Cowley Hill Free Church (Baptist) is an Independent Reformed Baptist Church.
We take the Word of God as our sole authority in all matters of faith and church order. We follow the 1689 Baptist Confession Of Faith, believing that this is a reliable summary of the major teachings of the Bible.
At the centre of our life and preaching is the great all-sufficient sacrifice for sins made by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.
Definitions
The following terms might help to clarify some of the key areas of our faith and practice. Some of these terms may seem a little obscure if you have never considered them before, but we offer them as a helpful indication of our position on key issues.
| Evangelical: We believe that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But God, in His infinite mercy, sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to make a full and complete atonement for the sins of His people. All who repent and trust in that death alone for their salvation are justified entirely before God. They receive a new life in Christ, and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Henceforth they serve Christ as both Lord and Saviour. |
| Reformed: We believe in “The Doctrines Of Grace”, historically identified with the Five Points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Particular Redemption, Irresistible Grace, and The Perseverance Of The Saints. We reject all additions to the Holy Scriptures including tradition, other supposed inspired writings, and the revelational gifts claimed by the modern-day Charismatic movement. |
| Gospel Preaching: We believe that the Gospel is to be freely preached to all people. All are to be urged to repent and believe the Gospel without delay, trusting that those whom God has ordained to eternal life will do so (Acts 13:48). It is a faithful representation of the heart of God towards poor lost sinners: “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:10) |
| Baptism: We believe that to be valid, baptism must be by immersion, and must follow faith in Christ. You do not have to be baptised to be a Christian, but you do to be an obedient one. |
| Church Membership: A local (or gathered) Church should be comprised of born-again, baptised believers only. |
| Independent: We are independent and not affiliated with any other organisation. The New Testament Churches were autonomous bodies, each answerable only to Christ as their great Lord and Head. Like them, we enjoy fellowship with other like-minded Churches. This is a spiritual brotherhood, however, and not an organisational unity. We are not part of the so-called Ecumenical movement. |
| Reverent Worship: We believe that it is a central duty and privilege of the Churches of Christ to engage in the reverent worship of Almighty God. We do not adopt the worldly style of worship that has swept through many Churches in recent years, believing that this is the very antithesis of the spiritual and word-based approach commanded in the Bible, for example in John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” |