Articles of Faith

  1. We believe in one only living and true God, existing in Father, Son and Holy Ghost, who created and preserves all things after the counsel of His own will
    1. One true God – Jer. 10:10; 1 Cor. 8:6; Psa. 83:18; Heb 3:4; Psa. 147:5; 1 Chr. 17-20; 1 Tim 2-5
    2. Existing in Father, Son and Holy Ghost – Matt. 28:19; I John 5:7; 2 Cor. 13:14
    3. Who created and preserves all things – (Father) Gen. 1:1; (Son) John 1:1-3; (Holy Ghost) Gen. 1:2; Psa. 102:25, 96:5, 104:24, 146:6
  2. Scriptures of the Old and New testaments to be the word of God, containing His revealed will, the only rule of faith and practice.
    1. Scriptures are the word of God – 2 Tim. 3:16 & 17; Psa. 119:89; John 17:17; Rev. 22:6
  3. Man was created in a holy and happy condition, but by transgression fell from that state and became depraved, and as he was the covenant head of his posterity, they are all born in a state of sin, and unless born of the Spirit, continue dead in trespasses and sin, being destitute of real holiness and possessing enmity of heart against God.
    1. Man was created in holy condition – Gen. 1:27 & 31; Eccl. 7:29
    2. By transgression fell – Gen. 3:6-24; 1 Tim. 5:12
    3. All are born in state of sin – Psa. 51:5; Gen. 6:12; Gal. 3:22
    4. Destitute of holiness – Rom. 3:9-10; Eccl. 7:20; Isa. 64:6
    5. Enmity against God – Isa. 53:6; Rom. 3:12-18; Gen. 6:5
  4. That the Lord Jesus Christ, who was eternally with the Father, was in the fullness of time manifest in the flesh in which he fulfilled the law of the Father – suffered and died to make atonement for sin – is the only Saviour, Prophet and King of His church, appointed heir of all things; judge of the quick and the dead.
    1. Lord Jesus Christ eternally with the Father – Gen. 1:26; John 1:1-3; John 17:5-24
    2. Manifested in the flesh – Isa. 7:14 and 9:6; Matt. 1:18-25; Rom. 8:3; Gal. 4:4
    3. Died for our sins – Isa. 33:4-5; Matt. 20:28; Rom. 4:25; John 19:1-42
    4. Appointed heir of all things – Heb. 1:1 & 2; Col. 2:10; 1 Pet. 3:22
    5. Judge of quick and dead – Acts 10:42; 2 Tim. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:5
  5. Although the Gospel is to be preached to all nations, and sinners to be called upon to repent and believe the Gospel yet such is their opposition to the Gospel that they all freely chose a state of sin rather than enjoy the blessings of God and the gift of eternal life, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. God, of His mere good pleasure, and that He might make known the riches of his Glory, He elected or chose in Christ a great multitude of all nations, kindreds, people and tongues: these though the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit are effectually called, became dead to sin and alive to God, and being the subjects of repentance, faith, etc., having the love of God shed abroad in their hearts, freely chose Christ for their Saviour, and willingly devoted themselves to His service by a life of holiness.
    1. Gospel to be preached to all nations – Matt. 28:19; Acts 1:8
    2. Sinners to repent and believe the Gospel – Matt. 3:2; Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19; 26:20
    3. Sinners Choose a state of sin – John 5:40, Matt. 23:37; Ezek. 18:31.
    4. Grace more abundant than sin – Rom. 5:20; 1 Tim. 1:14
    5. Chosen people through Christ – Gal. 4:7; 3:29; Rom. 8:17; James 2:5; Rom. 2:10 & 11
    6. Dead to sin and alive to God – Rom. 6:1-23; Gal. 2:19 & 20
    7. Love of God shed abroad in our hearts – Rom. 5:5 & 8; Titus 3:4-6; 1 John 3:24
    8. Freely chose Christ as Saviour – Josh. 24:15; 1 Thess. 1:9; Luke 15:14-19; 23:39-43
    9. Devoted to His service by a holy life – Rom. 12:1 & 2; James 1:27; 1 john 2:15 & 16; 1 Thess. 5:22; John 17:15 & 16; 1 John 5:21
  6. Those who are united to Christ by a living faith, and have a full and free forgiveness of all their sins, and a complete justification of their persons, which is bestowed not on account of any works they have done or disposition they possess, but solely on account of the merits of Christ, arising from His sufferings and death.
    1. United to Christ by a living faith – Acts 26:18; Rom. 5:12; Gal. 2:20
    2. Full Forgiveness of sin – Col. 1:12-15; 1 John 1:7-9; Eph. 4:32; John 6:37
    3. Complete Justification – Rom. 5:1; Rom. 3:23 & 24; 1 Cor. 6:11
    4. Not saved by works – Eph. 2:8 & 9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5
    5. Saved because of Christ’s suffering and death – 1 Cor. 15:3; Rom. 5:6; John 15:13; John 11: 51 & 52; John 3:16
  7. All those who are born of the spirit and justified by the imputed righteousness of Christ will persevere to the end, being kept by the power of God, through faith unto Salvation.
    1. Those who are born again will persevere (continue steadfastly) to the end – Psa. 37:28; Jude 24:25; Rom. 8:38 & 39; John 10:27-29
    2. Kept by the power of God unto Salvation – 1 Pet. 1:5; 2 Tim. 4:18; Jude 1; Rev. 3:10
  8. And that the visible churches are to be formed only of proper believers in Christ, who have given an evidence of a change of heart, and have been baptized, and whose life and conversation manifest real religion.
    1. Churches to be formed of saved people – Acts 2:41 & 47; Acts 5:14; Acts 9:31
    2. Evidence of a change of heart and baptized – Matt. 3:7-9; Luke 3:7 & 8; acts 16:29-34
    3. Life and conversation manifest real religion – James 1:27; 1 Pet. 1:15; 2 Pet. 3:11; Phil. 1:27; James 5:12
  9. All persons when united to a visible church are to be baptized, which can only be done by immersing the person in water, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Baptism:

