Statement of Faith

Revised 2017
 

A. We believe in the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, and receive them as a gracious revelation of the mind and will of God and we believe that therein are revealed all the doctrines and truths which we here state.

(Deuteronomy 4:2; Psalms 19:7; Proverbs 30:5, 6; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18, 19; John 5:39; Timothy 3:15-17).

 B. We believe that there is but one living and true God that there are Three Persons in the Godhead – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and that these Three Persons are equal in nature, power and glory; and we believe that the son and the Holy Spirit are as truly and as properly God, as the Father.

(Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 4:35, 6:4; Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 2:2, 3; Psalms 90:2, 115:3, 135:5, 139:7-10; Proverbs 15:3; Ecclesiastes 3:14; Isaiah 40:28, 45:22, 46:9; Jeremiah 10:10, 23:24; Malachi 3:6; Mark 12:29; John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16); Matthew 28:19; John 1:1; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7; Jude 20:21; John 10:15, 30; Ephesians 2:22; Hebrews 1:3, 9:14).

C. We believe in the everlasting and unchangeable love of God and that before the foundation of the world, the Father did elect a certain number of the human race unto everlasting salvation, whom He did predestinate unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will and we believe that in fulfilling this gracious design.

(Jeremiah 31:3; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:2-131 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 John 3:1; 1 Peter 1:2; 2:9; 2 Samuel 23:5; John 1:17; Psalms 111:8, 9; 42:6; 54:10; 55:4; Jeremiah 31:3; John 6:37; 17:2; Acts 4:12; Romans 8:29, 30; Ephesians 1:3;2:13; Hebrews 2:13; 6:17, 18; 8:8, 9.)

D. We believe that in the sin of one man, Adam,¹ the whole of the human race became involved in, and guilty of, (his) sin; and that as they are born into the world, the whole of their posterity are, in consequence, transgressors against God; and we believe that by the fall all men were rendered both unable and unwilling spiritually to believe in, seek after, or love God until called and regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 5:12-21; Psalms 58:3; Genesis 6:5; 8:21; Job 14:4; 25:4; Psalms 51:5; Jeremiah 13:23; 17:9; Matthew 15:19; Romans 3:10-24; 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45-50; Ephesians 2:3; 1 John 5:19). See note at the end of this document for further explanation.

E. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, being set up from everlasting as the Mediator of the New covenant, and having engaged to be the Surety of His people, did, in the fullness of time, really and truly assume human nature, and not before, either in whole or in part. We believe that though He existed from all eternity as the eternal Son of God the human soul of the Lord Jesus did not exist before it was created and formed in His body by Him who forms the soul of man within him, when that body was conceived, under the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, in the womb of the virgin Mary. We believe that Christ’s human nature consists of a true body and reasonable soul, both of which together and at once, the Son of God assumed into union with His Divine Person, when made of a woman and not before that this human nature was not sinful, peccable, or mortal though capable of death by a voluntary act (John 10:17, 18), but essentially and intrinsically pure and holy and that in it He really suffered, bled, and died, as the Substitute and Surety of His church and people, in their room and stead, and for no others whereby, together with His holy, spotless life, He fulfilled the Law, and satisfied all the claims of justice as well as secured all these blessings which are needful for His people, both for time and eternity.

(Proverbs 8:23; John 1:18; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 1:5,8; 13:8; 2 John 3; Revelation 1:8; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; Luke 2:40; Hebrews 2:14-17; Psalms 16:10; Acts 2:27; Song of Solomon 5:9-16; Hebrews 7:26; John 10:15, 26; 17:9, 13; Hebrews 9:22-28)

F. We believe that the eternal redemption which Christ has obtained by the shedding of His blood is special and particular that is to say, that it was intentionally designed only for the Elect of God, the Sheep of Christ, who therefore alone share in the special and peculiar blessings thereof.

(Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 9:12-15); Isaiah 35:10; John 10:15, 25-28; Acts 2:47; 13:48; 20:28; Romans 5:8-10; 8:33, 34; 9:13; 15:16; Revelation 14:4)

G. We believe that the justification of God’s elect is only by the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ imputed to them without consideration of any works of righteousness before or after calling done by them, and that the full and free pardon of all their sins, past, present, and to come, is only through the blood of Christ, according to the riches of His grace.

(Isaiah 45:24; 64:6; Jeremiah 23:6; Matthew 7:18; Luke 18:13; Acts 13:39; Romans 4:4, 5; 5:19; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 11:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; Titus 3:5; Romans 3:20-27; 4:22; 9:11; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 1:3; 9:22; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1)

H. We believe that the work of regeneration is not an act of man’s free will or natural power, but that it springs from the operation of the mighty, efficacious and invincible grace of God.

