As all creeds go, it does not pretend to be inerrant in and by itself, and the author encourages the reader to search the Scriptures as the ancient Berean Christians (Acts 17:11) did to verify the truthfulness of these statements. As much as possible, the author has sought to provide verse references immediately following the statements.
Over all, the author embraces the basic principle of “In Essentials, Unity; In Non-essentials, Liberty; and In Everything, Charity” and believes that points of difference are occasions for honest dialogue, not division.
WHAT I BELIEVE
I believe that the Holy Bible is the Word of God: that it was written and uniquely inspired, that it is inerrant, absolutely trustworthy and has supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice. By "The Holy Bible" refers to that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God. By "inspiration" means that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired. (Psalm 19:7-11; 119:89,105,130,160; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:31; 24:25-27,44-45; John 5:39,45-47; 12:48; 17:17; Acts 1:16; 28:25; Romans 3:4; 15:4; Ephesians 6:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:19)
I believe in one Almighty and Sovereign God, the Creator, Preserver and Ruler of all things, holy and just, loving and compassionate, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, having in and of himself, all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being. (Genesis 1:1,17:1; Exodus 20:2-3; 15:11; Deuteronomy 6:4, Psalm 83:18; 90:2; 115:3; 147:5; Isaiah 45:22; Jeremiah 10:10; Habbakuk 1:13; Matthew 5:48; 28:19; Mark 12:29-30; John 4:24; 10:30; 15:26; 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 11:23; 1 Corinthians 12:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Peter 1:16; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11).
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, second person of the Trinity, wholly God and wholly Man, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, sinless in life, making particular atonement for the sins of man through His substitutionary, vicarious, redemptive and sacrificial death on the cross. I believe that there is no salvation for any man apart from Him. I believe in His bodily resurrection, His high priestly intercession for His people and a literal, pre-millennial and visible return to the world as King and Judge according to His promise. (Isaiah 9:6; 52:13-15; 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-23; 12:1; 16:21; Mark 13:27; Luke 1:30-36; 9:22; 21:25-36; John 1:1-3; 1:14; 2:19-21; 14:6; 11:25-28; 17:5; 20:28; Acts 2:22-33; 4:11-12; Romans 1:4; 3:20-28; 4:25; 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6; Ephesians 2:13; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-17; 2:9-10; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 1:3; 2:14-16; 4:14-15; 9:15; 9:28; 10:10; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:18; 1 John 4:9-10; 5:12; 5:20)
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who came forth from God to convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, empower, and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ. He indwells all believers, baptizes all believers at the moment they trust in Jesus Christ to be their only Savior and Lord. He controls and empowers all true believers to live the Christian life in response to their obedience, confession of sin, and submission to Him. Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; 3:16; 24:49; John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11,13; Acts 1:5; 1:8; 2:4; 5:30-32; 11:16; Romans 8:14,16,26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:7,13; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:2)
I believe in the literal Fall of Man, and henceforth all men born of the seed of Adam are by nature and by choice totally depraved sinners, spiritually dead, separated from God, and are by nature rightful objects of God’s holy wrath. As a consequence of man’s fall and sinfulness, he is destined physical death and, if one dies apart from Christ, he is destined eternal spiritual death. (Genesis 3:1-24; Psalm 37:9; 51:5; Isaiah 59:2; 64:6-7; 66:15-16; 66:24; Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 25:41; 25:46; Mark 9:44-48; Romans 3:10-18; 3:23; 5:12, 6:23, 8:6-8, Ephesians 2:1-5; 4:18-19; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 19:20; 20:10;20:14-15; 21:8)
I believe that, God, in His infinite mercy and grace, extends salvation to fallen, depraved and undeserving mankind. God sovereignly elects and calls people to Him according to the pleasure of His will and according to His grace and mercy, regenerating them through the Holy Spirit and enabling them to understand the gospel, repent of their sins and sinfulness and turn to Him faith, trusting in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior and Lord. I believe that a person is saved by God’s sovereign grace through faith in Christ, apart from works but made for good works. Saving faith is a gift from God, and a person who is truly born again and thus truly saved is kept by God, and is eternally and irrevocably secure in Christ forever. Repentance is more than just remorse for sin but a complete turning of the heart and mind, hating once-cherished sin, and forsaking sin and self for the Lord. A person in Christ is saved from the punishment of sin, adopted into the family of God; forgiven, justified, set apart for God’s use; made holy; sanctified, washed, made part of the royal priesthood of believers; sealed by the Holy Spirit and will be one day be glorified in Christ when He returns. Those who accept Him and believe in Him as Savior and Lord are guaranteed eternal life but those who reject Him stand condemned to eternal death. (2 Chronicles 6:26-27; Isaiah 30:15; 53:6; 55:1-7; Joel 2:13; Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 1:15; 16:16; Luke 13:3; 5, John 1:12-13; 3:3-7; 3:14-18; 3:36; 5:24; 6:40; 6:44; 10:27-29; 20:30; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 16:14; 16:31; 20:21; 26:18; Romans 3:21-30; 4:4-5; 5:1-2; 5:12-19; 6:23; 8:1-2,; 8:28-39; 9:15-21; 10:8-13; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:14; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Galatians 2:16; 3:11-13; 3:22-29; Ephesians 1:4-13; 2:1-10; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:22; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 2:19; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 1:14; James 2:14-26; 1 John 3:1-3; 5:11-13)
