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Article I
Inspiration of Scripture
Holy men of God
wrote the scriptures as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (II
Pet. 1:21). The Bible, as originally written, is perfect and
completely inspired and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness (II Tim. 3:16,17; James
1:17).
Article II
Triune God
There is only one eternal God
( Deut. 6:4: Isa. 45:5). The Father is a Spirit never seen
by men (John 1:18: John 4:24). Jesus Christ, the Son, is also
eternal. He was sent to earth to be the Lamb of God, to die for
the sins of the whole world and was raised on the third day. He
then ascended to the right hand of God as High Priest over the House
of God (Matt. 16:21; Mark 16:19; John 1:29; Heb. 3:1, 7:16,
10:21). The Holy Spirit represents the Father and the Son to
man, convicting of sin, and is a special Comforter to the church, to
dwell in her and to teach her the truths of God (Matt. 28:19; John
14:16-17, 15:26, 16:7-15).
Article III
Satan
Satan is and has been a real and
active force opposing God and man in every age (Isa. 14:12-13; Mat.
4:1; I Pet. 5:8). He continues to influence the wicked and to
tempt the righteous in these times. He faces a sentence of 1000
years in the bottomless pit followed by eternity in a lake of fire
(Rev. 20:2, 3, 10). He will give his power to the soon coming Man of
Sin (Rev. 13:4).
Article IV
Original Sin
Adam disobeyed God and became
dead in sin (Gen. 2:17, 3:6). All men are descendants of him and are
also dead in sin (Rom. 5:15-19; Eph. 2:1-3).
Article V
Salvation by Grace
Sinners cannot be saved
by any work of their own. Salvation of the depraved sinner is
only by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). The gospel of
Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is the only power to change
sinners and give them life (John 10:10; Rom. 1:16). Jesus laid
down His life, giving His precious blood for the propitiation of teh
sins of the whole world (I Pet. 1:19, I John 2:2). Jesus is the
Lamb of God and His shed blood is the only cleansing agent able to
wash and take away the sins of all men (John 1:29, I Cor. 5:7, Rev.
1:5). The blood is applied the very first moment a lost sinner
repents toward God and is saved by grace through faith (Rom. 3:25,
Eph. 2:8). This salvation occurs before baptism and church
membership (Acts 8:36, 38). At the moment of faith in Christ as
their Savior, they are born of His Spirit (John 3:5-8). This
birth of His seed remains in them and it cannot sin (I John
3:9). The Holy Spirit then witnesses with their new spirit that
they are the children of God (Rom. 8:16). This salvation cannot
be lost (I Cor. 3:15). No saved person can or ever will go to
hell or the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:15). God would have all to be
saved (I Tim. 2:4). Jesus invites all to come unto Him (Matt.
11:28). All who remain in their condemned state do so because
they will not believe (John 5:40).
Article VI
Great Commission
The gospel of Christ is to
be preached to every person until the end (Mark 16:15). The
gospel is the power by which God works all good things toward man
(Rom. 1:16). Because of the gospel, we obtain salvation, the
keeping of our life, the services of God in truth (Phil. 1:27); the
revealing of mysteries (Eph. 6:19); and a partaking of the glory and
kingdom of Christ (Matt. 4:23). Thus, the gospel is the good
news from God concerning how we can be brought back into wholeness
and fellowship with Him, starting with faith and ending with faith,
all by His grace.
Article VII
Church Ordinances
All believers are to be
baptized and added to the church (Acts 2:41). Baptism, being a
burial, is therefore only by complete immersion (Rom. 6:4). The
authority of baptism is by Christ through His church (Matt.
28:18-19). The Church is a body of baptized believers living
faithfully unto Christ. The church's ordained offices are
pastors and deacons (Acts 6:1-7; I Tim. 3:13). The ordinances
of the church are baptism and the Lord's Supper (Matt. 26: 26-27,
28:19). Baptism is required for proper service, as a symbol of
purification of the flesh and the hope of the future resurrection
(Rom. 6:1-4). The Lord's Supper is restricted to the members of that
local church and is a confirmation of our relationship to Him in the
New Covenant (Matt. 26:26-29; Luke 22:20). Baptism and the
Lord's Supper present a complete picture of the gospel; the death,
burial and resurrection of both Christ and His people.
