Take a look at these vows, can you (the readers) follow these?


1. Do you acknoweledge yourself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?

Members at Third Church acknowledge their utter hopelessness as sinners. They acknowledge that they have willfully disobeyed God, and are therefore deserving of His just punishment - eternal condemnation. Regardless of the maturity level of the Christian, they acknowledge they remain "sinners" in need of the mercy of God in Christ. {Rom. 3:9-20, Eph. 2:1-4]

2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?

Members of Third Church promise their trust in the Lord Jesus - and in Him alone - for their salvation. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone. Members of Third acknowledge that they contribute nothing to their salvation.

3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?

Today, sadly, many look at the Christian life as optional for the believer. Third Church members recognize that this should not be and are instead committed to following Christ. This does not mean that we do so perfectly, nonetheless, "godliness" will characterize our lives. We strive to be a holy people, but do so with dependence upon the Holy Spirit as He sanctifies us.

4. Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?

Third Church members commit themselves to worship the Triune God on the Lord's Day, glorifying God in public worship and encouraging each other, being thus built up in grace. The Church's work is to worship, but this includes carrying out the Great Commission. We seek to carry out this ministry by preaching the Gospel to each other and to all the world through service and the use of our gifts.

5. Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the Church, and promise to study its purity and peace?

This submission is an acknowledgement that God has placed our leaders over us to care for our souls. Members realize they are fallible men, and will err, but they seek to submit to them as God's instruments in leading them in the service of Christ. Discipline, here, more generally means submitting to the Word of God which the leadership at Third is committed to faithfully teaching, preaching and applying.