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What We
Believe
Articles
of Faith
This
church, therefore,
adopts the Articles
of Faith as an expression
of essential doctrine
of belief set forth
in the scripture.
The Articles of Faith
are as follows:
Section 1
-The Scriptures
We believe that the
Holy Bible was written
by men divinely inspired,
and is a perfect treasure
of heavenly instruction.
That it has God for
its author, salvation
for its end, and truth
without any mixture
of error for its matter.
That it reveals the
principals by which
God will judge us,
and therefore is,
and shall remain to
the end of the world,
the true center of
Christian union, and
the supreme standard
by which all human
conduct, creed, and
opinions shall be
tried.
Section 2
-The True God
We believe the Scriptures,
that there is one
and only one living
and true God. An infinite,
intelligent Spirit,
whose name is Jehovah,
the Make and Supreme
Ruler of heaven and
earth; inexpressibly
glorious in holiness,
and worthy of all
possible honor, confidence
and love; that in
the unity of the God
head there are three
persons, the Father,
the Son and the Holy
host; equal in every
divine perfection,
and executing distinct
but harmonious offices
in the great work
of redemption.
Section 3
- The Fall of Man
We believe that the
Scriptures teach that
man was created in
holiness, under the
law of his maker;
but by voluntary transgressions
fell from that holy
and happy state; in
consequence of which
all mankind are now
sinners, not by constraint
by choice; being by
nature utterly void
of that holiness required
by the law of God,
positively inclined
to evil; and therefore
under just condemnation
to eternal ruin, without
defense or excuse.
Section 4
- The Way of Salvation
We believe that the
scriptures teach that
the salvation of sinners
is wholly grace; through
the mediatorial officers
of the Son of God;
who by 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
atonement for our
sins; that having
risen from the dead,
he is now enthroned
in heaven; and uniting
in His wonderful person
the tender sympathies
with divine perfection.
He is in every way
qualified to be a
suitable, a compassionate
and all-sufficient
Savior.
Section 5
- Justification
We believe that the
scriptures teach that
the great Gospel blessing
which Christ secures
to such as believe
in Him is justification;
that justification
includes the pardon
of sin, and the promise
of eternal life on
the principals of
righteousness; that
is bestowed, not in
consideration of any
works of righteousness
that we have done,
but solely through
faith in the redeemer’s
blood; by virtue of
which His perfect
righteousness is freely
imputed to us of God;
that it brings us
in state of most blessed
peace and favor with
God, and secures every
other blessing needful
for time and eternity.
Section 6
- The Freeness of
Salvation
We believe the Scriptures
teach that the blessings
of salvation are made
free to all by the
Gospel; that is the
immediate duty of
all to accept them
by cordial penitent
and obedient faith;
and that nothing prevents,
the salvation of the
greatest sinner in
earth; but his own
determined depravity
and voluntary rejection
of the Gospel; which
rejection involves
him in aggravated
condemnation.
Section 7
- Regeneration
We believe the Scriptures
teach that in order
to be saved, sinners
must be regenerated,
or born again; that
regeneration consist
in giving a holy disposition
to the mind that is
effected in a manner
above our comprehension
by the power of the
Holy Spirit in connection
with divine truth,
so as to secure our
voluntary obedience
to the Gospel; and
that its proper evidence
appears in the holy
fruits of repentance
and faith, and newness
of life.
Section 8
- God’s Purpose
of Grace
We believe the Scriptures
teach that election
is the eternal purpose
of God, according
to which He graciously
regenerates, sanctifies
and saves sinners;
that being perfectly
consistent with the
free agency of man,
it comprehends all
the means in connection
with the end; that
it is a most glorious
display of God’s
sovereign goodness,
being infinitely free,
wise, holy, and unchangeable;
that it utterly excludes
boasting and promotes
humility, love, prayer,
praise, trust in God,
and imitation of His
free mercy; that it
encourages the use
of means in the highest
degree; that it may
be ascertained by
its effects in all
who truly believe
the Gospel; that it’s
the foundation of
Christian assurance;
and that to ascertain
it with regard to
ourselves demands
and deserves the utmost
diligence.
