What We Believe
As the icon for our church reveals, Covenant Baptist Church of West Columbia, SC believes in these five foundational premises:
- Sola Scriptura, “God’s Word Alone” – Scripture is God’s inspired Word and is the only inerrant, sufficient, and final authority for the church.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of Godb may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- Sola fide, “Faith Alone” – We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
- Sola gratia, “Grace Alone” – We are saved by the grace of God alone.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14
- Sola Christo, “Christ Alone” – Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among menc by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12
- Soli Deo Gloria, “Glory of God alone” – We live for the glory of God alone.
11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:11-13
It is important to note that we as a church and a body of elders agree that the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. is the confession with which we most closely align. We have some areas of difference, most notably:
- We do not affirm the Pope is “the” antichrist. He is “a” antichrist among many like him. But we recognize the fact that we have different views as to who the Antichrist could be.
- We do not all affirm that only “elect babies go to heaven” unless it is meant by that statement that “all babies and mentally retarded are all elect and go to heaven”. John McArthur shares an excellent exposition on this in his book, “Safe in the Arms of God”.
- While we all believe in the bodily return of Jesus Christ to resurrect the dead and final judgment. We affirm that there are a number of different eschatological views among the Elders and the Church. Our lead teaching Pastor is a New-Covenant Premillenialist and classic historic Premillenialist who affirms a future salvation of the people of Israel.