is 46:9–10; Neh 9:6; 1Tim 1:17; Col 1:16; Rev 22:13). 

Christ

We teach that it pleased God in His eternal council, to ordain that the eternally begotten Son of God would become the incarnate mediator between God and man;  would perfectly fulfill the Old Testament offices of prophet, priest, and king; and would achieve merited righteousness and provide the substitutionary atonement for the sin of every believer. He took on human flesh to be truly man without ever ceasing to be truly God. (Deut 18:15; Is 53:5-6; 1Tim 2:5; 2Tim 1:9; Luke 1:32-33; John 1:14, 6:14, 18:36-37; Acts 2:23; Rom 5:19; 2Cor 5:21; Eph 1:4-5; Phil 2:6-8; Col 2:9; 1Pet 1:20; Heb 2:14, 4:14-15, 7:26-27, 8:6, 10:5-7 Since Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Law of God, He was not subject to death, and therefore rose again from the dead three days later in a resurrected body. His resurrection is the firstfruits of all believers who will later be resurrected from the dead on the last day. (Matt 5:17; John 10:17-18; Acts 2:24; Rom 6:9, 1Cor 15:20-23; Phil 3:20-21; 1Thess 4:16; Rev 20:12-13) He gives spiritual gifts to His Bride, the Church, and ever lives to intercede for her. By His power and grace and through His Church, His eternal kingdom is steadily expanding over Satan’s domain. On the last day, the Lord Jesus will return, raise the dead, and judge all people. Then He will usher in His eternal kingdom over which He will reign forever and ever. (Matt 1:16–23; Luke 1:30–31; John 19:30; Rom 6:23; 1 Cor 15:1–4; 1Thess 1:10; Heb 9:11–12, 10:12–14; 1Pet 1:17–19; 1John 2:2). 

The Holy Spirit

We teach that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, is Lord and Giver of life, who glorifies our Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father, who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and establishes the New Testament Church. (Gen 1:2; Job 33:4; John 14:26, 15:26, 16:8-111; Acts 2:1-4, 32-33; 2Cor 3:6) The Holy Spirit’s work of effectual calling and regeneration is necessary for sinners to repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.(Rom 8:28–30; 9:11–16; Eph 1:4–11; 2 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim 2:10; 1 Pet 1:1–2)The Holy Spirit baptizes, seals, and indwells every believer and lives and works in them to produce the fruits of righteousness. All sanctification in the life of the believer is attributed to the Holy Spirit’s work. Moreover, the Holy Spirit gives differing spiritual gifts to members of the body for the building up of local church fellowships. We teach that the apostolic-sign gifts of apostleship, prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, and miracles have ceased since the death of the apostles.  (Matt 28:18–20; John 3:5–8; 15:26, 16:8–11, 16:14; Acts 2; (John 14:16–17; Acts 1:8, 4:31; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:18–20; Galatians 5:22–23; Ephesians 2:19–22). (Romans 8:28–38; 1Cor 2:6–14, 6:9-10, 12:3; Tit 3:3–7; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 5:5; Heb 3:14, 6:4-6, 10:26-27, 12:14; Rev 21:7-8, 22:14-15). 

Scripture

We teach that the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the divinely inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. These texts are of dual authorship, meaning that men spoke from God as they were inspired supernaturally by the Holy Spirit. Since Scripture alone is God’s authoritative revelation, all creeds, confessions, and doctrinal statements are subordinate to Scripture. We reject any new claimed revelation from God. Moreover, we reject the idea that there is a “church tradition” that is authoritative outside of Scripture. We teach the literal, grammatical, and historical interpretation of Scripture, understanding that Scripture itself sometimes uses symbols, types, and metaphors. The final guide to the interpretation of Scripture is Scripture itself. Finally, Scripture is sufficient in all matters that pertain to life and godliness. (Ps 12:6, 119:160; Prov. 8:8-9, 30:5; Matt 5:18, 12: 3-5, 19:4, 22:31; Mark 7:13, 12:10, 12:26; John 7:17, 16:12-15, 10:35; Luke 6:3; 1Cor 2:7-14; 2Cor 4:2; 1Thess 2:13; 2Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21; 1John 2:20 ) 

Man

We teach that the first man Adam was a special, supernatural, unique, and immediate creation of God from the dust, made in His image and likeness, free of sin, with rational intelligence, volition, and moral responsibility to God.  We teach that the first woman Eve was created from Adam’s rib, and mankind consists of only two genders, male and female. Each of these two genders are distinct and complementary. Since all humans are made in the image of God, all humans have equal dignity and value regardless of age (including the unborn), intelligence, gender, physical ability, shade of skin tone, religion, ethnicity, or any other characteristic. There is only one race of mankind—the human race. All people alive today are the descendants of Adam and Eve and subsequently Noah. We teach that Adam fell from his original state of purity; his sin is imputed to his posterity; that all human nature is corrupt and in complete bondage to sin, that mankind, of his own free will and ability, is impotent to regain his original state of purity and communion with God. (Gen 1:26–27, 2:7, 2:21-23, 3:19-20, 5:2, 9:6, 11:9; Ex 20:13; Deut 5:17; Ps 51:5; Matt 19:4–6; Mark 10:6; Acts 17:26-28; 1Cor 11:7-12, 15:47-49; 1Pet 3:20; 2Pet 2:5; James 2:11, 3:9–10). 

