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Articles of Faith |
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ARTICLES OF FAITH To set order a declaration of those which are most surely believe among us . . . That thou mightiest the certainly of those wherein thou been instructed, we send commonly believed confession of faith held among us, as follows: I. OF THE SCRIPTURES We believe that the Holy Bible, is verbally and plenary inspired of God Spirit-filled men and has been divinely preserved to date in the KJV Authorized Version of 1611, and therefore, is the truth without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. We believe the Holy Spirit may reveal the interpretation and understanding of the Bible to any believer. A.
By “The Holy Bible”:, we mean that collection of sixty-six
books, from Genesis to Revelation, which is written and preserved in the
Authorized Version 1611, does not only contain and convey the word of God, but
is the Word of God. B.
By “inspiration”, we mean that the books of the Bible were written by
holy men of God, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit in such a define way that
their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and preserved, free
from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will. II Timothy
3:16-17, II Peter 1:19-21, John 17:17, and Psalms 12:6-7. C.
We believe that for true Christian growth to occur, we must attend to the
public exposition of the scriptures by preaching and teaching as stated in
Ephesians 4:11-12, I Corinthians 1:17, 18, 21, 23, 2:1-7 and I Thessalonians
1:5. D.
Whereas there are a number of other versions of the Bible in circulation,
all of which are not reliable due to their omission, perversion of words and
their being translated from corrupt manuscripts, we therefore, STAND without
Apology on the King James A.V. 1611 as God’s only Pure and Perfect Word of
God. II. OF THE TRUE GOD We believe that there is (a) one, and only one, living true God, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth: (b) inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthily of all possibly honor, confidence and love; (c) that in the unity of the Godhead there are three person, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and execution distinct by harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Ex. 20:2-3, Gen. 17:1-11 Cor. 8:6, Eph. 4:6, John 4:24, Psa 147:5, Psa 83:18, Psa 90:2, Jer. 10:10, Ex. 15:11, Rev. 4:11, I Tim. 1:17, Mark 12:30, Matt. 28:19, John 15:26, I Cor. 12:4-6, I John 5:7, John 10:30, John 17:5, Acts 5:3-4, I Cor. 2:10-11, Phil. 2:5-6, Eph. 2:18, II Cor. 13:14. III. OF JESUS CHRIST We
believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner,
born of Mary, a virgin, and that He is both completely man and completely God.
He was subject to temptation, yet was without ANY sin. He is the Messiah for
Israel, the Saviour of the world, the ONLY way any man can come to God the
Father for forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. He is to be worshipped and
glorified as the LORD. Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Luke 1:31-35, Matthew 4:11; Hebrews
4:15; I Peter 2:22; John 4:42; 14:6; 20:28; Luke 24:52; John 16:14; Philippians
2:9-11. IV. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT That the Holy Spirit is a divine
person; (a) equal with God the Father and (b) God the Son and (c) of the same
nature; (d) that He was active in the creation; (e) that in His relation to the
unbelieving world He restrains the Evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled;
(f) that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; (g) that He bears
witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; (h) that He is
the agent in the New Birth; (I) that He seals, endures, guides, teaches,
witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. John 14:16-17; Matt. 28:19; Heb.
9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Gen. 1:13; II Thess. 2:7; John 16:8-11; John
15:26-27; Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Eph. 1:13-14; Luke 24:49; John 16:13; John
14:26; Rom. 8:14; Rom. 8:16; II Thess. 2:13; I Peter 1:2; Rom. 8:26-27; Matt.
