ARTICLES OF FAITH
In view of so much organized confusion in the religious world today,
especially among so-called Baptists, as to what the Scriptures are and
what they teach, we send forth these Articles of Faith declaring what we
believe the Scriptures are, and what we believe they teach concerning
the following:
I.
OF THE
SCRIPTURES: We believe that the Holy Bible as originally
written was verbally inspired and the product of spirit-controlled men
and therefore without any admixture of error for its matter. We believe
the Bible to be the true center of Christian union and the supreme
standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried
(2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21).
II.
OF THE
TRUE GOD: We believe that there is One and only One True and
Living God; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all
possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the God-head
there are three Persons; God the Father, God the Eternal Son and God the
Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct
but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Exod. 20:2-3; 1
Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11; 1 Jn. 5:7; Jn. 10:30; 2 Cor. 13:14).
III.
OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that the Holy Spirit is one of the
Divine Persons of the Trinity (Matt. 28:19-20). That He is eternal (Heb.
9:14). That He is here to quicken and apply the benefits of Christ’s
death to the elect only (Jn. 16:13-15). That all believers have the Holy
Spirit (Rom. 8:9-11), and that He is
God’s
guarantee to believers of a full and complete work of salvation (Eph.
1:13-14). We reject the extra-biblical and unbiblical teaching that He
is responsible for the fanaticism of our day among cults, i.e., the
“gift of tongues” so-called and so-called “divine healing,” as it is
exploited today.
IV.
OF THE
VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST: We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ
is the supernaturally begotten Eternal Son of God, and did not become
the Son of God at His incarnation, that He was of the Holy Spirit and
conceived in the womb of a virgin. That His birth was as none other was,
and never shall there be any like unto it. That He is very God of very
God, and very Man of man, yet without sinful nature or the slightest
capacity for sin. (Gen. 3:15, Isa. 7-14; Matt. 1:18-25; Lk 1:35; Jn.
1:14)
V.
OF THE
DEVIL OR SATAN: We believe in the personality of Satan, that he
is the unholy god of this present age and world system, that he is the
author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of
an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire (Matt. 4:1-3; Mk. 1:13; 2 Cor.
4:4; Eph. 2:2; Rev. 20:10).
VI.
OF THE
CREATION: We accept the complete Bible account of creation
without question and unreservedly, and believe that man is the result of
the direct creative act of God and is not the product of evolution
(Genesis chapters 1 and 2; Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16-17).
VII.
OF THE
FALL OF MAN: We believe that man was created in the image of
God, and sinless, also innocent under the Law of his Creator, but by
voluntary transgression fell from his happy and innocent state, in
consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by birth but
by practice and choice, and are therefore under the just condemnation of
God and are without either defense or excuse, and as such are within
themselves totally depraved and irrecoverably lost (Gen. 3:1-6; Rom.
5:12, 19; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18, 32, 3:23).
VIII.
OF
GOD’S PURPOSE OF GRACE: We believe that election is the eternal
purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates,
sanctifies, and saves sinners; that it comprehends all the means in
connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God's
sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy and unchangeable;
that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer,
praise, trust in God, and active imitation of His free mercy; that it
encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that it may be
ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the gospel; that it
is the foundation of Christian assurance; and that to ascertain it with
regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence (2 Tim.
1:8-9; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Exod. 33:18-19; 1 Cor. 4:7; Eph. 1:3-14; Acts
13:48; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Thess. 1:4-10; Rom. 8:28-31; 2 Pet. 1:10-11).
IX.
OF THE
ATONEMENT FOR SIN: We believe that the salvation of sinners is
wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Eternal Son of
God, who by the appointment of the Father freely took upon Himself the
form of man, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal
obedience and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our
sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His
death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the
sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ the Lord, bearing
our sins in His own body on the
tree, that
having risen from the dead, He is now in Heaven, and uniting in His
wonderful Person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is
in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an
all-sufficient Saviour (Eph. 2:8;
Acts 15:11;
Rom. 3:24;
Jn. 3:16;
Matt. 18:11;
Phil. 2:7;
Heb. 2:14;
Isa. 53:4-7;
1 Pet. 2:24;
1 Pet. 3:18;
Isa. 53:11;
Heb. 12:2;
1 Cor. 15:20;
Isa. 53:12;
Heb. 9:12-15, 7:25;
1 Jn. 2:2).
X.
OF
SALVATION: We believe that salvation is in the Person Jesus
Christ; that New Testament evangelical repentance toward God and faith
in the Redeemer’s blood, both gifts of God and inseparable graces are
the only conditions to a
saving relationship (Eph. 1:6, 2:8; Col. 2:10; Acts 20:21, 16:31; 2 Tim.
2 :25).
XI.
OF
JUSTIFICATION: We believe that the great Gospel blessings which
Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that
Justification includes the pardon of sin, and gift of eternal life on
principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of
any works of righteousness
which we have done; it is imputed unto us (Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11; Zech.