I believe in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in two senses: It is universal, or composed of all the elect, born again believers of all ages, nations and races, including those now living and those who are in the presence of the Lord. It is also local in constitution and organization as a fellowship of believers meeting together for the purpose of fellowship and corporate worship. It is visible and invisible. The true church is composed of all called out elect believers who are of the Lord’s, born again by His grace, and called to be holy and made holy as the bride of Christ in His coming. I believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions of men and women in the home and in the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to hold the leadership positions (pastors, elders and deacons) in the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible of licensure and ordination for pastor by the church. I believe that the church is called to worship God in spirit and in truth, in a manner that is orderly without necessarily restricting the expressions of individual and corporate worship in line with Scriptural examples. I believe in the Great Commission to the church, which is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that Christ has commanded until He returns. (Matthew 16:16-19; 25:11-13; 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; John 1:12-13; 3:3-7; Acts 2:41-42; 6:5-6; 14:23; 15:22-23; 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-3; 11:2; 12:4,8-11; 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-13; 5:23-25; 5:32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 1:9-12; Hebrews 10:25)
I believe in the two ordinances instituted by Christ for the church: baptism of believers and the communion.
Christian Baptism is the outward symbolism of the inward reality of regeneration and the confession of faith of the believer before the church and the world. Biblical baptism is properly done by immersion (Gr. Baptismo or baptizo, lit. immersion), symbolizing the identification the identification of the believer with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Baptism does not save, nor is it a requirement for salvation, but is a step of obedience to the Lord’s example and identification with the visible local church. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 2:41; 8:34-38; 9:15-18; 10:34-48; 16:31-34; 18:8; Romans 6:3-5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:19-21)
Communion or the Lord’s Supper is a memorial meal symbolically commemorating the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for our sins and as a proclamation of His second coming. The elements do not become the body and blood of Christ but are rather symbols thereof, proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes again. (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 1:19-20; Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
I believe in the literal Devil, Or Satan, the adversary who was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. He is man's great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness - destined however to final defeat at the hands of God's own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 4:1-3; 13:25; 25:41; 27:39; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2; 2Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Peter 2:4; 1 John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3; 2 John 7; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-10; 13:13-14; 19:11,16,20; 20:1-3,10)
I believe that the 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 coming Prince of the kings of the earth. I believe in the functional separation of church and state, without prejudice to the believer’s calling to be a salt and light to the world. (Exodus 18:21-22; 2 Samuel 23:3; Psalm 72:11; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 10:28; 22:21; 23:10; Acts 4:19-20; 23:5; Romans 13:7; Philippians 2:10-11; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14,17)
SOLAGRATIA; 2006 All Rights Reserved.
I believe that the Holy Bible is the Word of God: that it was written and uniquely inspired, that it is inerrant, absolutely trustworthy and has supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice. By "The Holy Bible" refers to that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God. By "inspiration" means that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired. (Psalm 19:7-11; 119:89,105,130,160; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:31; 24:25-27,44-45; John 5:39,45-47; 12:48; 17:17; Acts 1:16; 28:25; Romans 3:4; 15:4; Ephesians 6:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:19)
I believe in one Almighty and Sovereign God, the Creator, Preserver and Ruler of all things, holy and just, loving and compassionate, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, having in and of himself, all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being. (Genesis 1:1,17:1; Exodus 20:2-3; 15:11; Deuteronomy 6:4, Psalm 83:18; 90:2; 115:3; 147:5; Isaiah 45:22; Jeremiah 10:10; Habbakuk 1:13; Matthew 5:48; 28:19; Mark 12:29-30; John 4:24; 10:30; 15:26; 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 11:23; 1 Corinthians 12:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Peter 1:16; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11).