3:11; Acts 11:16. V. OF THE DEVIL, OR SATAN text-autospace:none"> We believe that Satan was once (a) holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors, but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and (b) drew after him a host of angels; that he is now (c) the enemy of God and His Christ, (f) the accuser of the saints, (g) the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostacy; (H) the lord of the antichrist, and (I) the author of all powers of darkness destined however (J) to final defeat at the hands of God's Son, and (k) to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. Isa. 14:12-15; Eze. 28:14-17; Rev. 12:9; Jude 6, II Pet. 2:4; Eph. 2:2; John 14:30; I Thess. 3:5; Matt. 4:1-3; I Pet. 5:8; Zech. 3:1; I John 3:8; Matt. 13:25, 37-39; Luke 22:3-4; Rev. 19:11,16, 20; Rev. 12:7-9; Rev. 20:1-3; Rev. 20:10; Matt. 25:41. VI. OF CREATION We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and (a) that is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; (b) that man was created directly in God's own image and after His own likeness; (c) that man's creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; (d) that ail animal and vegetable life was made directly, and God's established law that was they should bring forth only "after their kind." Gen. 1:1, Ex. 20:11; Acts 4:24, Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 11:3; John 1:3; Rev. 10:6; Rom. 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jer, 10:12; Neh. 9:6; Gen. 1:26-27; Gen. 2:7; 2:21-23; Genesis 1:11; 1:24. VII. OF THE FALL OF MAN We believe (a) that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but (b) by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, (c) in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and (d) therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Gen. 3:1-6, 24; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 5:19; Rom. 3:10-19; Eph. 2:1,3; Rom. 1:18; Ezek. 18:19-20; Rom. 1:32; Rom. 1:28; Gal. 3:22. VIII. OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH We believe (a) that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; (b) born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and (c) that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son. Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psa. 2:7; Gal. 4:4; I John 5:20; I Cor. 15:47. IX. OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN We believe (a) that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; (b) through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; (c) that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr; but was the voluntary substitution of himself in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; (d) that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven, and uniting in wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Saviour. Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; Isa. 53:4-7; Rom. 3:25; I John 4:10; John 10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 1:4; I Peter 3:18; Isa. 53:11; Heb. 12:2; I Cor. 15:20; Isa. 53:12; Heb. 9:12-15; Heb. 7:25; I John 2:2; I Pet. 2:24. X. OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION We
believe (a) that in order to be saved, sinners must be bom again; (b) that the
new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; (c) that it is instantaneous and
not a process; (d) that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins
is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift
of God; (e) that the new creation is brought about in manner above our
comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by will of man, but wholly
and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so
as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; (f) that its proper evidence
appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. John
3:3; II Cor. 5:17; Luke 5:27-28; I John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; Acts
16:30-33; II Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; II Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:13; John
1:12-13; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 5:9. XI. OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION We
believe in God's electing grace (a) that the blessings of salvation are made
free to all by the Gospel; (b) that it is the immediate duty of all to accept
them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and (c) that nothing prevents
the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and
voluntary rejection of the gospel; (d) which rejection involves him in an
aggravated condemnation. I Thess. 1:4; Col. 3:12; I Pet. 1:2; Tit. 1:1; Rom.
8:29-30; Matt. 11:28; Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Rom. 10:13; John 6:37; Acts 2:38;
Isa. 55:7; John 3:15-16; I Tim. 1:15; I Cor. 15:10; Eph. 2:4-5; John 5:40; John
3:18; John 3:36. XII. OF JUSTIFICATION We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; (a) that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; (b) that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us. Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11; Zech. 13:1; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 5:1; Titus 3:5-7; Rom. 1:17; Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Rom. 4:1-8; Heb. 10:38. XIII. OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH We believe that Repentance and Faith are (a) solemn obligations, and (b) also inseparable graces, (c) wrought in our souls by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit of God; (d) thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; (e) at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Saviour. Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; Luke 18.13; Rom. 10:13; Psa. 51:1-4; Psa. 51:7; Isa. 55:6-7; Luke 12:8; Rom. 10:9-11. XIV.
OF THE
CHURCH We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers (a) associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; (b) said church being understood to be the citadel and propagator of the Divine and Eternal Grace; (c) observing the ordinances of Christ; (d) governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His word; (e) that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures; (f) we believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second, to build up the church; Third, to teach and instruct, as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order; (g) we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; (h) that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; (I) on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Eph. 4:11; I Cor. 12:4, 8-11; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 15:23; Acts 20:17,28; I Tim. 3:8-13; Matt. 28:19-20; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-24; I Pet. 5:1-4; Acts 15:22; Jude 3-4; II Cor. 8:23-24; I Cor. 16:1; Mai. 3:10; Lev. 27:32; I Cor. 16:2; I Cor. 6:1^; I Cor. 5:11-13; Col. 1:18. XV. OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is pre-requisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord's supper; in which the members of church, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination. Acts 8:35-39; Rom. 6:3-5; I Peter 3:21; Acts 9:18; I Cor. 11:23-32; Matt. 28:19-20. XVI. OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED We
believe that (a) there is a radical and essential difference between the
righteous and the wicked; (b) that such only as through faith are justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly
righteous in His esteem; (c) while all such as continue in impenitence and
unbelief are in His sight among men both in and after death, in the everlasting
felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. Mai.
3:18; Gen. 18:23; Rom. 6:17-18; Pro. 11:31; I Pet. 4:18; Rom. 1:17; Acts
10:34-35; I John 2:29; I John 3:7; Rom. 6:16; I John 5:19; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 7:6;
Rom. 6:23; Luke 16:25; Matt. 25:34, 41, 46; John 8:21; Luke 9:26; John 12:25;
Matt. 7:13-14.
