Each member of the school and staff must affirm and agree to uphold and live in accordance with Oxford Reformed Christian School’sStatement of Beliefs and its appendix. If views change on any of these positions, that must be revealedto the School Board.
We believe in one true God eternally existing in three distinct persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) each of Whom is fully and equally God, possesses all of the divine nature and attributes, and is totally worthy of our worship and service. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:14; 10:30; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
GOD THE FATHER
We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Trinity and is the eternal, unchanging, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, all-loving, completely just and perfectly holy, sovereign Ruler and Sustainer of the universe. He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Father of all true believers. (Genesis 1:1; Ephesian 4:6; John 1:12-13; 5:19-21; 17:1-5; Isaiah 40:21-28; 43:10-13; 46:8- 11; Romans 8:14-16)
GOD THE SON
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to
be God, that He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might redeem sinful man. He accomplished this redemption by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God’s righteous judgment against the sin of the elect. He gave proof that He accomplished that redemption by His bodily resurrection from the grave. He then ascended to the right hand of His Father where He intercedes on behalf of His people. (Matthew 3:17; Luke 1:34-35; Philippians 2:6-8; Matthew 1:23; John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; Romans 8:29-30; Colossians 1:13-14; Titus 2:11-14; Acts 2:24-36; 1 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 1:3; 12:2)
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who convicts the world of sin; that He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He places all believers into the one true church, which is the Body of Christ and that He indwells them permanently, and seals them
unto the day of redemption. (1 Corinthians 13:8; 14:22; John 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23; Romans 8:5-13; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Romans 12:3-8)
We believe that the triune God created the entire universe in six literal 24-hour days approximately 6,000 years ago and that mankind is to care, preserve, enhance, and faithfully steward God’s creation.(Genesis 1:1-31; Exodus 20:9-11)
We believe that man was created in the image of God by direct act of God and did not come into being as the result of evolution. Man was created to glorify God, worship and serve Him, and have fellowship with Him. Man fell through sin by disobeying God, thus incurring both physical and spiritual death, which alienated him from God. Man’s nature was thus corrupted and he is utterly lost, “dead in trespasses and sins,” and totally incapable of saving himself and coming back into a right relationship with God by his own merit or effort. (Genesis 1:26; 2:6,17; 3:17-24; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:9- 19, 23; 5:6-8; Luke 18:26-27; Ephesians 2.1-3)
We believe that salvation is the gift of God’s grace given to all whom God has elected to salvation. It includes all that God does in saving the elect from the penalty, power and presence of sin and in restoring them to a right relationship with God. As such, it is solely the work of God from the initiation to completion. The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit is the cause, not the result, of the believer’s saving faith. It cannot be gained by good works, but is a free gift for all who put their trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. All who trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour are forgiven and saved from their sins and made righteous before God and are born into the family of God. God’s purpose for saving His elect is so that they bring glory to Him by their lives. (Romans 9:6-26; Ephesians 1:5-6,11-14; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23; Hebrews 1:14; 9:28; Colossians 1:3-14 Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 1:13, 3:3-8; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; John 3:5-8; 6:63; Ephesians 2:9; Romans 3:24, 27-28; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Genesis 15:6; Philippians 3:9; John 3:16-18; Romans 8:14-17,29; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 10:31)
We believe that all those in whom God has accomplished His transforming work of grace, are kept by His power and thus secure in Christ forever. This assurance, however, is not the occasion for sin, for God in holiness cannot tolerate persistent sin in His children, and in infinite love He corrects them. True faith in Christ is expressed by a fruitful God-pleasing life that endures until death. (John 10:28; Jude 1:24; Romans 6:1-3; Philippians 2:12,13; 2 Peter 1:10; Psalm 15; Hebrews 10:26; 1 John 1:6-9; 2 Samuel 12:1-23; Psalm 119:71; James 2:14-26; Mark 13:13; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 5:16-25; 2 Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 10:36; James 1:12)
We believe that God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. This includes the salvation from the penalty of sin and just as surely the provision of sanctification from the power of sin. Positional sanctification is a result of the continuing work of the Spirit using the Word of God to provide nourishment for growth into maturity in Christ. While the process of practical sanctification is assured by the Word and the Spirit, it is yet imperfect in this life. There is some element of corruption in every part of the fallen nature that is the source for the war between the flesh and the Spirit. (Ephesians 1:3-14,15-23; 2 Peter 1:3,4; Genesis 2:17; Isaiah 59:2; 1 Corinthians 12:27; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:5; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:2,9; Psalm 119:11; Romans 7:21-25; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13; John 15:5; Hebrews 5:12-14; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25)
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ instituted only two sacraments to be observed as a matter of obedience, not as a condition for salvation: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We also believe that they are to be administered within the local church, under the proper authority of
ordained elders. We affirm our support of, belief in and partnership with the church that Christ died for and established. As a para-church organization we refrain from administering any of these sacraments ourselves. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:38-42; 8:36-39; 9:18; 10:47; 19:5; Romans 6:3; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21; Luke 22:14-22; John 13:5-17; 1 Corinthians 11:24-28)
