The evangelical churches in the Middle East were largely established by Reformed and Presbyterian missionaries who declared the sovereign work of the triune God as Creator, Redeemer, Counselor, and Ruler of all the world and history for His glory. The Bible and the historic Reformed confessions form the theological basis for MERF, as it labors to  "declare the whole counsel of God."

The Bible is our Primary Standard.

The Bible and it alone is the Word of God written. It is our final standard for all that we believe and do. It is inspired of God and therefore the absolute authority as truth, inerrant and infallible in all matters, including history and science. The whole counsel of God in Scripture is our standard in every area of life and thought.

The Reformed Confessions are our Subordinate Standards.

When asked, "What does the Bible teach?" or "How do you interpret it?" we respond by referring to the historic creeds and confessions of the historic Reformed and Presbyterian churches which summarize the message of Scripture. These confessions include the Three Forms of Unity (Canons of Dort, Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism) and the Westminster Standards (Confession of Faith, Larger Catechism, Shorter Catechism). We also embrace the Apostle's Creed and other orthodox creeds of the early church such as the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds. We affirm and teach that system of doctrine which is set forth in these doctrinal standards which were born of the Protestant Reformation and which define what it means to be "reformed."

MERF Statement of Faith:

The Middle East Reformed Fellowship is committed to proclaim the historic Christian faith as expressed in the early ecumenical creeds and the confessions of the Calvinistic Reformation, which is herein summarized:

1. The Bible (comprising the 66 books of the Old and New and Testaments) is the fully inspired, canonical Word of God, without error, and the only rule of faith and practice.

2. The Bible reveals the true and living God, Sovereign Creator and Ruler of the universe. This one and only God is revealed as three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the same in substance, equal in power and glory, working all things after the counsel of His will.

3. God created man after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, and placed him under the covenant of works. Adam, having chosen to disobey God, brought the curse of the broken covenant upon the whole human race; thus, man lost communion with God and became corrupt in every aspect of his nature and being. Since man is now totally antagonistic to God and is devoid of all spiritual good, he falls under divine wrath and condemnation as a lawbreaker and is liable to death and hell forever.

4. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who for us and for our salvation became fully man, being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary and born of her without sin. He, by His perfect obedience and atoning death, provided full satisfaction to God for the sins of His elect people. He was raised bodily from the dead and ascended to heaven where He sits at the right hand of God, from where He reigns over His universal Church and Kingdom. At the last day, a day known only to the Father, He will return in glory to judge the living and the dead—the saved to enjoy His eternal glory and mercy, and the lost to suffer eternal, conscious punishment. Christ's perfect life and saving work forms the complete and exclusive ground of the believer's justification, which is received solely by faith in Christ.

5. The Holy Spirit is the one who inspired the prophets and apostles to write the Scriptures, authenticating their writings and ministry by means of supernatural gifts, which have long since ceased. He takes the things of Christ and sovereignly applies them to His people, calling, regenerating, sanctifying, and glorifying them for Christ's eternal Kingdom. The sanctifying work of God's Spirit is a progressive process of overcoming sin and developing holiness in the believer; it reaches completion at glorification.

6. The Church is the instrument ordained by God to bring the message of the Gospel to a lost and condemned human race and to carry out His purposes in the world. The mission of the Church is, therefore, the preaching of the Gospel and the discipling of all nations, this mission being accompanied by "doing good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

7. Although the Gospel has implications for all areas of life, its main purpose is to reconcile sinful man to the Sovereign God; it is "the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes." The Gospel is not relativized by human culture, but rather transcends and redeems it.

8. The Christian is enabled by faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to obey the whole moral Law of God and consequently is responsible to work for the mitigation of the curse of sin and the establishment of God's Kingdom in all areas of life.