OUR BELIEFS
The doctrinal foundation of the Reformed churches
In responding to the question, “What do you believe?” it seems spiritual to say “We believe only the Bible.” Yet that is a misleading statement. To say, for example, that Jesus is the Savior is to profess something. For who is Jesus? And what is meant by calling Him “a Savior”? The answer one gives to these questions is a doctrinal statement, just not in written form. At Redeemer we do not hide behind clichés when asked about our doctrinal beliefs. We hold to that system of truth which is outlined in the Westminster Confession of Faith together with its Larger and Shorter Catechisms. While these creeds reflect what we believe the Bible teaches, they are not our highest authority. They are subordinate to the Word of God which is our highest and ultimate authority.
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith was written in 1646 by a gathering of pastor-theologians. The Westminster Confession of Faith builds on the foundations of the Christian faith (the self-revelation of God, God’s character, and God’s decree) to the outworking of his decrees in creation and providence.
Larger Catechism
The Larger Catechism offers the ripest fruit of the Westminster assembly’s deliberations of the Confession of Faith. Unique to the Larger Catechism is a thoughtful interpretive guide to the Ten Commandments, putting into words the principles of interpretation commonly used among Reformed theologians.
Shorter Catechism
The Shorter Catechism is well known for its crisp statements of key Christian doctrines. The Shorter Catechism is a tight summary of classic Christian doctrines, and has been so well received due to the their suitability for memorization, capable of being memorized even by a child.