Article VIII
Church Origin and Perpetuity
The church is
built by Jesus and began during His personal ministry on earth
(Matt. 16:18). Jesus was and is the only person ever having the
authority to start the church. He is the rock and only
foundation on which the church is built (I Cor. 3:11). His
churches are local and visible and in no sense universal or
invisible (Gal. 1:2; Rev. 1:4). Not all saved are in the
church. Not all assemblies claiming to be His qualify as
scriptural churches. True churches may lose their identity as
His (Rev. 2:5; 3:16). False churches cannot progressively
improve to become His. The true church has never been out of
existence. It has continued from the day Jesus began building
and will continue until He returns (Matt. 16:18, 28:20; Eph.
3:21). This continuance has been by one church separating
members from their local body unto another assembly unto this day
(Acts 8:14-17, 13:1-4).
Article IX
Titles of Church
His church is called His
house (I Tim. 3:15); His body (Eph. 1:22-23); His temple (I
Cor. 3:17); His branches (John 15:1-5); His sheep (John 10:1-18);
also the house of prayer in Isaiah. He receives glory through His
church (Eph. 3:21).
Article X
Offices of Church
The Lord gave His
churches pastors and deacons (I Tim. 3). Pastors, also called
bishops, are set in their office by the Holy Spirit to oversee and
feed the flock of God (Acts 20:28). A strict life of
righteousness is required. Deacons are chosen by the church to
fulfill a material need (Acts 6:3-4). Their lives are to
be impeccable. These offices can only be filled by men.
Article XI
Eternal Purpose
God knows and foreknows all
things (Isa. 46:10; I Pet. 1:2). He elects (John 15:16; Rom. 8:23),
predestines many things (Eph. 1:5, 11) and this is all according to
His good pleasure. These are all the right, power and authority
of a sovereign God (Deut. 32:39-43). God has an eternal purpose
with His creation, which is accomplished through Jesus (Eph.
3:11). This eternal purpose was planned by God Himself and is
explained progressively in the form of covenants, especially the
Abrahamic and the New Covenant. Thus Christ was chosen as the
seed of Abraham, through the line of David, and had to be such
to be the proper carrier of the promises (Matt. 1:1; Luke 1:32). One
role of the church today is to help bring people into these promises
(Gal. 3:14).
Article XII
Sanctification
Sanctification begins in
regeneration and is ever progressive. It is the process by
which we are made to partake of God's holiness and are made into the
image of Christ (John 17:17; Acts 20:32; Eph. 5:26).
Article XIII
Eternal Security
God is able to keep His
saints from falling and present them faultless before the presence
of His glory (Jude 24). Saints are holy people who shall judge
the world and the angels (Rom. 1:7; I Cor. 6:2-3; Col. 1:2,22).
Article XIV
Day of Assembly
The first day of the week
was set by our Lord to worship Him and it replaced the Sabbath day
of the law (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:2; Col. 2:14-17).
Article XV
Civil Obedience
Christians are to obey the
laws of the land when those laws do not conflict with God's commands
(Act 5:29; Rom. 13: 1-4).
Article XVI
Christ's Kingdom Reign
Jesus will return to
earth again as King (Acts 1:11; I Tim. 6:15). The church shall
be presented to Him sanctified, cleansed, washed and without spot or
wrinkle, as His bride (Eph. 5:25-27). His bride shall walk with
Him in righteous robes of white (Rev. 19:8). He shall reign
forever and of His kingdom there shall be no end (Luke
1:33). The New Jerusalem shall descend from God and righteous
saints that do His commandments shall have right to enter (Rev.
21:24-27). All others, living then are without the city and
have no right to enter neither will they have any portion with the
bride (Rev. 21:27, 22:15).
Article XVII
Two Resurrections
Blessed and holy is he
that has part in the first resurrection, they shall be priests of
God and Christ and reign with Him a thousand years (Rev.
20:4-6). There is also a second resurrection wherein Christ
sits on a great white throne and whosoever is not found written in
the book of life is cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15).
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