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1. Of The Scriptures We believe that the
Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure
of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, the manifestation
of his glory as its end through both his mercy in the salvation of sinners
and his judgment of unbelievers. The Bible is truth without any mixture of
error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will
judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the
true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all
human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. The Bible is
infallible, and is the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of
all saving knowledge, faith and obedience. 2. Of The True God We believe that there
is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent
Spirit, whose name is Jehovah, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and
earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible
honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are
three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; equal in every
divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the
great work of redemption. 3. Of The Fall Of Man We believe God
originally created man in his own image, and free from sin; but, through
the temptation of Satan, he voluntarily transgressed the command of God,
and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby all mankind
inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and his law, are
positively inclined to evil, are under just condemnation and eternal ruin,
without excuse of defense, and as soon as they are capable of moral
action, become actual transgressors. 4.
Of Divine Providence We believe that from
all eternity, God decrees or permits all things that come to pass and
perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet
so as not to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent
creatures. 5.
Of Jesus Christ as the Mediator Jesus Christ, the
only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed by the Father as
mediator between God and man. Having
freely taken upon himself our human nature, yet without sin; he perfectly
fulfilled the Law through personal obedience, suffered and died upon the
cross, making full satisfaction to the Father for our sins.
He was buried and rose again the third day, and ascended to his
Father, at whose hand he ever lives to make intercession for his people.
He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the
Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
The salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through him, for he is
the only one qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and an all
sufficient Savior. 6. Of Justification We believe that the
great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to those who believe in Him is
justification; which is God's gracious and full acquittal of sinners, the
full pardon of sin, and the promise of eternal life; that it is given, not
in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but
exclusively through faith in the Jesus’ death on the cross; by virtue of
this faith His perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that
it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and
secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity. 7. Of The Freeness Of
Salvation We believe that the
blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the
immediate duty of all to accept them by cordial, repentant, and obedient
faith; and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on
earth, but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the
gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. 8.
Of Grace In Regeneration We
believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born
again; that regeneration is a
change of heart, produced by the Holy Spirit in giving a holy disposition to the mind to awaken
us spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God;
it is effected in a manner beyond our comprehension by the his power, in
relation with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the
gospel evidenced by the fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of
life; regeneration renews our whole
nature, so that we love and practice holiness.
It is a work of God's free and special grace alone. 9.
Of Repentance We believe that
Repentance is an evangelical duty and grace, by which we, being
regenerated by the Holy Spirit, are made sensible of the intense evil of
our sin, humble ourselves for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it,
and self-disgust, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to
please him in all things. 10. Of Faith We believe saving
faith is the belief, on God's authority, of whatsoever is revealed in his
Word concerning Jesus Christ; accepting and relying on him alone as
the only and all sufficient Savior
for justification and eternal life. Faith
is created in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all
other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness. 11.
Of God's Purpose Of Grace in Election We
believe that Election is God's
eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life, by which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and
saves sinners—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. This
being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, 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. 12.
Of Sanctification We
believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will
of God, we are 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 indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the
Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means -
especially, the word of God, prayer, self-examination, self-denial,
watchfulness and fellowship of believers. 13.
Of the Perseverance of the Saints Those whom God has
accepted in Christ, 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 fall, through neglect and temptation, into
sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts,
bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet
they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of
God through faith unto salvation. This
persevering
attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from
superficial professors; that God’s special Providence watches over their
welfare 14.
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 love of sin: to deliver them from this depravity, and
to restore them through a Mediator to sincere obedience to the holy Law,
is one great end of the Gospel, and of the Means of Grace connected with
the establishment of the visible church. 15.
Of A Gospel Church We
believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized
believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the
Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and
exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word;
that its only biblical officers are elders or pastors, and deacons, whose
qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in Paul’s letters to
Timothy and Titus. 16.
Of Baptism And The Lord's Supper We
believe that Christian Baptism is
an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, required of every believer, in which he is
immersed in water into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit; to display in a
solemn and beautiful symbol, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen
Savior Jesus Christ, as a sign of
our fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, and of his
giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life, signifying our death to sin and resurrection to a new
life; that it is pre-requisite to the privileges of a church membership;
and to the participation in Lord's Supper.
The Lord's Supper is an
ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread
and wine, 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;
it is preceded always by solemn self-examination. 17.
Of Civil Government and Liberty of Conscience 18.
Of The Righteous And The Wicked 19.
Of The Resurrection 20.
Of The Judgment and The World To Come
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