Articles of Faith

NOTE:  This copy has been transcribed from a typed copy that was part of a package dated August 8, 1965.  The package which included the Constitution and By-Laws was provided by an active church member.  Original punctuation is retained and very minor misspellings corrected  where obvious.  Words in brackets [ ] indicate that the original word appeared to be incorrect or erroneous.

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.  (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 2:12; Philippians 3:16; 1 John 4:1) 

II. God 

There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. (John 4:24; Psalms 83:18, 147:5; Mark 12:30; Revelation 4:11; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:10)

 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.  (Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; Ephesians 2:18) 

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.  (Genesis 8:22; Joshua 7:14; 1 Samuel 6:7; Psalms 36:6, 104, 136, 145, 147; Matthew 6:26, 10:29-30; Luke 21:18; Acts 1:26, 17:26) 

V. Election 

Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life – not because of foreseen merit in them, but  of  His mere mercy in Christ – in consequence of  which choice they are called,  justified,  and   glorified.  (2 Timothy 1:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10; Mark 13:30; Luke 18:7; Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 1:27; 2 Peter 1:10) 

VI. 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.  (Genesis 1:27, 31, 3:6-24; Romans 5:19; Isaiah 53:6; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 1:18; Ezekiel 18:19-20)  

VII. 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.  (Hebrews 8:6, 9:15, 12:24; Philippians 2:6-7; Isaiah 42:21, 53:4-5; Galatians 3:19-29; 1 Timothy 2:5) 

VIII. Regeneration 

Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickeneth 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 practice holiness.  It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone.  (1 John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:18; Ephesians 5:9) 

IX. Repentance 

Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being, by the Holy Spirit, convicted of his sin, humbleth himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self- abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk with God so as to please him in all things.  (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38, 11:18; Luke 18:13)

 X. 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 saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness. 
(Romans 10:9-11; Ephesians 2:8; 1 John 5:1) 

XI. Justification 

Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the [sacrifice] that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and [sacrifice] of Christ; they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith. 
(John 1:16; Acts 13:39; Romans 4:4-5, 5:1-2, 9, 19) 

XII. 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 Diving strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ’s commands.  (John 17:19; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30, 6:11; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 2:10, 10:10; Jude 1; Romans 15:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2) 

XIII. Perseverance of the Saints 

Those whom God hath accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may, through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgements on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through  faith unto  salvation.   (Matthew 24:13;  Mark 13:13;   Luke 9:26;  Acts 13:43;  1 Corinthians 15:58, 16:13; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 6:14; Hebrews 3:6, 13, 10:23, 38,;2 Peter 3:17; Revelation 2:10, 25) 

XIV. The Church 

The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government.  According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies or churches; and to each of these discipline and worship, which He hath appointed.  The regular officers of a Church are Pastors and Deacons.  (Ephesians 1:22, 4:12, 15; Matthew 10:1, 7, 20:19, 21:42, 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Colossians 1:8; John 20:21; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 6:3; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8) 

XV. Baptism 

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, necessary for every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 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 a prerequisite to church fellowship, and to participate in the Lord’s Supper.  (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; John 3:22, 4:1; Acts 2:38, 19:4, 22:16; Romans 6:3; 1 Corinthians 10:2, 12:13, 15:29; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 8:12, 38,  9:18, 10:48, 16:15, 33; 1 Corinthians 1:16)

 XVI. The Lord’s Supper 

The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and fruit of the vine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world.  It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.  (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 21, 11:23, 27; Acts 2:42, 20:7) 

XVII. 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.  (Genesis 2:2; Hebrews 4:4,;Exodus 16:23, 20:8, 23:12, 31:13, 34:21, 35:2; Leviticus 25:3; Mark 2:27, 16:2, 9; Luke 6:5; Matthew 28:1;  John 20:1, 19, 26; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10) 

XVIII. 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 by 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.  (Luke 9:7; John 8:9; Romans 2:15; Romans 13; 1 Timothy 1:19, 3:9; 2 Timothy 1:3; Hebrews 9:14, 10:2, 22, 13:18; Ezra 7:25; Exodus 22:8; 1 Peter 2:14, 3:16; Titus 3:1; Matthew 27:3) 

XIX. 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 judgement.  At the last day, the bodies of all the dead both just and unjust, will be raised.  (Job 19:26; Psalms 17:15; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 22:31; Luke 14:14;  John 5:28, 11:23) 

XX. The Judgement 

God hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to this deed:  The wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment; the righteous into everlasting life. (Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37, 12:57; John 7:24; Romans 2:1, 16, 8:33; James 4:11; Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27; 2 Peter 3:7; 1 Corinthians 4:5)