Section 9
- Sanctification
We believe that the
scriptures teach that
Sanctification is
the process by which,
according to the will
of God, we are made
partakers of His holiness;
that it is a progressive
work, that is begun
in regeneration; and
that it is carried
on in the hearts of
believers by the presence
and power of the Holy
Spirit, the Sealer
and Comforter, in
the continual use
of the appointed means
especially the Word
of God, self examination,
self denial, watchfulness,
and prayer.
Section 10
- Perseverance of
Saints
We believe that Scriptures
teach that such only
are real believers
as endure to the end;
that their persevering
attachment to Christ
is the grand mark
which distinguishes
them from superficial
professors; that a
special Providence
watches over their
welfare; and they
are kept by the power
of God through faith
unto salvation.
Section 11
- The Law and the
Gospel
We believe the Scriptures
teach that the Law
of God is the eternal
and unchangeable rule
of His moral government;
that it is holy, just
and good; and that
the inability which
the scriptures ascribe
to fallen men to fulfill
its precepts, arise
entirely from their
love of sin; to deliver
them from which. And
to restore them through
a Mediator to unfeigned
obedience to the holy
law is one great end
of the Gospel, and
of the Means of Grace
connected with the
establishment of the
visible church.
Section 12
- A Gospel Church
We believe the Scriptures
teach that a visible
church of Christ is
a congregation of
observing believers,
associated by covenant
in the faith and fellowship
of the Gospel; observing
the ordinances of
Christ; governed by
His laws; and exercising
the gifts, rights
and privileges invested
in them by His Word;
that its only scriptural
officers are Bishops
or Pastors, and Deacons
whose qualifications,
claims and duties
are defined in the
Epistles to Timothy
and Titus.
Section 13
- Baptism and the
Lord’s Supper
We believe the Scriptures
teach that Christian
baptism is the immersion
in water of a believer,
into the name of the
Father, and Son, and
Holy Ghost; to show
forth in a solemn
and beautiful emblem,
our faith in the crucified,
buried, and risen
Savior, with its effect,
in our death to sin
and resurrection to
a new life; that it
is prerequisite to
the privileges of
a church relation;
and the Lord’
supper, in which the
members of the church,
by the sacred use
of bread and wine,
are to commemorate
together the dying
love of Christ: precede
always by solemn self-examination.
Section 14
- The Christian Sabbath
We believe the Scriptures
teach that the first
day of the week is
the Lord’s Day,
or Christian Sabbath,
and is to be kept
sacred to religious
purposes, by abstaining
from all secular labor
and sinful recreations,
by the devout observance
of all means of grace,
both private and public,
and by preparation
for that rest that
remained for the people
of God.
Section 15
- Civil Government
We believe the Scriptures
teach that civil government
is of divine appointment,
for the interest and
good of human society;
and that magistrates
are to be prayed for,
conscientiously honored
and obeyed; except
only in things opposed
to the will of our
Lord Jesus Christ`,
who is the only Lord
of the conscience,
and the Prince of
the Kings of the earth.
Section 16
- Righteous and Wicked
We believe the Scriptures
teach that there is
a radical and essential
difference between
the righteous and
the wicked; 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; while
all such as continue
I impenitence and
unbelief are in His
sight wicked, and
under the curse; and
this distinction holds
among men both in
and after death.
Section 17
- The World to Come
We believe the Scriptures
teach that the end
of the world is approaching;
that the last day,
Christ will descend
from heaven, and raise
the dead from the
grave for final retribution;
that a solemn separation
will then take place;
that the wicked will
be adjudged to endless
punishment, and the
righteous to endless
joy; and that his
judgment will fix
forever the final
state of men on heaven
or hell, on principals
of righteous.
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