What We Believe
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church exists to preach the Word, make disciples who are saved through the gospel of Jesus Christ, and equip them to live mature lives of godliness that testify to God's power to save. (Gen. 1;1, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5)
At our core, we are a Reformed Baptist church committed to the glory of God and the sufficiency of His Word. Our identity is shaped by the historic Christian faith, recovered during the Reformation and maintained through a robustly biblical worldview. Below is a brief summary of what we believe. We have a more complete statement of faith here.
What It Means to Be Reformed
To be "Reformed" is to anchor our faith in the absolute Sovereignty of God over all things—creation, providence, and salvation. We believe that God is the supreme architect of history and the sole author of our redemption. This theological heritage is best expressed through:
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The Doctrines of Grace: Often summarized by the "Five Points of Calvinism," these doctrines emphasize that salvation is entirely of the Lord. From our total inability to save ourselves to God’s unconditional election and preserving grace, we believe that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
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Covenantal Theology: We view the Bible as a unified story rather than a collection of disjointed parts. We believe God relates to His people through covenants—specifically the Covenant of Works in Adam and the Covenant of Grace in Jesus Christ. This perspective helps us see how the Old and New Testaments fit together, pointing consistently to the person and work of Jesus.
If you'd like more information on what a reformed baptist is, we recommend reading, "What Is A Reformed Baptist" by Tom Hicks.
Our Confessional Standards
While the Bible is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice, we recognize the value of historic creeds and confessions to provide a clear summary of biblical truth.
The Second London Baptist Confession of 1689
We look to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith as our primary subordinate standard. This document provides a comprehensive framework for our theology, covering the nature of God, the Holy Scriptures, the fall of man, and the role of the church and civil magistrate. It serves as a guardrail for sound doctrine and a bridge to the faithful generations who have gone before us.
The Baptist Faith and Message (2000)
In addition to our historic Reformed roots, we also adhere to the Baptist Faith and Message (2001). This statement reflects our commitment to contemporary Baptist life, outlining our positions on the Great Commission, the family, and our cooperation with the broader body of believers in modern ministry.
The Ordinances of the Church
At our church, we believe that Jesus Christ has established two specific ordinances for His people to observe: Believers’ Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. These are not merely traditions, but visible signs of the invisible grace of God and our union with Christ.
Believers’ Baptism (Credobaptism)
In keeping with our Baptist heritage, we practice Believers’ Baptism. We believe that baptism is reserved for those who have made a credible, public profession of faith in Jesus Christ. It is a one-time act of obedience that symbolizes the believer’s death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ.
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[For more information on why we believe credobaptism or "believers baptism" is correct we suggest reading, "The Baptism of Disciples Alone" by Fred A Malone.
The Lord’s Supper
We celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a recurring meal of remembrance and spiritual nourishment. To honor the sanctity of the table and the biblical warnings regarding its observance, we practice a form of Closed Communion:
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Public Profession: Participation is open to those who have publicly professed their faith in Christ and have been baptized as believers (Credobaptism).
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In Good Standing: We welcome all who are members in good standing of this local body or any other like-minded, Gospel-preaching church.
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Self-Examination: We invite those who meet these criteria to join us in the elements, provided they are living in repentance and faith, seeking to honor the Lord in their walk.
We believe that by "fencing the table" in this way, we protect the purity of the ordinance and ensure that it remains a meaningful expression of unity among those who belong to the Body of Christ.
Join Us in Worship
We invite you to explore these truths with us as we seek to live out the Gospel in our community and beyond.