(Jeremiah 50:20; Psalms 110:3; John 1:13; 6:29, 63, 65; 16:8; Romans 8:16; 11:4, 6; James 1:18)

I. We believe that all those who were chosen by the Father and redeemed by the Son, and no others, shall, at the appointed time, certainly be convinced in their hearts of sin by the Holy Spirit be brought guilty before God, and made the recipients of eternal life, coming to Christ for salvation, and believing on Him as the anointed of the Father and the only Mediator between God and man ); but that none can spiritually come to Christ unless drawn by the Father and that all the elect shall be thus drawn to Christ, and shall finally persevere; so that not one of the elect shall perish, but all arrive safely in glory.

(John 16:8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24; John 6:44, 65; Job 17:9; Matthew 25:34; John 4:14; 5:24; 6:37, 44-47; 10:28; 17:6, 12, 24; Acts 2:47; Romans 8:29-39; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

 J. We believe in the effectual calling of all the elect vessels of mercy out of the ruin of the Fall, in God’s appointed time, and that the work of regeneration, or new birth, is the sovereign work of God, and His work only, the sinner being dead in trespasses and sins. We believe in the Spirit of God showing the sinner how greatly he has rebelled against God, and feelingly condemning him; and in the manifestation of mercy and pardon through Christ alone made known to the soul by God the Holy Spirit.

(John 3:3-8; 6:37-65; Romans 8:30; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; Ephesians 2:4, 5; Romans 7:7, 9, 12; Psalms 30:3; 130:7; Isaiah 40:2; Jeremiah 33:8; Micah 7:18; Romans 7:5-10)

K. We believe that faith is the gift of God as well as true spiritual repentance and hope and a manifestation of pardon to the soul; that through faith Christ is made precious to the soul that all are the fruits and effects of the blessed Holy Spirit, and that they will most certainly be productive of good works, and a walk and conversation becoming the Gospel and the soul drawn out in love to God.

(Ephesians 2:8; Acts 18:27; Acts 5:31; 11:18; Romans 15:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1Peter 1:3; 1Peter 2:7; 1 John 4:19; Galatians 2:16-21; 5:22-26)

L. We believe in the sanctification of God’s people, the term sanctification signifying a separation and setting apart by and for God. This, in the child of God, is three-fold: (1) By election by God the Father as the Originator; (2) By redemption by God the Son as the Procurer and (3) By the almighty regenerating operation of God the Holy Spirit as the Securer. We believe that sanctification is an integral part of our salvation, Christ being made our sanctification as well as our righteousness. We believe that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. We believe that we were called to be holy and that sanctification is that work of Divine grace in the believer which brings him back into allegiance to God, regulating his affections and actions in harmony with God’s will, writing God’s law on the heart moving the elect redeemed sinner to make God’s glory his chief aim end. This divine work is started in regeneration and completed only at glorification. We believe that the Holy Spirit implants the Divine Nature in the redeemed sinner and he delights in God after the inner man but he groans being burdened, for he carries around with him, and will carry till he dies, the old man which is opposed and contrary to the things of God. We reject the doctrine of the eradication of the carnal nature by a continual process of the weakening of the old man until the believer no more depends upon the Spirit and grace of Christ for all goodness.

We shall be, till we die, poor, wretched, helpless sinners in the flesh (and thus) completely dependent upon the Spirit and Grace of Christ. At the same time, Paul also says of believers: “…but you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of Christ dwells in you. “In the Spirit” means in Christ. In Christ, we are both in the flesh (sinners) and in the Spirit (justified saints); but the ultimate truth is that we are justified saints in the Spirit (who dwells in our inner man), for we are “the ones being according to the Spirit”. The inner man lives in a body; and it is in that sense that believers are still “in the flesh”. But when they die, they depart from the flesh, and are “with Christ, which is far better”.

We are to know and count on who we are in Christ (as those having died with Christ to sin and the law), belonging to and joined to Christ alone in the inner man. Therefore, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh and its desires, but (rather) to the Spirit of God; and (s0) by the Spirit we are to put to death the deeds of the body”.

(Romans 3:7; Galatians 2:17; Jude 1; John 17:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 12:14; Ephesians 1:4; 1Thessalonians 4:3, 7; Hebrews 10:16; 2Peter 1:4; Romans 7:22; Romans 7; Romans 8: 1,5, 9,10; Galatians 5:17; Romans 7:24, 25; John 15:5; 2Corinthians 3:5; Phil. 1:21-24; Revelation 3:17)(Rom. 6:1-7:6; Romans 7:4, 22, 8:1-11; 1 Corinthians 6:17; Ephesians. 3:16; Romans 8: 12,13)

M. We believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of Christ, to be continued till His coming; and that the former is requisite to the latter; that is to say, that those only can scriptural sit down to the Lord’s Supper who, upon their profession of faith, have been baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, unless circumstances hinder temporarily.

