COVENANT

 

Having been led, by the Holy Spirit of God, to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and to

confess Him as Lord, and on confession of this faith, having been baptized in the name

of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God

and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully covenant with one another, as one body

in Christ, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him. 

(Romans 12: 4-8, Romans10: 9-10, and Matthew 28: 18-20).

 

We strive by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to forsake the ways of sin and to walk together in

Christian love and in the paths of righteousness. With this in view we engage to strive

together for both the peace and purity of this church: to sustain its worship and

steadfastly to cherish and hold its ordinances, disciplines and doctrines: to contribute,

as faithful stewards, such time, talent and money, in the measure that God prospers

each of us, that spreading the Gospel be faithfully and effectively discharged

(Rom.12: 1-2, Heb. 10: 24-25).

 

We also engage to maintain family and private devotions: to teach the Bible to our

children (Duet. 6: 6-7); to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to be

just in our dealings and faithful in our engagements; to be exemplary in our character:

to avoid unkind words and unrighteous anger; to combine zeal and knowledge in our

efforts to advance the cause of our Savior; to make Christ first in all things both spiritual

and temporal

(Titus 2:12).

 

According to the Scripture our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19).

Therefore, we will strive to maintain our physical health and abstain from any

substances or behaviors that are detrimental to our health, or against God’s

commandments given to us in His Holy Word. In addition, in obedience to Romans 14,

we will make every effort to avoid being a stumbling block for our brothers and sisters in

Christ.

 

We further engage to give and receive admonition with meekness and affection; to

remember each other in prayer, and to aid each other in case of sickness and distress;

to cultivate Christian empathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; slow to take offense,

but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the Scriptures, to seek it without

delay; to encourage one another in the blessed hope of our Lord’s return

(James 1:19, Eph. 4:32).

 

We moreover engage that when we move from this place, we will as soon as possible

unite with some local church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the

principles of the Word of God.