Our Statement of Faith

 Here is the Statement of Faith incorporating the theological views of the Reformed Olive Press: Full Preterism, Biblical Unitarianism, Open Theism, Egalitarianism, Conditional Immortality, and the New Pauline Perspective.

Statement of Faith

1. The Nature of God

We believe in the one true God, the Father Almighty, who alone is immortal and the source of all life (1 Tim. 6:16; John 17:3). He is personal, relational, and sovereign over creation, yet He engages dynamically with His people, responding to prayer and human decisions in real time (Jer. 18:7-10; Exod. 32:14).

2. Jesus Christ, the Messiah

We affirm that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, born of a virgin, anointed by God’s Spirit, and fully human (Matt. 16:16; Acts 2:22; 1 Tim. 2:5). He was crucified for our sins, raised bodily from the dead, and exalted to God's right hand as Lord and King (Acts 2:36; Rom. 1:3-4). He will reign until all enemies are subjected under God’s rule (1 Cor. 15:24-28).

3. The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God's active presence and power, given to believers for sanctification, guidance, and empowerment for righteous living (Acts 2:38; Rom. 8:11). The miraculous gifts of the Spirit served as signs in the apostolic era but have ceased as they fulfilled their purpose (1 Cor. 13:8-10).

4. The Scriptures

The Bible is a divinely inspired collection of writings that reveal God's purposes for creation and salvation (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It reflects the historical, cultural, and theological contexts in which it was written and must be interpreted accordingly. While it contains divine truth, it also bears the marks of human authorship, requiring discernment in understanding its message. Through the Scriptures, God communicates His redemptive work and calls humanity into faithful relationship with Him.

5. The Kingdom of God and Fulfilled Prophecy

We believe that all biblical prophecy, including the return of Christ and the resurrection of the dead, was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (Luke 21:22; Matt. 24:34). Christ's "coming" was His enthronement in heaven, marking the full establishment of the New Covenant order (Dan. 7:13-14; Heb. 8:13). The kingdom of God is a present spiritual reality in which Christ reigns (Col. 1:13).

6. Salvation and Justification

Salvation is by grace through faith, leading to obedience and covenant participation (Eph. 2:8-10). Justification is not merely about individual legal status but about being brought into God's covenant family, marked by faithfulness to Jesus as Lord (Rom. 3:28-30; Gal. 2:16). Works do not earn salvation but demonstrate covenant faithfulness (James 2:24).

7. Human Free Will and Divine Foreknowledge

God, in His wisdom, grants genuine human freedom and does not exhaustively determine all future events (Deut. 30:19-20). He knows all possibilities and responds relationally within history (Jer. 3:7; Gen. 6:6). His purposes are sure, but He works in cooperation with human choices (Isa. 38:1-5).

8. The Role of Men and Women

Men and women are equally created in God's image and share in the calling to serve and lead in the church and home (Gen. 1:27; Gal. 3:28). Leadership is based on gifting and character, not gender (Acts 2:17-18; 1 Cor. 12:7).

9. The Continuation of Church Polity

We affirm that the government and structure of the Church, as ordained by Christ and the apostles, did not cease or fundamentally change after 70 A.D. The apostolic foundation remains, and the Church continues to be led by qualified elders, deacons, and other servants who guide, teach, and equip the body (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). Christ remains the head of the Church, and local congregations function in accountability to Him and to one another (Colossians 1:18).

9. The Nature of Humanity and Final Judgment

Humans are mortal beings and do not possess inherent immortality (Gen. 2:7; 1 Tim. 6:16). At death, they rest in the grave until the resurrection (Eccl. 9:5-6). The final judgment was fulfilled in the events surrounding AD 70 and culminated after the Bar Kokhba Revolt. The Supper of the Lamb was for the righteous, who received immortality and entered into eternal life with God (1 Cor. 15:53-54). The Lake of Fire was the covenantal judgment upon apostate Jews, particularly in the aftermath of Bar Kokhba’s rebellion, signifying their complete destruction. After this period, no ongoing Lake of Fire remains—those outside the covenant simply cease to exist.

10. Baptism and Communion

Believer’s baptism remains an essential act of faith and initiation into the body of Christ, signifying repentance, new life, and union with Christ’s reign (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:3-4). However, the Lord’s Supper, as a covenantal sign of Christ’s return and judgment, was fulfilled in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem (1 Cor. 11:26; Matt. 26:29). While believers may share meals in remembrance of Christ, communion as a sacramental ordinance was completed.

11. Satan and Evil Spirits

Satan, the adversarial figure in the biblical narrative, was the deceiving force behind Israel’s opposition to Christ and was fully defeated and destroyed after the Bar Kokhba Revolt (Rev. 20:10; Rom. 16:20). However, other malevolent spiritual beings still exist and seek to influence the world (Eph. 6:12; Mark 1:23-26). Believers are called to resist these forces through faith and obedience to God.

12. The Church and the Christian Life

The church is the gathered body of believers, called to love, serve, and proclaim the good news of the kingdom (Matt. 28:19-20). We are to live holy lives modelled by Jesus the Christ, characterized by love, justice, and humility (Mic. 6:8; Rom. 12:1-2).