(1Corinthians 11:2, 26; 14:40; Colossians 2:5-8; Matthew 3:13-16; 28:19-20; John 3:22, 23; Acts 2:37-42; 8:12; 9:18; 10:47, 48; 16:14, 15, 30, 31, 33; 18:8; 19:16; Romans 6:3; Colossians 2:12)

N. We believe the Scriptures teach that Satan is a spiritual being cast out of heaven, the adversary of God and man, reserved for the last judgment when he shall be cast into the lake of fire prepared for him and his angels.

(Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 10:18; 1 Peter 5:8; 2Corinthians 11:14, 15; Ephesians 6:10-13; Revelation 12:7-11; 20:10)

O. We believe the Scriptures teach the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that as His ascension, so shall His Second Coming be personal and visible.

(John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1Corinthians 15:51-57; Philippians 3:20, 21; 1 John 3:1, 2)

P. We believe in the resurrection of the body, both of the just and the unjust; that the just (elect) shall be raised up in glory and honor and be openly acknowledged and fully acquitted in the Judgment Day, before angels, devils, and sinners, and made fully and eternally blessed both in body and soul, and that the wicked shall be raised up to be condemned, body and soul, to the unspeakable torments of hell forever and ever.

(Acts 24:15; Matthew 24:31; 25:31-40; Isaiah 26: 19; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28, 29; Acts 23:6; Romans 6:23; 8:11, 23; 14:10-12; 1Corinthians 15:52; 2Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12-15)

1 Wherefore, as through one man the sin entered into the world, and through the sin, the death (entered the world) — and so the death entered into all men, because all sinned (in the one man).

(Romans 5:12 lit. translation & parenthetic explanation)

Then, by the parentheses (see AV) of 5:13-17, Paul proceeds to show what he means in 5:12:

(For from Adam until the law [of Moses], sin was in the world, but their sin was not imputed to those humans, for there was no law (from Adam to Moses) as the direct commandment of God. Thus, all those humans, from Adam until the Law of Moses was given, died — because Adam’s sin was their sin—it was put to their account. That is why death reigned from Adam until Moses). (Rom. 5:13-14 paraphrased)

Then, after the parentheses (13-17), Paul finishes (in 5:18-21) what he began in 5:12. Here is how the section would simply flow (without the parentheses of 5:13-17):

Wherefore, as by one man the sin entered into the world, and the death (entered) through the sin, inasmuch as all sinned (in Adam)…

…even so, through one man, (Christ—by his obedience unto death), righteousness entered into the world, and through righteousness, eternal life entered (5:18-21) —

for all who receive grace…(5:17).

Summary: Adam represented all those in him. Christ represented all those in him.

The judgment (the verdict) of condemnation (= guilty) resulted in the sentence of death* for Adam — and for all in him.
The judgment (the verdict) of justification (= acquitted) resulted in eternal life for Christ — and for all in him.

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* Death includes all of its aspects: the spiritual aspect of death (Gen. 2:17 lit.; Rom. 8:10; Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13; 1 Tim. 5:6), which includes indwelling sin (Rom. 7:14-18, 18; Ps. 51:5), involving the loss of (original) righteousness; so that we need to be made a new creation, which, “according to God, is created in righteousness…” (Eph. 4:23, 24 AT). Spiritual death ends in bodily death (Rom. 5:21; 6:23; Heb.10:27). Adam’s sin, with its (sentence of) condemnation unto death, passed into all humans (Ro 5:12). Through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death (entered) by (one) sin (Ro 5:12). From that sin on, all humans born of natural generation were conceived (spiritually dead) in sin.

God’s Son took on human flesh, but he was not in Adam. The eternal Son of God was born of a virgin and conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:20, 23; Lk. 1:35). Adam’s sin, with its condemnation unto death, did not come unto Jesus by conception or birth, for he was not born of natural generation (in Adam). If he was, he could not have died on our behalf. But the Last Adam bore the sins of many (the elect of all ages) in his body on the cross. Adam’s one sin (which condemned all in him), and our many sins (Rom. 5:16) were imputed to Christ, and that is why he died, for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (6:23).

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The result of the usage of the term “original sin” is that the apostolic doctrine of sin having entered the world through one man, and death through sin (which death includes spiritual death [the person is dead while physically alive], loss of righteousness through indwelling sin, [which ends in bodily death unto the resurrection of judgment]) (Rom. 5:12ff. John 5), has been buried by the use of the phrase “original sin” – the focus of which is not on Adam’s sin resulting in condemnation* unto death (with death’s effects hitherto described, which would include “original sin”) to all humans, but (merely) on our receiving from Adam a loss of original righteousness, etc.

*The corollary being Christ’s one righteous act, his (obedience unto) death for our justification (Ro 5:18,19) to eternal life (5:21).