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What We Believe
What We Believe
A Christ-centered, Scripture-first, confessionally Reformed Baptist theology rooted in the 1689 London Baptist Confession.
A Christ-centered, Scripture-first, confessionally Reformed Baptist theology rooted in the 1689 London Baptist Confession.
At Teaching Bridge Fellowship, everything we teach, believe, and practice flows from one unshakable conviction: Jesus Christ is Lord, and Scripture alone is our final authority.
We are not inventing new theology or chasing trends. We stand on the shoulders of faithful men and women who have gone before us—Reformers, Puritans, martyrs—who bled for these truths and passed them down through the generations. Our beliefs are rooted in the Bible, summarized in the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, and centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
This page is your guide to understanding what we believe and why it matters. We've organized our core convictions into 12 foundational areas, each grounded in Scripture and shaped by historic Reformed Baptist theology.
Whether you're new to the faith, exploring Reformed theology, or looking for a clear statement of what TBF teaches—this is for you.
Our Theological Summary
"A Christ-centered, Scripture-first, confessionally Reformed Baptist theology that sees all of redemptive history fulfilled in Christ, finding its doctrinal home in the 1689 London Baptist Confession, 1689 Federalism, and Amillennialism because these most faithfully reflect the Bible's own covenantal unity."
Why Doctrine Matters
Why Doctrine Matters
Some people say, "I just love Jesus—I don't need all this theology." But loving Jesus is theology. What you believe about God, sin, salvation, and Scripture shapes everything—how you worship, how you live, how you suffer, and how you hope.
Bad theology leads to confusion, error, and a weak faith. Good theology leads to clarity, confidence, and Christ-exalting worship. Doctrine isn't dry or irrelevant—it's the foundation of a flourishing Christian life.
So we don't apologize for being theological. We're unapologetically doctrinal because we want you to know the truth, love the truth, and be set free by the truth (John 8:32).
Our 12 Core Beliefs
Our 12 Core Beliefs
Below are the 12 foundational areas that define what Teaching Bridge Fellowship believes and teaches. Click on any topic to explore it in depth.
The Bible is our supreme authority for faith and life—inspired, inerrant, sufficient, and clear.
The foundation of everything we believe. Scripture is God's Word, fully trustworthy, and the final authority over all human opinion, tradition, and experience. We interpret Scripture using the literal-grammatical-historical method, with Christ as the center of all Scripture.
Key Truths:
The Bible is inspired, inerrant, and sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Scripture interprets Scripture (1689 LBCF 1.9)
Christ is the interpretive key to all of Scripture (Luke 24:27)
One God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—sovereign, holy, and worthy of all worship.
We worship the one true God who exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is sovereign over all creation, holy in character, unchanging in purpose, and infinite in perfection. The Trinity is not a puzzle to solve—it's the living God we know and worship.
Key Truths:
God is one in essence, three in person (Matthew 28:19)
God is sovereign, holy, just, loving, and immutable (Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 6:3)
The Trinity is the foundation of all salvation (Ephesians 1:3-14)
Created in God's image, fallen through Adam, and in desperate need of salvation.
Humanity was created good, glorious, and in the image of God—but through Adam's sin, we fell into spiritual death, corruption, and guilt. We are not basically good people who need a little help—we are dead in sin and incapable of saving ourselves apart from God's grace.
Key Truths:
We are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27)
We inherited Adam's guilt and corruption (Romans 5:12)
We are totally depraved—spiritually dead and unable to seek God (Ephesians 2:1-3)
Fully God, fully man, the promised Messiah and Mediator of the New Covenant.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became flesh to save His people. He is fully divine and fully human, the only Mediator between God and man. He lived the perfect life we couldn't live, died the death we deserved to die, and rose again to secure our salvation.
Key Truths:
Jesus is fully God and fully man (John 1:1, 14; Philippians 2:6-8)
He is Prophet, Priest, and King (Hebrews 1:1-3; 7:24-25; Matthew 28:18)
He is the fulfillment of all Scripture (Luke 24:27, 44-45)
Salvation is God's work from start to finish—monergistic, sovereign, and secured by grace alone.
We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Salvation is not a cooperative effort—it is entirely God's work, from election before the foundation of the world to glorification in eternity. This is the heart of the Doctrines of Grace (often summarized as TULIP).
Key Truths:
Total Depravity — we are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1)
Unconditional Election — God chose us in Christ (Ephesians 1:4-5)
Definite Atonement — Christ died to save His people (John 10:11, 15)
Irresistible Grace — God's call is effectual (John 6:44)
Perseverance of the Saints — God keeps us to the end (Philippians 1:6)
A historic summary of biblical faith that guides our theology, shapes our worship, and anchors our teaching.
We hold to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith as our doctrinal standard. It is not equal to Scripture, but it is a faithful, time-tested summary of what we believe the Bible teaches. Confessions guard against error, promote unity, and connect us to the faithful who have gone before us.
Key Truths:
Confessions are summaries of Scripture, not replacements for it
The 1689 is a Reformed Baptist confession rooted in biblical theology
Confessional accountability provides clarity and guards against error
All of Scripture unified in Christ through the covenants—one plan of salvation by grace through faith.
The Bible is one unified story of God's redemptive plan, revealed progressively through covenants and fulfilled completely in Jesus Christ. We hold to 1689 Federalism—a covenant framework that sees the Old Testament covenants as types and shadows pointing to the New Covenant in Christ.
