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  • Affirmations Regarding Marriage, Sexuality and Gender Identity

Affirmations Regarding Marriage, Sexuality and Gender Identity

 

Basis

The doctrinal basis of the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church (CPRC) in N. Ireland is the inspired and infallible Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as summarized and systematized in the Three Forms of Unity: the Belgic Confession (1561), the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) and the Canons of Dordt (1618-1619). The Holy Bible’s teaching in specific areas is also officially set forth in our eleven historic Reformed forms (Form for the Administration of Baptism, Form for Public Confession of Faith, Form for the Administration of the Lord’s Supper, Form of Excommunication, Form of Readmitting Excommunicated Persons, Form of Ordination of Ministers of God’s Word, Form of Ordination of Elders and Deacons, Form of Installation of Professors of Theology, Form of Ordination of Missionaries, Form for the Confirmation of Marriage Before the Church and Formula of Subscription) and our Church Order of Dordt.

We believe that all matters of faith and conduct must be governed by the Word of God, which is our inerrant guide (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:19-21; Belgic Confession 7). The sacred Scriptures record that God created human beings as male and female, and deal with human sexuality and the regulation of marriage. Therefore, it is imperative that we correctly understand and articulate what the Holy Bible teaches on these matters. Based on God’s Word, we believe the following regarding marriage, sexuality and gender identity:

Marriage

  • The holy bond of marriage was instituted by God at the very beginning of history (Gen. 2:18-24; Matt. 19:4-5; Mark 10:6-8; Form for the Confirmation of Marriage).

  • Marriage is a lifelong, one-flesh, covenant union of one man and one woman, which pictures the relationship of Christ and His bride, the church (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9; Rom. 7:1-3; I Cor. 7:39; Eph. 5:22-33).

  • God has ordained marriage for these three main purposes: “The first reason is that each faithfully assist the other in all things that belong to this life and a better. Secondly, that they bring up the children which the Lord may be pleased to give them, in the true knowledge and fear of God, to His glory, and their salvation. Thirdly, that each of them, avoiding all uncleanness and evil lusts, may live with a good and quiet conscience” (Form for the Confirmation of Marriage; Gen. 1:27-28; 2:18; Ps. 128:3-6; I Cor. 7:1-5).

  • Believers in Jesus Christ ought to marry “only in the Lord”—those orthodox in confession and godly in walk (Mal. 2:11-12; I Cor. 7:39; II Cor. 6:14-18; Church Order 70).

  • Because marriage is a lifelong, exclusive “one flesh” union of one man and one woman, this bond cannot be broken by man. Therefore, divorce is a sin except in the case of adultery (Matt. 5:32; 19:9). Divorce, even in the instance of adultery, does not break the lifelong “one flesh” bond (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-12; Mark 10:5-9; Rom. 7:1-3; I Cor. 7:10-11, 39).

  • Because marriage is a lifelong, exclusive “one flesh” union of one man and one woman, and because this bond cannot be broken by man, God forbids the remarriage of divorced persons as long as one’s original spouse is still living (Matt. 5:32; 19:8-9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18; Rom. 7:3; I Cor. 7:11).

Sexuality

  • Sex is a good gift of God that is to be enjoyed only in the bond of marriage between one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24; Prov. 5:15-19; I Cor. 7:1-5; Heb. 13:4).

  • God calls us in the seventh commandment to “live chastely and temperately, whether in holy wedlock or in single life” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q. & A. 108; Ex. 20:14; I Cor. 6:15-20; Eph. 5:3-5; I Thess. 4:3-5).

  • God forbids sexual acts outside marriage (Ex. 20:14; Lev. 18:7-23; 20:10-21; Deut. 5:18; Matt. 5:27-28; 15:19; Rom. 1:26-27; I Cor. 6:9-13; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 4:17-19; Col. 3:5; I Thess. 4:3; Heb. 13:4).

  • The Bible condemns homosexual desire and practice as sin against God (Ex. 20:14; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom. 1:18-32; I Cor. 6:9-11; I Tim. 1:8-11; II Pet. 2:6-8; Jude 7; Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 41).

Gender Identity

  • God fearfully, wonderfully and immutably creates each person biologically as male or female before birth (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:18-25; 5:2; Matt. 19:4; Mark 10:6). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the rule and wisdom of God the Creator.

  • Every individual must affirm his/her biological sex, and refrain from all attempts to change, alter or disagree with his/her biological sex and biological gender (Gen. 1:26-28; Rom. 1:24-32; I Cor. 6:9-11).

Conclusions

  • All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and must seek forgiveness through confession, repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. The good news of the gospel is that Christ died and rose again from the dead so that all who believe in Him have eternal life. God calls men and women to repent of every deviation from the biblical standard of marriage, sexuality and gender identity.

  • We must treat with love and respect all who experience temptation, and fall into and/or confess sexually immoral acts. We do so by calling all people, by the grace of God, to confess their sins to the Lord, flee from and resist sexual temptation, refrain from sexual immorality and conform their behaviour to the Bible’s plain teaching regarding marriage, sexuality and gender (Joel 2:13; Matt. 11:28-30; John 8:11; Rom. 3:23; 8:13; I Cor. 10:13; Eph. 2:1-10; Heb. 2:17-18; 4:14-16).

  • The CPRC Council shall instruct and admonish those under its spiritual care to live in harmony with these affirmations.

  • Christian discipline will be administered to those members who will not confess and repent of sexual immorality, as outlined in our Church Order 71-78.

  • All activities conducted by the CPRC and all use of its facilities shall be in conformity with this document, “Affirmations Regarding Marriage, Sexuality and Gender Identity.” No activities or use of the church’s facilities shall be allowed that are inconsistent with these affirmations. No office-bearer, member or employee shall be engaged in behaviour or speech contrary to these affirmations.

  • Members of Christ’s church must remain faithful to Him and His Word above all other authorities regarding God’s design for marriage, sexuality and gender identity.

  • Civil magistrates exceed their God-given authority when they attempt to bind a Christian’s conscience contrary to these affirmations (Acts 4:19; 5:29; Rom. 13:3-4; Belgic Confession 36).

(based on a document adopted by the 2020 Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches, our sister churches in N. America)

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