We believe that at death the souls of those who have trusted Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence and remain there in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at Christ’s coming for the Church, when the soul and the body will be reunited. We then shall be with Him forever in glory (the new heaven and earth). We also believe that at death the souls of unbelievers remain in conscious misery until the final judgment when the soul and body will be reunited and cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to be separated from God forever in conscious punishment. (Luke 23:42,43; Philippians 1:21-23; Revelation 6:9-11; Job 19:25-27; Psalm 17:15; Daniel 12:2; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-7,22-27; 22:1-5; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:13;2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 14:11; Matthew 25:41; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:28-29)
We believe that there are three God-appointed offices that govern the church, namely pastors, elders, and deacons and that these offices are reserved for qualified men. (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1)
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from fertilization through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 9:6; Psalm 8:3-8; Psalm 139:13-16; James 3:9; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41; Leviticus 19:32; Exodus 4:11; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Psalm 34:17-20; Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 82:3; Proverbs 31:8-9; Micah 6:8; Isaiah 1:17; Acts 20:35; James 1:27; Exodus 20:13; Psalm 127:3-5; Matthew 10:31)
Refer to Appendix A “Statement on Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality”
This statement defines Oxford Reformed Christian School’s (ORCS) position on the nature and sanctity of A-Gender,B-Marriage (as defined below), and C-Sexuality. We pose this, with conviction, knowing that
we have all sinned but aspire to the purity and holiness to which Jesus and the Scriptures call us. We believe that the gospel is preeminent in our work and that Jesus came to save sinners, sexual sin being no less forgivable. We repent of sin, receive forgiveness, and strive towards holiness (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
This clarifying statement does not intend to be exhaustive, nor cover other topics that may emerge in the future.
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- FOUNDATION
The Bible is God’s Word, divinely inspired, infallible, and is the final authority of truth (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:20-21). We endeavor to teach students, in all areas of life and education,froma distinctly reformed Christian worldview. This includes instructing students to understand the world,issues, and relationships based on God’s Word, which prepares them to assume their proper place in thehome, the church, and the world. Accordingly, the Bible is the basis from which we form ourfoundational beliefs regarding marriage, sexuality, and gender identity.
- SCOPE
- POSITIONS
All ORCS employees, volunteers, independent teaching contractors (music lessons), society members, board members and parents must agree to abide by this Statement on Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality. Failure to do so will result in removal from ORCS (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22). The school will clearly teach these truths honestly, prayerfully, sensitively, respectfully, contextually, age-appropriately, by example, and with the conviction that we all sin and need God’s grace (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31).
Our positions below are meant to be an application of our Statement of Beliefs to the issues of gender,
marriage, and sexuality.
3.1 – Position Respecting Gender
There are only two genders: “man” or “woman”. Those terms are understood to refer to persons who are biologically and genetically male or female from birth. We believe that the consistentwitness of Scripture calls us to accept our gender as given by God (Genesis 1:26-27). Rejection ofone’s biological and genetic sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person(Deuteronomy 22:5).
Efforts to live contrary to biological and genetic sex, whether by behaviour, attire, cosmetics, or medical or surgical therapy, are resisting or rebelling against the gift of God and a centraldimension of His will and design for that person, and therefore such behaviour is sinful. Weaffirm God’s good design that gender identity should be determined biologically and geneticallyand not by one’s self-perception—a perception which is often influenced by our fallen humannature in ways contrary to God’s design. (Eph. 4:17-18)
3.2. – Position Respecting Marriage
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning, which is marriage as created and sanctioned by God in which God joins one man and one woman in a single, life-long, andexclusive union as delineated in Scripture(Genesis 1:27-28, 2:18-24, 19; Leviticus 18:22, 20:13;Matthew 19:4-9; Mark 10:5-12; Ephesians 5:31-33; 1 Timothy 1:10). In accordance with ORCS’sstance on immorality, children whose parents cohabit (outside of marriage as Biblically-defined)will not be considered for enrollment.
3.3. – Position Respecting Sexuality
Sexual intimacy is a gift from God created to be enjoyed within the covenant of marriage (that has been noted above). In singleness, all are called to chastity. Sexual relations outside thecovenant of marriage are contrary to the will of God. Any form of sexual immorality is sinful andoffensive to God and includes, but is not limited to, adultery, fornication, homosexuality,lesbianism, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, pedophilia, and attempting tochange one’s biological and genetic sex or otherwise acting upon any disagreement with one’sbiological and genetic sex(Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:6-23; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 5:27-28, 15:19; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-13; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8;Hebrews 13:4).
3.4. – Position respecting Redemption
The Bible declares that the Son of God became human to restore our broken world through His obedient life, death, and resurrection. As new creations in Christ, we are transformed in bothour understanding of our identity and frailty, including our sexuality(Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity(Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward anyindividual are unacceptable and are not in accord with Scripture nor the policies and beliefs ofORCS.