13:1; Rom. 8:1, 5:9, 5:1; Tit. 3:5-7; Rom. 1:17; Heb. 2:4; Gal. 3:11;
Rom. 4:1-8; Heb. 10:38).
XII.
OF
SANCTIFICATION: We believe that sanctification is the process
by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His
holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in
regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by
the presence and power of God the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter,
in the continual use of the appointed means, especially, the Word
of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer (1
Thess. 4:3; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Cor. 7:1; Prov. 4:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Jn.
17:17; Rom. 8:5; Phil. 1:9-11; Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 4:11-12).
XIII.
OF THE
SECURITY OF THE SAINTS: We believe that all who are truly
born again are kept by God
the Father for the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6; Jn. 10:28-29; Rom.
8:35-39; Jude 1).
XIV.
OF THE
HARMONY OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL: We believe that the Law of
God is the eternal and UNCHANGEABLE rule of His moral government; that
it is HOLY, JUST, and GOOD; and that the inability which the Scriptures
ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their
sinful nature; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a
Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law,
is one great end of the Gospel, and
of the means of grace connected with the establishment of His church
(Rom. 3-31; Matt. 5-17; Lk. 6:17; Rom. 3:20; Rom. 4:5; Rom. 7:12; Rom.
7:7, 14, 22; Gal. 3:21; Ps. 119; Rom. 8:7-8; Jos. 24:19; Jer. 13:23; Jn.
6:44; Jn. 5:44; Rom. 8:2-4; Rom. 10:4; 1 Tim. 1:5; Heb. 8:10; Jude
20-21; Heb. 12:14; Matt. 16:17-18; 1 Cor. 12:28).
XV.
OF THE
LOCAL CHURCH: We believe that a local church is a congregation
of immersed believers, associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship
of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws
and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges vested in them by His
Word; that its officers are pastors and deacons whose qualifications,
and duties, are clearly defined in the Scriptures; we believe the true
mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as
we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute
right of self-government free from the interference of any hierarchy of
individuals or organizations and that the one and only Head is Christ,
through God the Holy Spirit. We believe that each local church is the
sole and only judge of the measure and method; on all matters of
membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence. The
will of the local church is final. We believe that it is Scriptural for
true Churches to cooperate
with each other in contending for the faith and the furtherance of the
gospel (Acts 2:41-42; 1 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 4:11; Acts
20:17-28; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-24; Acts 15:13-18).
XVI.
OF THE
ORIGIN AND PERPETUITY OF THE CHURCH: We believe the Church had
its origin during the personal ministry of its Founder and Head the Lord
Jesus Christ, that it was added to on the day of Pentecost, that it has
had A VISIBLE, CONTINUAL, EXISTENCE ever since, even
unto this very day, that it has not
been REFOUNDED, REFORMED, REORGANIZED or RESTARTED, but has
continued to exist according to the
promise of Matthew 16:18, and shall continue to exist until Christ comes
for it (Jn. 1:35-51; Mk. 3:13-19, Matt. 16:18, 18:17; Acts 2:41-47; Heb.
2:12; Eph. 3:21; 1 Cor. 11:26; 1 Thess. 4:16-17).
XVII.
OF THE
LOCAL CHURCH’S SUPPORT: We believe a New Testament Church
should be supported by tithes and offerings given freely by its members,
but we do not agree with the high-pressured and unscriptural
methods used today to collect money
from the multitudes, for the support of the local church and its mission
(Mal. 3:8-11; Matt. 23:23; Gen. 28:20-22; Matt. 22:21; Jas. 1:17; 1 Cor.
16:2; 2 Cor. 8:1-4, 2 Cor. 9:7).
XVIII.
OF
BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER: We believe that Christian
baptism is the immersion of the believer in water to show forth in a
solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified,
buried and
risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a
new life; that it is a prerequisite to the privileges of a church
relation. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His
death until He comes and should be preceded always by solemn
self-examination. We heartily reject alien immersion and open communion
because both are unscriptural and destructive to the purity and
preservation of the local body (Acts 8:36-39; Jn. 3:23; Rom. 6:3-5;
Matt. 3:16; Col. 2:12; 1 Cor. 11:23-28).
XIX.
OF
CIVIL GOVERNMENT: We believe that Civil Government is of Divine
Appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that
magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed;
except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus
Christ Who is the only Lord of the
conscience and the Prince of Kings of the earth (Rom. 13:1-7; 2 Sam.
23:3; Exod. 18:21-23; Acts 23:5; Matt. 22:21; Tit. 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13-14,
1 Pet. 1:17; Acts 5:29, 4:19-20; Dan. 3:17-18; Matt. 10:28, 23:10; Phil.
2: 10: 11; Ps. 72:11).
XX.
OF THE
RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED: We believe that there is a radical
and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such
only as through faith are Justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in
His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are
in His sight wicked, and under His curse; and this distinction holds
among men both before and after death, in the everlasting felicity of
the saved and everlasting conscious suffering of the lost (Mal. 3:18;
Gen. 18:23; Rom. 6:17-18; 1 John 5:19; Rom. 7:6, Rom. 6:23; Prov. 14:32;
Lk. 16:25; Matt. 24:34-41; Jn. 8-21; Matt. 7-13-14).
