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ARTICLES OF FAITH
I. The Scriptures
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.
II. God
There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of himself all perfections, being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience.
III. The Trinity
God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.
IV. Providence
God from eternity decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.
V.The Fall of Man
God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.
VI. The Mediator
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever liveth to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
VII. Regeneration
Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickens the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practise holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone.
VIII. Repentance
Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being, by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbleth himself for it, turneth from it to God with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk with Him so as to please Him in all things.
IX.Faith
Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other graces, and leads to a life of holiness.
X. Justification
Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.
XI. Sanctification
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified, by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ’s commands.
XII. The Church
We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptised believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing and ordinances of Christ, independent and autonomous, subject only to God and, governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its only scriptural officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.
XIII. Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of his giving Himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church fellowship and to participation in the Lord’s Supper.
XIV. The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance, not a sacrament, given by Jesus Christ. In the observance of this ordinance the members of the Church by the use of bread and wine are to commemorate together the death of Christ, confirm the faith and other graces of their Christian life, pledge and renew their communion with Him and their fellowship with fellow members.
XV. The Lord’s Day
The Lord’s day is a Christian institution for regular observance, and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, resting from worldly employments and amusements, works of necessity and mercy only excepted.
XVI. Liberty of Conscience
God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His Word, or not contained in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
XVII. The Resurrection
The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God—the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.
XVIII. The Imminent Return of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ, who left earth and ascended to the Father, will one day again return to earth. Jesus speaks of His return in parables and more direct teachings. The angels at the time of His ascension told the disciples the Lord will come again in the same manner in which He had gone away. The purpose of Christ’s second coming is the establishment, in the fullest sense, of the Kingdom of God. Watchfulness is urged as no one knows the time of Jesus’ coming.
XIX. The Judgment
God hath appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to his deeds; the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.
