Articles of Faith

Section 1  : DOCTRINE OF SCRIPTURES

We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Bible (both the Old and New Testaments) in the autographs;  that it is free from error and contradiction;  that it is accurate, reliable, and authoritative in every sphere of our lives, including science and history;  that it is the canon for Christian faith and practice.

Section 2A    : DOCTRINE OF GOD

We believe in the one true and living God;  that He is a Unity of three in His Persons, and yet a Trinity eternally  co-existing as one in His Essence;  that these three Persons, who are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are co-equal in power, co-equal in being, and co-identical in nature; and that they execute distinct, yet harmonious offices in the plan and work of redemption.

Section 2B    : DOCTRINE OF CHRIST

I.     We believe in the Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance, and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man’s nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin;  being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance.  So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion.  Which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.

II.   We believe that the Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure;  having in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge;  in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell:  to the end, that being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and Surety.  Which office he took not unto himself, but was thereunto called by his Father;  who put all power and judgment into his hand, and gave him commandment to execute the same.

III.  We believe that this Office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake;  which that he may discharge, he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfill it;  endured most grievous torments immediately in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body;  was crucified, and died;  was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption.  On the third day he arose from the dead, with the same body in which he suffered;  with which also he ascended into heaven, and three sitteth at the right hand of his Father, making intercession;  and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.

Section 3  :   DOCTRINE OF CREATION

We believe the Genesis account of creation as the literal and historical account of the direct, immediate and creative acts of God, EX NIHILO and without the involvement of any evolutionary process.

Section 4  : DOCTRINE OF MANKIND

We believe that man was created by God in His own image, sinless and innocent;  that by disobedience to his Creator, man earned inevitable physical death and immediate spiritual death that all men by their own choice and inherited evil nature are totally depraved and therefore totally incapable of saving themselves;  and that if they do not accept the free gift of salvation in Christ, they shall be condemned, having no defence or excuse, to eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

Section 5  : DOCTRINE OF SIN

We believe that sin is the transgression of the Law of God;  that all the universe is blighted by it;  that it separates mankind from God;  and that there is no remission of sin apart from the shed blood of Jesus Christ which must be appropriated by the repentant sinner.

Section 6  : DOCTRINE OF SALVATION

We believe that the salvation of sinners comes solely and wholly by the grace of God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, totally apart from the works of man; that it is a free gift of God in the Person of Jesus Christ;  and that this gift must be received individually by the repentant sinner who places his faith and trust in the LORD Jesus Christ.

Section 7  : DOCTRINE OF CHURCH ORDINANCES

We believe that there are only two Christian ordinances and that they are symbolical, not sacramental :

a.    Baptism

We believe that baptism is an act of obedience for those who are already saved to publicly show forth their identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection to walk in newness of life;  that it should be desired by every true believer.

b.    Lord’s Supper

We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a symbolical commemoration of the Lord’s death till He comes again;  that it should be opened to all regenerated persons who have examined themselves in the light of God’s Word, and the elements (bread and grape juice), are only symbols of His broken body and shed blood.

Section 8  : DOCTRINE OF THE LAST THINGS (FUTURE EVENTS)

We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead of believers, unto the eternal life of blessedness;  of unbelievers unto eternal punishment.

We believe that the Second coming of Jesus Christ is imminent;  bodily and visible as the Lord of lords and the King of kings to save His own.

Section 9  : DOCTRINE OF THE LORD’S DAY

We believe that in this Age of Grace, the Lord’s Day, which is Sunday that first day of the week, the day of our Lord’s resurrection is the proper day for Christian worship and service and that it ought to be kept sacred for spiritual purposes, by abstinence from all unnecessary secular labour and other activities unbecoming to this day.

Section 10    : THE APOSTLE’S CREED

The necessity of maintaining, according to God’s Word the purity of the Church, in  doctrine and life;  and still believing the Apostle’s Creed to be statements of Scriptural truth, we therefore include it in these Articles of Faith:

“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.  And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary;  suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried;  He descended into hell;  the third day He rose from the dead;  He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Almighty;  from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit;  the Holy Catholic Church;  the communion of saints;  the forgiveness of sins:  the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.”