Key Truths:
Covenant of Works (with Adam) — life through obedience (Genesis 2:16-17)
Covenant of Redemption — the eternal plan of the Trinity (Ephesians 1:3-4)
Covenant of Grace — inaugurated in Christ, fulfilled in the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6-13)
Christ fulfills Israel; the church is united to Him (Galatians 3:16, 29)
The body of Christ, called out from the world, gathered under His lordship, composed only of regenerate believers.
The church is not a building or a social club—it is the covenant community of believers united to Christ. We believe in regenerate church membership, believer's baptism by immersion, elder-led governance, and the faithful practice of church discipline.
Key Truths:
The church is composed only of regenerate believers (Acts 2:41, 47)
Baptism is for believers only, by immersion (Romans 6:3-4)
The Lord's Supper is a memorial and means of grace (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Elders shepherd, deacons serve, and the congregation affirms (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3)
Christ reigns now; one resurrection, one judgment, one consummation.
We hold to Amillennialism—the belief that Jesus is reigning now from heaven, that the "millennium" of Revelation 20 refers to the present church age, and that history will culminate in one general resurrection, one final judgment, and the eternal state of the new heavens and new earth.
Key Truths:
Christ is reigning now at God's right hand (Ephesians 1:20-22)
Satan is bound from deceiving the nations (Revelation 20:1-3)
There will be one resurrection and one judgment (John 5:28-29)
God will make all things new in the new creation (Revelation 21:1-5)
How we live in light of God's grace—repentance, faith, sanctification, and obedience flowing from a transformed heart.
The gospel is not just the entry point into the Christian life—it is the foundation, fuel, and goal of everything we do. We are justified by faith, sanctified by the Spirit, and called to live lives of repentance, obedience, and worship.
Key Truths:
Repentance and faith are the twofold response to the gospel (Mark 1:15)
Justification is by faith alone—we are declared righteous (Romans 5:1)
Sanctification is progressive growth in holiness (Philippians 2:12-13)
Good works are the fruit of salvation, not the root (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Called to make disciples of all nations for the glory of God—proclaiming Christ, trusting God's sovereignty, and serving in love.
The church exists to glorify God by proclaiming the gospel to all nations, making disciples, and serving as ambassadors of Christ until He returns. We evangelize boldly, trusting that God will save His elect through the preaching of His Word.
Key Truths:
Jesus commands us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20)
The gospel is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16)
God's sovereignty fuels evangelism—He will save His people (Acts 18:10)
Mission includes proclamation, mercy ministry, and cultural engagement
Our hermeneutical approach: literal-grammatical-historical method, Christ-centered, redemptive-historical.
We are committed to interpreting Scripture according to its natural meaning, in its original context, with Christ as the center of all redemptive history. We use the literal-grammatical-historical method, rejecting allegorical or mystical interpretations that distort the text.
Key Truths:
Interpret Scripture according to its plain sense, grammar, and historical context
Read all of Scripture through the lens of Christ (Luke 24:27)
Scripture interprets Scripture (1689 LBCF 1.9)
The Holy Spirit illuminates, but He doesn't contradict the text (2 Timothy 2:15)
Where to Start?
Where to Start?
If you're new to TBF or Reformed theology, we recommend starting with:
Scripture Alone — Understand our foundation
Jesus Christ: The Only Savior — Meet the center of our faith
Salvation by Grace Alone — Discover the gospel
Our Confessional Commitment — See how we summarize biblical truth
Or, if you're familiar with the basics and want to dive deeper into our distinctive convictions:
Covenant Theology (1689 Federalism) — How we read the whole Bible
The Last Things (Amillennialism) — What we believe about the future
How We Interpret Scripture — Our approach to reading God's Word
A Word from Donald
A Word from Donald
These aren't just abstract doctrines—they're life-giving truths that have shaped my faith, my ministry, and my daily walk with Christ. I didn't come to these convictions easily or quickly. I wrestled with Scripture, studied the confessions, read the Puritans, and spent years being refined by God's Word and His people.
What you'll find on these pages is not my theology—it's biblical theology, summarized and passed down through generations of faithful believers who cared more about truth than trends.
My prayer is that these pages help you:
Know God more deeply through His Word
Love Christ more fully as you see Him on every page of Scripture
Live faithfully in light of what God has revealed
Stand confidently on truths that have been tested by fire and time
This is what we believe. And we believe it because we're convinced it's what the Bible teaches.
Grace upon grace,
Donald Bosley
Founder, Teaching Bridge Fellowship
Questions? Let's Talk.
Questions? Let's Talk.
If you have questions about any of these beliefs, or if you'd like to discuss theology, Scripture, or the Reformed Baptist tradition—we'd love to hear from you.
📧 Email: [coming soon]
💬 Facebook: TeachingBridge
🌐 Website: teachingbridgefellowship
Related Resources
Related Resources
📖 Read the Full 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
📘 TBF Blog — Theology, Devotionals, and More
🎙️ Recommended Sermons and Podcasts
📚 Recommended Reading List
Explore. Learn. Grow. Worship.
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In Sum:
In Sum:
Discover what Teaching Bridge Fellowship believes—Christ-centered, Scripture-first, confessionally Reformed Baptist theology rooted in the 1689 Confession. Explore our 12 core beliefs.
URL:
URL:
teachingbridgefellowship.com/what-we-believe
A clear, confessional summary of Teaching Bridge Fellowship's Christ-centered Reformed Baptist theology—rooted in Scripture, anchored in the 1689 Confession, and committed to making the beauty of God's sovereign grace accessible to all.
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