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HOME1100 S. Miami Street West Milton, OH 45383 |
Welcome to the Covenant OPC Home Page!Welcome to the Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church home page. Surfing the web is a far cry from circulating the forbidden pamphlets that helped to spark theological fires of reformation across Europe. May the Lord bless your efforts to use modern technology to continue the theological labors that began hundreds of years ago with the advent of the moveable type printing press. Who Are We?In 1936, liberal Presbyterians denied the authority of the Bible and denounced many historic doctrines of the Christian faith, conservative church leaders responded boldly. Much like their Puritan ancestors, they risked church buildings, pensions, and their place in an increasingly secular culture. In attempting to preserve the historic Protestant faith they had inherited from the Reformation, they formed what became the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC). The OPC believes that the correct teaching of scripture is best expressed in the confessions of faith formed during the Reformation. Therefore, the OPC is committed to the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, which the Puritans developed in the heat of the spiritual/intellectual battles of seventeenth-century England. Like their spiritual forefathers, the OPC has a heritage of fighting for the truth of God. Covenant OPC began services in Nov. of 1996 attempting to remain faithful to this worthy heritage. We desire to be faithful to a narrow way of orthodoxy. Hence, we have included the word orthodox in our name. Orthodox"Ortho" comes from the Greek word, which means straight; an orthodontist straightens your teeth. "Dox" comes from the Greek word, which means praise; the doxology is a song of praise. When put together, the word orthodox literally means straight praise or the most typical translation of this word is "correct teaching". We here at Covenant OPC stand firmly on the teachings found in the Bible. These teachings from God's word apply to every area of life. Instead of the shifting opinions of human thinking, we proclaim the gospel of Jesus, the Christ. For this, we make no apology to modern man. To the contrary, we believe that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. This gospel offers life and hope for our suicidal culture. God-Centered & Family-OrientedWe believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. We believe in the virgin birth, by which Jesus came to earth to offer himself as the perfect substitute for sinners. He was crucified and died, but was resurrected and ascended into heaven. We, also believe that the Holy Spirit is the giver of life and, with the Father and the Son together is worshipped as God. Thus, we believe that the trinity is the only acceptable expression of the Christian faith. Since, the Bible is the exclusive and the infallible guide for faith and practice, we submit to it in every area of our lives. The Bible provides a foundation upon which we construct our view of the world. Covenant TheologyGod is a covenant God. He always relates with people by means of covenants. A covenant is a binding relationship that God establishes. He pledges himself to his people and he defines the relationship. For example, in the garden of Eden, God entered into covenant with Adam. This covenant required Adam to obey God perfectly upon pain of death. Since Adam failed as our first covenant-mediator, a covenant of grace was given through the second Adam, our covenant-mediator, Jesus, the Christ. For Christians, God is our covenant God and we are his covenant people. Covenants structure and define our lives. In Christ, they bind us together with God and with one another. When we submit to Christ we become part of a covenant community. It requires commitment to others but it also offers mutual comfort and strength as a community of believers. The heart of this community centers on the family. Therefore, Covenant OPC focuses on the family. We long for our children to love and to honor the Lord for generations to come. Our families commit themselves together for mutual protection, and for strength, and, ultimately, for the glory of God. WorshipAs a covenant community, one of our highest callings is formal/public worship. In worship, we come into the special presence of God, listening to him and responding to him in commanded acts of faith and love. Worship is God-centered and God-defined dialogue. He speaks to us in his word, and we respond to him with that which pleases him. Notice that our actions are limited to that which is commanded in the Bible. Does this hinder us from expressing ourselves in worship? No, indeed, it enhances our ability to please God. We worship God for his glory and not for our own pleasure. This is a grand privilege. Therefore, we invite you to come and to join with us at Covenant OPC in the worship of our Creator and our Savior Jesus, the Christ. Should you have any questions about Covenant Church or its teaching, please EMAIL ME or telephone me at (937) 698-9376. In His Name,
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