Reformed Theology and GBCNYC

We are grateful that many believers today are looking for a reformed church. Much of the modern-day resurgence of sound doctrine is due to the growth of biblically healthy churches who would consider themselves “reformed.” Although we would ourselves a reformed church in NYC, there are some clarifications we want to give regarding our exact doctrinal commitments.

It is important to note that many define reformed theology as simply as the doctrines of grace, whereas others define it as broadly as an entire theological system, in which case it becomes a systematic grid by which the entire Bible is to be understood.  We hope that this brief layout of doctrines associated with reformed theology helps you understand both where GBCNYC agrees and where we differ with these doctrines. (The following will be a very basic overview of theological positions.  For more detailed information on our doctrinal positions, please visit What We Teach).

1. GBCNYC teaches the 5 Solas of the Reformation–Scripture Alone/Faith Alone/Grace Alone/Christ Alone/Glory of God Alone.

2. GBCNYC teaches the 5 Doctrines of Grace (AKA–TULIP) as defined in passages such as Romans 8-9, Ephesians 1-2, and John 6-10.

3. GBCNYC is not in line with the perspective on the covenants in reformed theology, which is most commonly called covenant theology. 

The differences are outlined below:

A. We hold to a literal, historical, grammatical method of interpreting the Bible and not what is sometimes called a redemptive, historical method of interpretation. 

B. Therefore, we teach that there is a distinction between Israel and the church and that Scripture reserves the term “Israel” solely for ethnic Jews (This statement excludes the occurrences where “Israel” is being used as the other proper name for Jacob).  The blessings, promises and judgments of the OT were given to a specific group of people at a specific time (Deut. 27-29; Is. 9-11).  More often than not, Israel was distinguished from the other nations in the judgments of God (Amos 1-2; Zech. 9:1). 

C. We also teach that baptism (as observed and defined in the Bible) is an act of immersion for those who have professed faith in Christ and repented from their sin.  For instance, the great commission of Matthew 28:18-20 associates making disciples and teaching commandments with baptism. Furthermore, the combination of faith and baptism is also found throughout the New Testament as in Acts 8:12; 18:8.

D. We teach that, although Christ inaugurated the Kingdom of God during His first advent, He will physically rule from Jerusalem when He comes again (Zech. 14:9ff; Rev. 20:4).  

E. GBCNYC has substantial agreement with the Westminster Confession of Faith and the 1689 London Baptist Confession, yet these documents do not serve as governing authorities for the Church, since only the Scriptures can fulfill that role in the Church. 

In conclusion, there are many essential doctrines of Christianity found within reformed theology, but all of our doctrine must begin exegetically; Scripture alone must dictate the content of our faith and be the standard of our practice.