  1. Scriptural subject (Believer in Christ) – Acts 2:41; 8:36 & 37; Matt. 3:7
  2. Scriptural authority (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) – Matt. 28:19 & 20
  3. Scriptural mode (Immersion in water) – Mark 1:9 & 10; Acts 8:38 & 39; Rom. 6:4; Col, 2:12
  1. That the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of the New Testament, shows forth the death and suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ, consisting in the reception of the bread and wine; and is also to be observed by those who have been regenerated, regularly baptized and become members of the Gospel Church.

Lord’s Supper:

  1. Consists in the reception of bread and wine – Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; 1 Cor. 10:16
  2. Shows forth the death and suffering of our Lord – 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Luke 22:19 & 20
  3. Observed by members of the church – Acts 2:41 & 42
  1. We believe the foot washing as set forth in St. John, the thirteenth chapter, to be of the ordinances of the Gospel and that it ought to be observed by all Christians, as our Lord and Saviour delivered it to all the disciples, and ought to be practiced in connection with the Supper, by all baptized believers.
    1. The foot washing should be practiced in connection with the supper – John 13:1-17
  2. As God has appointed the ministers for the edification of the churches, and the advancement of His Gospel in the world, it is our duty to minister to its necessities, as God may give us abilities.
    1. God appoints ministers – John 15:16; Mark 1:16-20; Acts 9:10-16
    2. Our duty to support the ministry – Deut. 16:17; Acts 11:27-30; 1 cor. 16:1-3
  3. That the government of the church is not to be vested in the hand of any man or number of men distinct from the body, but is to be conducted solely by the members, acting compatibly with the Constitution, Articles of Faith and Rules of Decorum.
    1. Government of the church to be conducted only by the members – Matt. 20:25 & 36; 1 Pet. 5:1-3; 1 cor. 5:1-5; Matt. 18:16-18.
  4. That the first day of the week, or Christian Sabbath, is to be kept holy, by attending to the worship of the Lord abstaining from all unnecessary labor. That when time shall be no longer, the Son of God will come, to judge the world in righteousness, the bodies of all men to be raised from the dead, and be brought to the judgment seat of Christ, where the righteous will be rewarded with life eternal, and the wicked sentenced to eternal punishment.
    1. The first day of the week is the Lord’s Day – John 20:1 & 19; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1 & 2; Psa. 118:24
    2. The Son of God shall come when time shall be no longer – 1 Pet. 4:7; 2 Pet. 3:10; Acts 1:11-19; 1 Thess. 4:13-18
    3. He will judge the world in righteousness – Rom. 3:5 & 6; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; Heb. 2:1-3
    4. Bodies of all men to be raised from the dead – Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:12-58; John 5:28 & 29
    5. The righteous shall receive eternal life, the wicked, eternal punishment – Matt. 25:35-46; Rev. 22:11; 1 Cor. 6:9 & 10; Rom. 6:22