Articles of Faith: What We Believe

Article 1 – 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. References: Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16,17, 28:19; John 1:1, 14,16; 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; II Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 1:19-21.

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: John 6:37, 7:2, 13:18-19, 15:16; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:24-30, 11:7; I Thessalonians 1:4; Ephesians 1:4; II Timothy 1:9.

Article IV – WE BELIEVE in covenant redemption between God the Father and God the Son. References: Genesis 3:15; Psalms 111:9; Romans 5:17; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:17; Hebrews 9:11-12, 10:5-7.

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: Jeremiah 13:23; John 6:44; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:8.

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; Acts 2:39; Romans 8:29-30; Colossians 3:3; II Timothy 1:8-9; Jude 1:1.

Article VII – We believe that sinners thus born again are justified in the sight of God alone by the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to them by faith References: Romans 3:24, 5:1; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:5.

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; James 2:18-19,22.

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: Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalms 12:5-7; John 1:12, 10:27-30; Romans 3:24-25, 3:38-39; Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 1:4; II Timothy 2:19; and I Peter 1:5.

Article X – We believe in a general judgment, 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: Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:32-34; John 5:28-29; Revelations 20:11-15.

Article XI – We believe that the visible 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 excusive 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: Acts 2:41-42; I Corinthians 1:10-13; Ephesians 4:3-7, 13, 5:23, 27, 32; Colossians 1:18; Revelations 2:7.

Article XII – We Believe that the scriptural officers of the church are Pastors and Deacons, whose qualifications and duties are defined in I Timothy Chapter 3 and Titus Chapter 1. References: Philippians 1:1; Acts 20:17, 21; Hebrews 13:17.

Article XIII – We Believe that Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water by a proper administrator (an ordained elder) in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. References: Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:12-16; Acts 8: 36, 39; Romans 6:3,4; 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: Acts 9:15, 13:1-3, 14:23; Ephesians 4:11-14; Titus 1:5.

Article XV – We believe that only regularly baptized and orderly Church Members have a right to communion at the Lord’s Table. References: Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:17-20; I Corinthians 5:7-11, 11:17-29.

Article XVI – We believe in Washing of the Saints’ Feet in an assembly of believers immediately after the Lord’s Supper. References: John 13:2-17; I Timothy 5:9-10.