The Reformation Day Statement, 1998

[Statement][Signer's List][Signature Form]

Unicoi, Tennessee, October 28, 1998—The Trinity Foundation today released the following statement on the 481st anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation on October 31, 1517. The Statement was adopted at the Conference on Christianity and Roman Catholicism held in Erwin, Tennessee, October 8-10, 1998.

"We the undersigned, having gathered together for the purpose of exposing the fundamental errors of the Roman State-Church and her superstitious and deceptive doctrines, as well as to re-affirm the Biblical doctrines of grace which alone can counter the persistent heresies of Rome, do of one mind stand together after the example of Paul the Apostle to exhort all Christians to stand boldly against those today who are not being ‘straightforward about the truth of the Gospel’ (Galatians 2:14).

"Divisive persons have risen within the ranks of those professing the Christian Faith, persons who do not cherish or do not understand the distinctive doctrines of the Bible, but rather have trampled the Gospel and the unity of the Christian Church underfoot. They have twisted the clear Biblical doctrine of justification. The Biblical truth is that justification is strictly the act of God’s grace alone in which the Lord declares legally righteous those who are His own, by the imputation to them of the perfect righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ alone, through faith alone. These persons have abandoned the Biblical phrase "imputed righteousness" and taught that justification is a transformative rather than a purely forensic act. This alteration carries with it the old lie of Satan—of conveyed, imparted, or infused righteousness (‘you shall be as God’). They have proclaimed erroneous doctrines, such as baptismal regeneration, that annul the grace of justification, to be interrelated questions yet to be resolved. These men have persisted in their divisive behavior without the benefit of Church discipline commanded by Christ in Matthew 18:15-20, and modeled for us by Paul the Apostle.

"In light of the recent proliferation and popularity of such unbiblical concordats as Evangelicals and Catholics Together (March 1994) and The Gift of Salvation (November 1997), we see that it is once again time for the Church of Jesus Christ to rise up to stand on the Bible alone so that it may be said of us what was said to the Philadelphians: You ‘have kept My Word, and have not denied My Name’(Revelation 3:8), for His Word alone is truth (John 17:17). It is therefore strongly urged by those present at this Conference that all who read this Statement join with us and sign it. In so doing we seek to obey the command of Christ ‘in a spirit of gentleness’ so that we may receive from Him either the restoration of our transgressing brethren (Galatians 6:1), or the clarity and courage of mind necessary to excuse them from our midst in order to preserve the unity of the Church for which Christ prayed in John 17, ‘that they all may be one in Us.’

"To God alone be the glory, forever and ever. Amen."

Richard Bennett
Berean Beacon
Portland, Oregon
503.257.5995
 James Bordwine
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Vancouver, Washington
360.254.1726
 John Robbins
The Trinity Foundation
Post Office Box 68
Unicoi, Tennessee 37692
Voice: 423.743.0199
Fax: 423.743.2005
Website: trinityfoundation.org
Email: jrob1517@aol.com
Timothy Kauffman
White Horse Publications
Huntsville, Alabama
800.867.2398
 Robert M. Zins
Reformed Bible Church
Rutland, Vermont
802.773.0078

Please contact
The Trinity Foundation
to sign the Statement.
Or fill out the
Signature Form

 

For a list of those who have left their "digital signature", click HERE