Free Reformed Church of Kelmscott

"Which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." 

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What is the Church?

The Church is the assembly of believers who have been purchased with the precious blood of Christ, and who now belong, with body and soul to their faithful Saviour. The word "Reformed" means "brought back to the original form." During the Dark Ages the Church departed from the doctrine of Holy Scripture and from the scriptural form of Church government. In the sixteenth century the Lord worked a Reformation and His Church was restored to its original form. To accomplish this God used the men of the "Great Reformation," such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, Huldreich Zwingli, John Knox and many others. By calling ourselves "Reformed," we indicate our desire to maintain the pure doctrine of God's Word as delivered by the apostles and the early Church fathers, and as rediscovered by the men of the Reformation. The word "Free" indicates our desire to remain free from the hierarchy of broader assemblies. We believe that the local church is the only ecclesiastical assembly which has received authority from Christ, and which answers only to Christ. We know ourselves bound to unite with those churches who are also faithful to the Word of God. We are therefore united as a bond of churches with the Free Reformed Churches of Australia:
 
 

	Minister of the Word
Free Reformed Church of Albany, WA	Rev J Smith
Free Reformed Church of Armadale, W.A	Rev  W Huizinga
Free Reformed Church of Baldivis	Vacant
Free Reformed Church of Bunbury	Rev E Rupke
Free Reformed Church of Byford, WA	Rev  W VanderJagt
Free Reformed Church of Darling Downs	Rev C Vermeulen
Free Reformed Church of Kelmscott, WA	Rev Retief
Free Reformed Church of Launceston, TAS	Rev R Eikelboom
Free Reformed Church of Legana, TAS	Rev J Kroeze
Free Reformed Church of Mt Nasura, WA	Rev  PKA DeBoer
Free Reformed Church of Rockingham, WA	Rev  A VanDelden
Free Reformed Church of West Albany, WA	Vacant
Free Reformed Church of Southern River WA	Rev  A Veldman

 

What we believe

God

We believe in the triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit cf. Matt 28:19). These three distinct Persons, who are equal in eternity, power and glory are the one, true and eternal God (cf. John 5:23) Concerning God the Father, we confess that He created the universe and all that fills it in six days by His divine command. He also upholds the universe, and so governs all things that nothing happens without His will. Concerning God the Son, we confess that He humbled Himself of His rightful honour (cf. Phil 2:6-8) by taking upon Himself the flesh and blood of man, of the virgin Mary, through the miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit (cf. Matt 1:20). Being at once true God and true man (cf. John 1:1-3, 14; Heb 2:17). He, through His death, made complete payment for the debt which we incurred through sin (cf. 1 John 2:2; 4:10), and through His obedience earned for us the gift of eternal life (John 3:15). He rose from the dead (cf. Matt 28:6), and is now enthroned at the right hand of the Father (cf. Acts 2:33). To Him has been given all authority and power in heaven and earth (cf. Matt 28:18), by which He gathers and defends the Church (cf. John 10:16,28-30) which He purchased with His blood. Concerning God the Holy Spirit, we confess that He is the Author of life, both physical (cf. Psa 104:30; Job 34:14-15) and spiritual (cf. John 3:6,8). Through Him we come to faith (cf. 1 Cor 12:3), to which no man can come of himself (Eph 2:8). Through Him we are being renewed more and more in the image of God (cf. Ezek 36:26; 2 Cor 3:18).

The Scriptures

Creation is itself a most wonderful book which portrays God's eternal power and deity (cf. Psa 8; 19). But through the fall into sin man's mind became darkened so that he cannot rightly come to know God through creation (cf Rom 1:18-21) , nor can he come to know the gospel of redemption in Jesus Christ through it. For this reason God revealed the gospel to the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament, and to the apostles in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit inspired men to record this gospel in written form (cf. 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21), which we now call the "Holy Bible." We believe that the Bible is God's infallible Word in its entirety.