XVII. OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS We believe the gifts of the Spirit in I Corinthians 12 were of a temporary and transitional nature especially those known as revelation and those gifts which are specifically called "signs". Those gifts which are signs, wonders, or miracles were given by the Spirit in the book of Acts for these purposes: (1) to identify an "apostle" (2) to get the Jews to listen to the gospel or to believe a new revelation (3) to confirm the word of scripture that was being spoken by the apostles, but not yet in written form as we have the Scripture today. Since there are NO apostles present today and that the gospel ministry is almost totally to the Gentiles and we have a complete Bible, (we believe God heals today in accordance with His word and divine will through faith and confession) and any other "sign or wonder" as heresy and "lying signs and wonders" produced by Satanic power in these last days to deceive the whole world. I Cor. 12:1-11; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 2:4,5, 43; 3:7,12; I Tim. 4:12; Matt. 24:5, 11, 24; II Cor. 12:12; I Cor. 1:21-22; 14:21-22; Heb. 2:3-4; James 5:14-16; I Cor. 11, 20-32; XVIII. OF THE ADOPTION We believe that adoption is the gracious act whereby the Fattier, for the sake of Christ, places new believers into the honored position of mature son, in contrast with regeneration whereby the believer receives the nature of God and becomes a child of God. The full benefit of the position accorded by adoption as the sons of God awaits the glorification of the believer at the coming of the Lord and the redemption of the body. Eph. 1:5,13,14; Gal. 4:1-7; I John 3:1-2; Rom. 8:15, 23. XIX. OF ISRAEL We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God's eternal covenant people, that she is now dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ, and that she is being regathered to Palestine and, after the rapture of the Church, will be saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ. Gen. 13:14-17; Rom. 11:1-32; Eze. 37. XX.
OF THE RESURRECTION, JUDGMENTS, PRE MILLENNIAL RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST AND
RELATED EVENTS A.) We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Matt. 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I Cor. 15:4; Matt. 16:6; Luke 24:2-6 B) The ascension of Jesus Christ. Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19. C) The imminent pre-tribulation resurrection of all born again believers at the end of this dispensation. Phil. 3:20; I Thes. 1:10; 4:13-17; 5:6,11; Tit. 2:13; Rev. 4:1; I Cor. 15:51-53. D) The judgment seat of Christ after the rapture of the Church, before the throne of God, where the believer's works and motive for service will be tested by fire, with the promise of literal rewards and inheritance during the millennial reign. Rom. 14:10; II Cor. 5:10; II Tim. 4:1; I Cor. 3:9-15; 4:5; Col. 3:23, 24; II Tim. 2:1; Luke 19:11-26. E) The future conclusion of Daniel's 70th week, called the Great
Tribulation, determined on the nation of Israel, involving the coming world
church, a one-world government both of which will be denominated by the
antichrist. Dan. 9:24-27; Matt. 24:4-26; Rev. 6:19. F) The personal visible return of Jesus Christ to this
earth to destroy antichrist and all his enemies either at Armageddon or the
judgment of the nations and then to establish the 1000 year reign with the Jew
in the Palestine as the head of the nations, the earth regenerated , and Himself
the king of the earth ruling with a rod of iron on the throne of David in
Jerusalem. Rev. 19:11-21;
Acts 1:10-11; Rev. 16:12-16; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:1-6; Rom. 11.25-27; Deut.
28:13; Isa. 9:6-7; 11:1-10; Luke 1:32-33; Isa, 24:23. G)
The last judgment or Great White Throne Judgment, involving all the
unconverted or unbelievers since Adam. This judgment will only determine the
extent or degree of their H)
The new Heavens and Earth, eternal bliss and life of believers of all
dispensation. Rev. 21:1; 22:5; Psa.
16:11; John 3:16. XXI.
OF THE DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH This church holds to a moderate form of dispensationalism. We reject any system of interpretation which disregards the need for repentance in salvation, or does not emphasize the need for daily cleansing for fellowship with the Lord, or which de-emphasizes the importance of the local church, or ridicules church age baptism, or minimizes soul-winning and foreign missions, or produces radical, contentious and confusing doctrines. II Tim. 2:15; II Cor. 7:9-11; 13:5; Eph. 5:26; I John 1:9; I Tim. 3:15 (in context); I Col. 1:14-16; Matt. 28:19-20,! Tim. 6:3-5. XXII.
OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT We believe that civil government is (a) of divine appointment, for interests and good order of human society; (b) that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; (c) except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; (d) who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. Rom. 13:1-3; Matt. 10:28; Matt. 23:10; Rev. 19:16: Phi. 2.10-11; Psa. 72:11. XXIII.
OF MISSIONS The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission was given to the churches. Matt. 28:18-20; Matt. 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 13:1-4; Rom. 10:13-15. XXIV.
OF THE GRACE OF GIVING We
believe that the Local Church should be supported with God's TITHES and
OFFERINGS for the maintenance of its ministry and furtherance of the Gospel.
Mai. 3:10; Luke 6:38; II Cor. 9:6-7. |