Historically, Baptists have been Calvinistic and Reformed in their theology. The last half of the l9th century saw a great departure among the Baptists from their historical theological roots towards a more man-centered, humanistic belief and practice. This was due to German rationalism and a widespread Arminian theology. Not all departed. A few, such as the great Baptist preacher and theologian C.H. Spurgeon, remained faithful and prayed for the day when the whole counsel of God would again be believed and proclaimed in all churches, especially Baptist churches. During the first and middle parts of the 20th century, the Lord God was pleased to turn the hearts of some godly men back to the biblical and theological foundations of our forefathers. They wrote extensively, challenged church leaders and laymen alike, and prayed. This gave rise to the modern Reformed Baptist movement.

Reformed Baptists have deep roots going all the way back to the Protestant Reformation and, in some instances, have connections predating the Reformation. Trinity Reformed Baptist Church is a part of this movement. We are an autonomous church formally associated with Reformed Baptist churches in the Los Angeles area, the United States, and all over the world. The local church is central in carrying out God's redemptive purposes. Therefore, no outside hierarchy has any control over the congregation. The governing power rests with Trinity's Elders under the government and rule of the Holy Scriptures as the Holy Spirit directs.

We are a doctrinal church. We believe that a person cannot have a stable and balanced Christian life without a solid doctrinal foundation. Like the early New Testament churches, we aim to "continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and prayers." (Acts 2:42) We believe the 66 books of the Holy Bible were inerrantly inspired and are the infallible guide in all matters of faith and practice. We are unashamedly baptistic, believing that baptism is by immersion for believers only. We see no contradiction with being Reformed and non-paedobaptistic. We are covenantal, believing that God has always worked through covenants, especially the foundational covenant of redemption. In order to be understood properly, the Holy Scriptures must be interpreted covenantally.

In a day of doctrinal fuzziness, we desire to be clear and precise. We believe in those doctrines that are sometimes called the doctrines of grace. By this expression we mean the doctrines of total depravity and inability, unconditional election, definite and particular redemption, effectual and irresistible calling and the final perseverance of the saints. We rejoice in these glorious truths that uphold the sovereignty of God in the salvation of men, and which so gloriously affirm the great central reality that salvation is all of grace and that salvation is all of the Lord. We delight in those Reformation truths of Scripture alone, by grace alone, justification through faith alone, in Christ alone, to God alone be the glory!

We are a confessional church. We subscribe unreservedly to the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. We believe it is the most accurate expression of the system of doctrine taught in the Bible. We do not hold the Confession of Faith to be above or equal to the Holy Scriptures. Rather, we accept it as a confirmation in faith, an assistance in controversy, and an instrument of edification and instruction. The Confession provides every member with a compact systematic theology, and by means of the scriptural proofs, each member can be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in him. A free copy of the Confession is available upon request.

In the history of redemption, the local or visible church is central to all of God's saving purposes. The New Testament knows nothing of a churchless Christianity. We have a formal membership with requirements to join and to maintain that membership. It is our conviction that every Christian should be a member of a church, under the ministry and oversight of its Elders.

Our one purpose as a church is to glorify the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Everything we do is with this overriding desire. "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your name give glory," (Psalm 115:1). Under this umbrella we have several underlying purposes.

Worship is foremost. We do not come to church primarily to feel better or be entertained, but to worship the one true and living God through the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit. We gather on the Lord's Day to give God the glory that is due to His name. In a day when most worship services are entertainment-oriented and man-centered, we strive to be reverent and God-centered. We are not interested in featuring popular personalities and introducing fashionable elements that the Bible does not allow. Also, instead of the light and frothy music of the modern church, our singing focuses on biblical and Reformed hymnody and the Psalms. The basic elements of true worship are: reading and exposition of the Scriptures; prayer; singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs; baptism and the Lord's Supper; giving of tithes and offerings. We seek to implement all of these elements in holy and joyful reverence. "Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." (Psalm 29:2)

A second underlying purpose is edification of the body. The people of God need to be strengthened and built up in order to fight the good fight of faith and to resolutely live in a world that is not a friend to grace and godliness. The Christian life was not intended by God to be lived in isolation, but in the context of a visible body of believers called the church. Edification occurs through the public ministry of the Word and the mutual ministry of the members as they interact with one another on a daily basis (see Ephesians 4:12-16 & 1 Thessalonians 5:14). We labor to see Christians sanctified and homes ordered according to biblical principles. According to the predestinating purposes of God, we desire to see Christ formed in every member (Galatians 4:19) and every member conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

Lastly, we wholeheartedly engage in biblical evangelism and missions. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15, 16; Luke 24:46, 47) is very precious to us. We do not believe there is an inconsistency between God's sovereignty in the salvation of His chosen people and His command to preach the gospel to every creature. We are appalled by the superficial work that goes on today under the name of evangelism. We reject pressures, gimmicks and schemes that are calculated to produce impressive statistics and "decisions" that work havoc in the souls of people. Nevertheless, we long to see the unconverted convicted of sin through the preaching of the law and the gospel and brought to repentance and faith. We seek to press the claims of Christ on all the unsaved who sit in darkness and the shadow of death so that they, too, may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:10).

Our purpose could be summarized by the words of the apostle in Ephesians 3:21: "Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

We are more interested in people than programs. Our activities and ministries are designed to bring the greatest good to the souls of the members and all Christians. Apart from our regularly stated meetings of worship, we have family fellowship nights, mens' meetings, a ladies' fellowship and a Reformed Baptist youth group, each held at different times of the week and month. Each is organized and scheduled to minimize time taken away from the family, which is of primary importance. A calendar of events is given out at the start of each new year so people can make plans accordingly.

On a national level, Trinity is a member of the Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America (ARBCA). With these churches we unite for cooperative efforts in several areas: foreign missions (where we send and support church planting missionaries who carry the gospel of God's free and sovereign grace to the ends of the earth); home missions (where we assist established congregations to plant new churches in the US); theological training (the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies - IRBS, at Westminster Seminary in Escondido CA, where men train for the gospel ministry); publications (Reformed Baptist Publications - RBP, where we publish God-honoring, Christ-exalting, theologically sound literature); along with other endeavors.

We are also members of the regional Association of Reformed Baptist Churches. With these churches we cooperate in sponsoring various type of conferences and having a quarterly fifth Sunday evening combined meeting of worship with guest speakers from all over the world.