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Articles of Faith |
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We believe in: 1. The full and verbal inspiration of all the Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures (a) as originally given,(b) and of these alone (c); their being in themselves the Word of God, without error,(d) and wholly reliable in both fact and doctrine; (e) and their final authority and perpetual sufficiency in all matters of faith and practice,(f) and the work of the Holy Spirit as essential for a true understanding of the Scriptures.(g) a) 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 3:15. b) Revelation 1:11; 2 Peter 1:21. c) Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18,19; Isaiah 8:20. d) Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 119:160; John 10:35; Psalm 12:6; Psalm 19:7. e) Psalm 119:140; Romans 3:4; 15:4; Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19. f) Joshua 1:7,8; Psalm 119:105; John 14:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; 1 Peter 3:1; 2 Peter 3:2. g) Psalm 199:18; John 16:13; Ephesians 1:17; Colossians 1:9. 2. The unity of the Godhead and the divine co-equality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit;(a) the sovereignty of God in creation,(b) providence,(c) and redemption.(d) a) Matthew 3:16,17; 28:19; John 10:30; 14:10,16; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 3:17,18; 13:14; 1 John 5:7. b) Psalm 33:6,9; Acts 17:24; Revelation 4:11. c) Daniel 4:34,35; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11. d) John 3:16; Matthew 11:25-27; Romans 8:29,30; 1 Corinthians 1:27-31; Ephesians 1:4,5. 3. The utter sinfulness of human nature in consequence of the fall,(a) and the necessity for regeneration.(b) a) Psalm 14:1-3; Isaiah 1:2-6; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 3:10-17,23. b) John 3:3; Ephesians 2:1. 4. The true and proper deity of our Lord Jesus Christ;(a) His virgin birth; (b) His real and perfect manhood;(c) the authority of His teaching and the infallibility of all His utterances;(d) His substitutionary sufferings and death,(e) His bodily resurrection,(f) and His ascension into heaven;(g) and His present priestly intercession.(h) a) Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-2,10,14; Acts 20:28; Romans 9:5; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20. b) Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:30-35. c) Romans 1:3; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 2:14; 4:14; 1 John 4:2. d) Matthew 8:18-20; Mark 1:22; John 8:43-47. e) Romans 5:6-8; 1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:4-6. f) Matthew 28:1-15; John 20:19,20; Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:1-20. g) Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 4:8-10. h) Hebrews 4:4-16; 7:25. 5. The justification of the sinner,(a) solely by faith,(b) through the atoning merits of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(c) a) Luke 18:13,14; Acts 13:38,39. b) Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16. c) Romans 3:25; 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18. 6. The necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit in the regeneration,(a) conversion,(b) and sanctification(c) of the elect; also in ministry,(d) worship(e) and evangelism.(f) a) Titus 3:5; John 3:5. b) Psalm 51:10-13; Ezekiel 11:19,20; Acts 3:19. c) 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Corinthians 6:18. d) Acts 4:31; Ephesians 4:3-13; 1 Thessalonians 1:5. e) John 4:23,24; Philippians 3:3; Revelation 1:10. f) Acts 1:8; 13:2; 1 Peter 1:12. 7. The Church throughout the world,(a) the body of which Christ is the head,(b) embracing all believers;(c) the local church comprising such believers,(d) and fellowship between such churches(e) manifesting the unity of the body of Christ.(f) a) Ephesians 3:15,21; Acts 2:39. b) Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 2:20. c) Acts 15:14. d) 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1. e) Acts 11:29,30; 15:23,36-41; Colossians 4:16. f John 17:20,21; Ephesians 4:3-6. 8. The ordinances of believer's baptism(a) and the Lord's Supper(b) commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ,(c) the one symbolizing the believer's regeneration(d) and the other symbolizing our Savior's atoning death.(e) a) Acts 2:38. b) 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. c) Matthew 28:19; 26:26-28. d) Romans 6:3,4; 1 Peter 3:21. e) 1 Corinthians 10:16. 9. The personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory.(a) a)Matthew 25:31; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16. 10. The resurrection of the body;(a) the judgment of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ,(b) with the eternal blessing of the righteous (c) and the eternal punishment of the wicked.(d) a) Job 19:25; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18. b) Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Corinthians 5:10. c) Matthew 13:43; 25:34; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 21:1-5. d) Matthew 25:46; 10:28; Mark 9:44,46,48; 2 Thessalonians 1:9. |
While Scripture alone is authoritative and Scripture alone binds the conscience, we believe a more detailed explanation of these truth/articles are contained in the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith to be an assistance to our faith. |