Articles of Faith
These sixteen Articles affirm our theological, biblical, and ecclesiastical stances as they relate to our denominational concepts of Christianity and God's activity in the World. As a denomination we uphold the Christological precepts of the Apostle's Creed that was established by our early Christian fathers. Some of our theological and doctrinal precepts unite with others of the ecumenical Christian community, while some views are distinctive to our beliefs as a National Primitie Baptist Christian denomination. It is our goal that these sixteen statements of our Faith will continue to give focus to our church and foundation to our doctrinal precepts.
ARTICLE I - We believe in only one true and living God and the trinity of persons in the God-head, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and yet there are not three, but one God. References: Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 1:1, 14, 16; John 3:16; II Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 2:9; I Peter 1:2; I John 5:7
ARTICLE II - We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice. References: Psalms 119:9-16, 105, 113; Jeremiah 30:2; II Timothy 3:16, 17.
ARTICLE III - We believe in the doctrine of eternal and particular election of a definite number of the human race chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, that they should be holy and without blame before Him in love. References: Isaiah 42:1, 45:4; Matthew 24:31; Mark 13:20, 27; Romans 8:24-30, 11:7; Ephesians 1:4-14; II Timothy 1:8-9; II Peter 1:10.
ARTICLE IV - We believe in a covenant redemption between God the Father and God the Son. References: Genesis 3:15; Psalms 111:9; John 3:16-17, 5:24, 17:2; Romans 5:6, 8-11, 15-21; Galatians 4:4-7; Hebrews 9:11-15.
ARTICLE V - We believe in the fall of man and the communication of Adam's sinful nature to his posterity by ordinary generation and their impotency to recover themselves from the fallen state they are in by nature by their own free will and ability. References: Genesis 3:12-24; Psalm 51:5; John 6:44; Romans 3:23-24, 5:17-21; Ephesians 2:8-9; I John 3:5, 8.
ARTICLE VI - We believe that all chosen in Christ shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and be effectually called, regenerated, and born again. References: Psalms 37:28, John 10:28, 15:16; Acts 2:39; Romans 8:29-30; Philippians 1:6; II Timothy 1:8-10; Jude 1:1
ARTICLE VII - We believe that sinners who are born again are justified in the sight of God alone by the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to them by faith. Reference: Romans 3:34-26, 5:1, 8:1-2; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:5; Jude 1:24.
ARTICLE VIII - We believe that faith is the gift of God, and good works the fruit of faith, which justify us in the sight of men and angels as evidence of our gracious state. References: Matthew 5:16; Romans 3:20-24; 5:1; 8:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 13:20-21.
ARTICLE IX - We believe that all the Saints of God (justified by the righteousness of Christ) shall preserve in grace and none of them finally fall away so as to be lost. References: John 6:37-40, 10:27-29, 17:1-26; Romans 3:24-25, 13:11; I Peter 1:5; Ephesians 1:4; Philippians 1:6; I Thessalonians 5:9, 23; II Timothy 2:19; I John 2:19.
ARTICLE X - We believe in general judgement, both of the just and the unjust, and that joys of the righteous shall be eternal and the punishment of the wicked shall be everlasting. References: Ecclesiastes 12:14; Isaiah 26:19 Daniel 12:2; Psalms 1:5-6; Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; II Corinthians 5:10; James 1:18-22; Revelation 20:12-13, 21:8.
ARTICLE XI - We believe that the visable Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers in Christ adhering to a special covenant, which recognizes Christ as their only lawgiver and ruler, and His Word their exclusive guide in all religious matters. It is complete in itself and independent under Christ of every other church organization. It is alone a religious assembly, selected and called out of the world by the doctrine of the Gospel to worship the true God according to His Word. References: Matthew 16:18-19, 18:17; Acts 2:41-42; Acts 2:47; Acts 5:11; 11:6; Romans 16:1, 4-5, 16, 23; Ephesians 4:3-6, 13; Colossians 1:18.
ARTICLE XII - We believe that the scriptural officersof the Church are: Pastor {Elder} and Deacon, whose qualifications and duties are defined in the Epistles of I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9. References: Acts 14:23; Ephesians 4:11-12; Phiippians 1:1; I Timothy 5:17.
ARTICLE XIII - We believe that Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water by a proper administrator in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. References: Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:12-16; Acts 8:36, 39; Romans 6:3-5; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12.
ARTICLE XIV - We believe that only an ordained Elder has a right to administer the ordinances of the Gospel, such as have been properly baptized, called, and come under the imposition of the presbytery by the authority of the Church of Christ. References: Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 13:1-3, 14:23; Ephesians 4:11-12; I Timothy 4:14.
ARTICLE XV - We believe that none but regularly baptized and orderly Church Members have a right to communion at the Lord's Table. References: I Corinthians 5:7-11, 11:17-29.
ARTICLE XVI - We still believe in washing the Saint's Feet in a Church capacity immediately after the Lord's Supper. References: John 13:4-17; I Timothy 5:10.