Our Covenant

 

Having, as we trust, been brought by divine grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to give up ourselves to Him, and having been baptized upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, solemnly and joyfully enter into this covenant with one another, as one body in Christ. Relying on the gracious aid of the Holy Spirit we commit to:

Belong to His Body

By following the command and example of Jesus by participating in the ordinances prescribed to His Church:

  • by being baptized after my conversion.

  • by regularly remembering and celebrating the person and work of Christ through communion.

By faithfully participating in the life of Ovilla Road Baptist Church:

  • by attending weekly services.

  • by engaging in gospel-centered community and discipleship.

  • by serving those within and outside of this church (Acts 2:42–47; Heb. 10:23–25; Titus 3:14).

By submitting to the discipline of God through His Holy Spirit:

  • by following the biblical procedures for church discipline where sin is evident in another—the hope of such discipline being repentance and restoration.

  • by receiving righteous and loving discipline when approached biblically by fellow believers (Ps. 141:5; Matt. 18:15–20; 1 Cor. 5:9–13; Heb. 12:5–11).

By doing the following when I sin:

  • by confessing my sin to God and to fellow believers.

  • by repenting and seeking help to put my sin to death (Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5; James 5:16; 1 John 1:6–10).

By submitting myself to the care, correction and teaching of the elders and other appointed leaders of the church and diligently striving for unity and peace within the church (Eph. 4:1–3; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:5).

By stewarding the resources God has given me, including time, talents, spiritual gifts and finances. This includes regular financial giving, service and participation in community that is sacrificial, cheerful and voluntary (Matt. 25:14–30; Rom. 12:1–2; 2 Cor. 8–9; 1 Pet. 4:10–11).

REPRESENT CHRIST AS NEW CREATIONS

By submitting to Scripture as the final authority on all issues

  • (Ps. 119; 2 Tim. 3:14–17; 2 Pet. 1:19–21).

By pursuing the Lord Jesus Christ through regular Bible reading, prayer, fellowship and practice of spiritual disciplines

  • (Luke 18:1; Acts 17:11; 1 Cor. 9:24– 27; Eph. 5:1–21; 1 Thess. 5:12–22).

By walking in holiness, by God’s grace through the power of the Holy Spirit, in all areas of life as an act of worship to Jesus Christ

  • (1 Pet. 1:13–16, 4:1–3).

By striving to put certain attitudes and actions to death while stirring and stimulating love and good deeds through the Spirit.

By refraining from such activities that the Scriptures would deem foolish

  • (Rom. 14:14–23).

By taking seriously the responsibility of Christian freedom, especially actions or situations that could present a stumbling block to another

  • (1 Cor. 8:1–13).

We will, when we move from this place, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.