Man

God created man good, after His own image (cf. Gen 1:27), in righteousness and holiness. But man, of his own free will, in deliberate disobedience, rebelled against God (cf. Gen 3). As a result man lost the excellent gifts and virtues with which he was created. His mind became dark, his thoughts futile; his heart was hardened and his desires corrupt; his will was enslaved to evil. Every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time (Gen 6:5). Man was dead in sin (cf Eph 2:1,5, Col 2:13), incapable and undesirous of doing anything worthy of merit or favour (cf. Eccl 7:20; Jer 17:9; Rom 3:12).

Grace

Redemption is entirely a matter of grace (cf. Eph 2:8). In eternity God chose those whom He would redeem (cf. Eph 1:4), though they had done nothing at all to merit God's favour (cf. Rom 9:11). Through the working of the Holy Spirit, God confers the gift of faith (cf. Eph 2:8, Phil 1:29) upon those whom He has chosen, and as many as are chosen believe (cf. Acts 13:48). In themselves God's children are so weak (cf. Rom 7:14-19) that they could never persevere in faith, but would fall away from God's grace and loose their redemption. But Christ graciously preserves those whom He has chosen so that none are lost (Luke 22:31-32; John 10:28,29). Jesus is the Author and the Finisher of our faith (cf. Heb 12:2).

The Means of Grace

Faith and spiritual renewal are worked by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the gospel (Rom 10:14-17; 1 Pet 1:23). Therefore the preaching of the gospel is an intrinsic element of the Church service. Faith is also strengthened through the use of the sacraments. Christ has instituted two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Supper. Baptism, as a sign and seal of God's covenant promises, is administered to believers who come to faith as adults (cf. Acts 2:38). Baptism is also administered to the children of believers (cf. Acts 16:15,33), since God establishes His covenant with believers and their children (cf. Gen 17:7, Acts 2:39). The Lord's Supper commemorates the death of Christ (Luke 22:19). Only those are admitted to Holy Supper who have publicly confessed their faith, who have placed themselves under the supervision of the consistory, and whose faith is well attested by a godly walk of life.

Confessions

Communicant members of the Free Reformed Churches must publicly profess their faith in agreement with the three ecumenical creeds (The Apostles' Creed, The Nicene Creed and The Athanasian Creed) as well as the "Three Forms of Unity"
The Belgic Confession of Faith (1561)
The Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
The Canons of Dort (1618-1619).

Education

In accordance to their baptismal vows, parents endeavour, as much as they are able, to provide their children with an education which is in agreement with Scripture and Confession. In the metropolitan Perth area a number of schools have been established for this purpose, which are named after John Calvin, one of the great Reformers:
Rockingham John Calvin School (Years 1-7)
Kelmscott John Calvin School (Years 1-7)
Armadale John Calvin School (Years 1-7)
Byford John Calvin School (Years 1-7)
John Calvin Senior High School (Grades 8-12)
Membership in a Free Reformed Church is a pre-requisite to enrolment of students in schools

Religious Instruction

For one hour each week the church instructs her youth in the doctrine of God's Word, using the confessions of the church as guides. The purpose of this instruction is so that the youth may learn of the rich promises they have received from their Covenant God and Father at their baptism, and so come to profess their faith in their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Order of Church Service

A typical Order of Church Service is as follows:
1. Salutation
2. Congregational Singing
3. Ten Commandments (AM)
Confession of Faith (PM)
4. Congregational Singing
5. Prayer
6. Scripture Reading & Text
7. Sermon ---- (Sermons Heidelberg Catechism)
8. Congregational Singing
9. Offertory
10. Congregational Singing
11. Prayer
12. Congregational Singing
13. Benediction

All Psalms and Hymns that are sung in the worship services are from the "Book of Praise" Anglo Genevan Psalter
Scripture reading is from the New King James Version (NKJV)

Invitation

We bid visitors a hearty welcome. We are delighted to share the joy of the gospel with you. Please refer to General Information for the place and times of our worship services. We would be happy to answer any further questions which you might have about the Free Reformed Church of Kelmscott.
 
 
 

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