Salvation

A. Original Sin

We teach that the basis of the necessity for salvation for mankind is due to the guilt of sin, inherited from Adam, and a corrupt nature that has been transmitted to every person in the human race. All men are sinners by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration. As such, we are all subject to God’s eternal wrath and condemnation.(Gen 2:7, 17, 22-23, 3:6-20; 4:4-8; 1Kings 8:46; Is 53:6; Ps 116:11; Prov 16:5; John 3:16-18, 12:48; Rom 3:23, 5:12, 8:2-22; 1Cor 15:21-22, 45-49; 2Pet 3:9)

B. Grace Alone and Justification

Men have no ability to contribute to our salvation and are wholly dependent on God’s grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is based on the merits of Christ’s perfect righteousness, and by His atoning death, burial and resurrection alone and not on the basis of any human merit or works. A believer is both forgiven of their sins and credited with Christ’s perfect righteousness when he trusts Christ as Lord and Savior.(John 1:12-13, 6:44; Rom 3:20-24, 4:4-5, 5:1, 8-10; 1Cor 15:3-4; 2Cor 5:21; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Phil 3:8-9; Titus 3:5) 

C. Election

God’s election of the saints in eternity past took place, not on the basis of foreseen merit or faith, but on the basis of God’s sovereign, gracious will. The purpose of the doctrine is to encourage and comfort the believer, give confidence in evangelism and missions, and ultimately give praise and glory to God.(Deut 7:6-8; Matt 11:25-26; John 6:47, 15:16; Acts 13:48; Rom 8:28-30, 9:10-16; Eph 1:4-6; 2Thess 2:13-14; 2Tim 1:9, 2:20; Rev 7:9-12) 

D. The Lordship of Christ

All who trust Christ in faith also embrace Him as Lord. True faith entails believing in Jesus Christ for all that He is. Since He is Lord and Savior, all saving faith professes that Christ is both Lord and Savior.(Luke 6:46; John 8:24, 20:28-29; Acts 2:36; Rom 10:9; 1Cor 12:3; Phil 2:9-11; Col 2:6)

E. The Free Offer of the Gospel

Christ commands that the gospel be proclaimed to all people, since Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. Therefore, all people have a duty to trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Whosoever will repent of their sins and come to Christ in faith will not be cast out but will be eternally saved.(Matt 28:18–20; John 3:16–17; Rom 10:9; Rev 22:17)

F. Sanctification

All who are truly justified, will be sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit. This sanctification is progressive and gradual. Believers are commanded to be filled with the Spirit and to not grieve the Spirit. Obedience to the Law of Christ is the joyful duty of every believer. We reject man-made external rules that are not found in Scripture as binding on the Christian conscience. All Christians are commanded to carry out their lives as living-sacrifices unto Christ.(Ez 36:26-27; John 17:17; Rom 6:19, 8:29, 12:1-2; 2Cor 3:18; Gal 5:16, 22-23; Eph 4:30, 5:18; Col 2:20-23; Heb 10:14; 1Pet 1:14-16)

G. Eternal Security, Glorification, and Rewards

Once a sinner is saved, their salvation can never be forfeited since every believer is kept in the faith by the power of God. All born again believers persevere in the faith to the very end. All believers will be glorified at the Lord’s return. At the final judgment, the believers will receive rewards based on their faithfulness to Christ and their work to advance Christ’s kingdom. They will then reign with Christ over His eternal kingdom forever and ever.(John 6:37-40, 10:27-29; Rom 8:29-30, 35-39; 1Cor 3:12-15, 9:24-27; 2Tim 4:7-8; Heb 3:14; 1Pet 1:3-5; Rev 2:26-27, 22:5) 

Marriage, Sexuality, and the Family

We teach that the only legitimate marriage sanctioned by God is the joining of one naturally born man and one naturally born woman in a single, exclusive, covenantal union as outlined in Scripture. Gender and biological sex are equivalent and cannot be separated. God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to one another, and He has declared that all sexual activity outside of the marriage covenant, in any form, is sinful and offensive to God. God’s good design is that the husband is to be the loving head of his wife as Christ is the Head of the Church. Therefore, the husband is charged, under the Lordship of Christ, to lovingly lead, provide for, and protect his wife and children. The wife, as an equal image bearer to her husband, is called to submit to her own husband under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.. All children are called to honor and obey their parents. (Gen 1:27-28, 2:24; Ps 51:5, 139:13-16; Jer 1:5; Matt 1:20-21, 5:27-30, 19:4-6; Mark 10:2-9; Luke 1:31; Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1Cor 6:9-11; 1Thess 4:3-7; Gal 3:28; Eph 5:22-24; Heb 13:4) 

The Ordinances

We teach that the two ordinances that Christ commanded His Church to practice are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. 