XXI.
OF THE
RESURRECTION, PERSONAL, VISIBLE, PREMILLENNIAL RETURN OF CHRIST, AND
OTHER RELATED EVENTS: We believe in the Bodily resurrection
(Matt. 28:6-7; Lk. 24:38; Jn. 20:27; 1 Cor. 15:4; Mk. 16:6; Lk. 24:2-6).
The Ascension (Acts 1:9-11; Lk. 24:51; Mk. 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 12:2).
The High Priesthood (Heb. 8:6; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 Jn. 2:1; Heb. 2:17,
5:9-10). The Second Coming (Jn. 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16; Jas.
5:8; Heb. 9:28). The Resurrection of the Righteous dead (1 Thess.
4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:42-44; 1 Cor. 15:52). The Change of the Living in
Christ (1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20-21). The
Millennial Reign (I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 32:1, Isa. 11:4-5; Ps. 72:2-8; Rev.
20:1-4, Rev. 20:6). The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). The
New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 21:1-5).
XXII.
OF THE
SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD: We believe in the absolute and eternal
sovereignty of God. By this we mean that God does absolutely as He
wills, decrees and purposes in heaven, on earth and among the powers of
Satan, (Dan. 4:34-35; Eph. 1:11, 3:11); that in God’s sovereignty He
elects unto salvation some from among Adam’s race and ordains these unto
eternal life, (Acts 13:48, 15:14-15; 2 Thess. 2:13); and that all who
were chosen in Christ will be called with the effectual call, justified
and ultimately glorified, (Rom. 8:29-30). That not one more or one less
than those given unto Christ in the covenant of redemption shall be
saved (Jn. 17: 2, 6, 8, 11, 12, 24).
CHURCH COVENANT
XXIII. Believing it to be the teaching of God’s Word
that where a company of Scripturally baptized believers meet together
regularly in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, they should be organized
into a local church, therefore we do hereby band ourselves together as
such, and as a body of Christ do solemnly and joyfully enter into
covenant with one another, and shall endeavor by the grace of God to:
1.
Strive for the
advancement of this church in holiness, knowledge of the Word, and its
testimony before the world.
2.
Give to it
sacred pre-eminence over all institutions of human origin, and to attend
its services regularly, unless prevented from doing so by reasons
acceptable to the Lord Jesus Christ.
3.
Contribute
cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expense of
the church, and its missionary program throughout the world.
4.
Labor and walk
together in Christian love, and to manifest the Spirit of Christ in all
our dealings with one another, and to refrain from all gossiping, and
back-biting, and to watch over one another in brotherly love and to aid
each other in sickness and distress.
5.
Give the work
of the church such a place in our lives that, should we remove from this
place, we will at the first opportunity unite with some other church of
“like precious faith” in the community to which we move, where we can
carry out the Spirit of this covenant and the teachings of God’s Word.
The Ten
Premises of Landmarkism
Adapted from J. R. Graves
Courtesy of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church of Silsbee, Texas
I.
As Baptists
we are to stand for the supreme authority of the New
Testament as our only and sufficient rule of faith and
practice. This is the distinguishing doctrine of our
denomination.
II.
As Baptists
we are to stand for the ordinances of Christ as he enjoined
them upon his followers, unchanged and unchangeable till he
come.
III.
As Baptists
we are to stand for a spiritual and regenerated church, the
motto on our banner being,
Christ before the church, blood before water.
IV.
To protest,
and to use all our influence, against the recognition on the
part of Baptists of human societies as scriptural churches,
by affiliation, ministerial or ecclesiastical, or by any
alliance, etc., that could be interpreted as putting such
societies on an equality with Baptist churches.
V.
To preserve
and perpetuate the doctrine of the divine origin and
sanctity of the churches of Christ, their unbroken
continuity, etc.
VI.
To preserve
and perpetuate the
divine, inalienable and
sole
prerogatives of a Christian church, (1) to preach the
gospel, (2) to select and ordain her own officers, (3) to
control, absolutely her own ordinances.
VII.
To preserve
and perpetuate the scriptural design of baptism, and its
validity and recognition only when scripturally administered
by a gospel, church.
VIII.
To preserve
and perpetuate the true design and symbolism of the Lord's
Supper, as a local
church ordinance, and for but one purpose: the
commemoration of the sacrificial death of Christ, and not as
a denominational
ordinance, etc.
IX.
To preserve
and perpetuate the doctrine of a divinely called and
scripturally qualified and ordained ministry, holding office
and acting for and under the direction of local churches
alone.
X.
To preserve
the primitive fealty and faithfulness to the truth, that
shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God, and to
teach men to observe all things whatsoever Christ commanded
to be believed and obeyed.
FOR HIS ETERNAL GLORY
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