A. Baptism

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism plays no part in a believer’s salvation, but serves as a sign, seal, and public witness to a believer’s union with the Lord Jesus Christ.(Matt 28:19; Acts 2:41, 8:36-38; Rom 6:3-4; 1Cor 1:14-17; Col 2:12; 1Pet 3:21) 

B. The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration and proclamation of Christ’s death for sinners. The bread represents Christ’s body. The wine represents Christ’s blood. Together, they symbolize His death. This new covenant meal should be observed regularly in the local church. When observed properly in the fellowship of the saints, the Lord Jesus Christ communes with His people through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.(Acts 2:38-42, 8:36-39; Rom 6:1-11; 1Cor 10:16, 11:28-32) 

Church Governance

We teach: 

A. The Church Universal

The church universal is the whole number of believers, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one body, under Christ, the Head thereof, to be His eternal bride. We believe that all members of the universal church are commanded by Christ to participate in local church fellowships, which are commanded to govern themselves underneath the Lordship of Jesus Christ.(Matt 16:18; John 10:16; Acts 2:41-42, 14:23; Rom 12:4-5; 1Cor 12:12-14; Eph 1:22-23, 5:25-27; Col 1:18; Heb 10:24-25, 1Pet 5:1-4) 

B. The Lordship of Christ over the Church

Jesus Christ is the great Head of the church, and the government of His church is appointed through His sovereignty. Therefore, Scripture is the final rule and authority over the Church on all matters of teaching, action, or dispute, Scripture alone should rule in each local fellowship. (Matt 28:18-20; John 17:17; Acts 2:42, 17:11; 1Cor 11:3; 2Tim 3:16-17; Heb 1:1-2, 4:12; Eph 1:22-23, 5:23-24; Col 1:18; 1Pet 5:2-4)

C. The Visible Church

The visible church is made up of independent congregations of faithful Christians, who enjoy and practice fellowship with each other, have given themselves to the Lord and one another, having agreed to keep up a godly order according to the teaching of the Bible and the law of love. As much as it depends on each local congregation, its membership should be formed by born again, baptized members only.(Matt 18:15-17; Acts 2:41-42, 14:23; Rom 12:4-5; 1Cor 1:2, 5:11-13; 2Cor 6:14-18; Eph 4:1-6,15-16; Col 3:14-16; Heb 10:24-25)

D. Church Leadership 

Each local church is to be led by a plurality of elders. An elder (or pastor) is a biblically qualified man who has been nominated by the congregation, examined, trained, and ordained to oversee the affairs of the church and shepherd the flock. Scripture contains explicit qualifications for such men. (Tit 1:5; 1Tim 3:1-7; Acts 20:17) Each local church is to be served by a body of deacons. A deacon is a biblically qualified man who has been nominated, examined, trained, and ordained to administer to the physical needs of the church. Scripture contains explicit qualifications for such men.(Acts 6; 1Tim 3:8-13) 

E. Worship

Scripture teaches that the church is to gather regularly to worship the triune God on the Lord’s Day. The church’s worship consists of singing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, the reading of the Word of God, corporate prayer, the teaching and preaching of the Word of God, and the observance of the ordinances. The church’s worship should be led by biblically qualified men. Worship should be God-centered, Christ-exalting, participatory of the congregation, and done in a spirit of “reverence and awe” that reflects the majesty, holiness, and grace of God.(Ps 95:1-2, 100:1-4; Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:42, 20:7; 1Cor 11:23-26, 14:26; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16; 1Tim 2:1, 4:13; 2Tim 4:2; Tit 1:5; Heb 10:24-25; Heb 12:27–28) 

Last Things

We teach that God will bring the world to His intended end at His appointed time. Christ will return personally and visibly with His angels and departed saints to firmly establish His eternal kingdom.  He will raise the dead in bodies fitted either for everlasting righteousness or everlasting destruction. He will judge all humanity, condemning the devil and his evil angels, along with all those who refused to trust Christ in faith, to a literal place of eternal damnation. To the elect angels and to the saints, Christ will give them an inheritance in His eternal Kingdom, a New Heaven and New Earth. There, the saints will reign with Christ forever. (Is 65; Dan 12:2; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 21:27-28; 1Cor 15:24-38; John 14:1-3; Rev 20:1-22:13)