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, second person of the Trinity, wholly God and wholly Man, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, sinless in life, making particular atonement for the sins of man through His substitutionary, vicarious, redemptive and sacrificial death on the cross. I believe that there is no salvation for any man apart from Him. I believe in His bodily resurrection, His high priestly intercession for His people and a literal, pre-millennial and visible return to the world as King and Judge according to His promise. (Isaiah 9:6; 52:13-15; 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-23; 12:1; 16:21; Mark 13:27; Luke 1:30-36; 9:22; 21:25-36; John 1:1-3; 1:14; 2:19-21; 14:6; 11:25-28; 17:5; 20:28; Acts 2:22-33; 4:11-12; Romans 1:4; 3:20-28; 4:25; 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6; Ephesians 2:13; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-17; 2:9-10; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 1:3; 2:14-16; 4:14-15; 9:15; 9:28; 10:10; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:18; 1 John 4:9-10; 5:12; 5:20)
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who came forth from God to convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, empower, and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ. He indwells all believers, baptizes all believers at the moment they trust in Jesus Christ to be their only Savior and Lord. He controls and empowers all true believers to live the Christian life in response to their obedience, confession of sin, and submission to Him. Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; 3:16; 24:49; John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11,13; Acts 1:5; 1:8; 2:4; 5:30-32; 11:16; Romans 8:14,16,26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:7,13; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:2)
I believe in the literal Fall of Man, and henceforth all men born of the seed of Adam are by nature and by choice totally depraved sinners, spiritually dead, separated from God, and are by nature rightful objects of God’s holy wrath. As a consequence of man’s fall and sinfulness, he is destined physical death and, if one dies apart from Christ, he is destined eternal spiritual death. (Genesis 3:1-24; Psalm 37:9; 51:5; Isaiah 59:2; 64:6-7; 66:15-16; 66:24; Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 25:41; 25:46; Mark 9:44-48; Romans 3:10-18; 3:23; 5:12, 6:23, 8:6-8, Ephesians 2:1-5; 4:18-19; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 19:20; 20:10;20:14-15; 21:8)
I believe that, God, in His infinite mercy and grace, extends salvation to fallen, depraved and undeserving mankind. God sovereignly elects and calls people to Him according to the pleasure of His will and according to His grace and mercy, regenerating them through the Holy Spirit and enabling them to understand the gospel, repent of their sins and sinfulness and turn to Him faith, trusting in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior and Lord. I believe that a person is saved by God’s sovereign grace through faith in Christ, apart from works but made for good works. Saving faith is a gift from God, and a person who is truly born again and thus truly saved is kept by God, and is eternally and irrevocably secure in Christ forever. Repentance is more than just remorse for sin but a complete turning of the heart and mind, hating once-cherished sin, and forsaking sin and self for the Lord. A person in Christ is saved from the punishment of sin, adopted into the family of God; forgiven, justified, set apart for God’s use; made holy; sanctified, washed, made part of the royal priesthood of believers; sealed by the Holy Spirit and will be one day be glorified in Christ when He returns. Those who accept Him and believe in Him as Savior and Lord are guaranteed eternal life but those who reject Him stand condemned to eternal death. (2 Chronicles 6:26-27; Isaiah 30:15; 53:6; 55:1-7; Joel 2:13; Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 1:15; 16:16; Luke 13:3; 5, John 1:12-13; 3:3-7; 3:14-18; 3:36; 5:24; 6:40; 6:44; 10:27-29; 20:30; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 16:14; 16:31; 20:21; 26:18; Romans 3:21-30; 4:4-5; 5:1-2; 5:12-19; 6:23; 8:1-2,; 8:28-39; 9:15-21; 10:8-13; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:14; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Galatians 2:16; 3:11-13; 3:22-29; Ephesians 1:4-13; 2:1-10; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:22; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 2:19; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 1:14; James 2:14-26; 1 John 3:1-3; 5:11-13)
I believe in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in two senses: It is universal, or composed of all the elect, born again believers of all ages, nations and races, including those now living and those who are in the presence of the Lord. It is also local in constitution and organization as a fellowship of believers meeting together for the purpose of fellowship and corporate worship. It is visible and invisible. The true church is composed of all called out elect believers who are of the Lord’s, born again by His grace, and called to be holy and made holy as the bride of Christ in His coming. I believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions of men and women in the home and in the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to hold the leadership positions (pastors, elders and deacons) in the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible of licensure and ordination for pastor by the church. I believe that the church is called to worship God in spirit and in truth, in a manner that is orderly without necessarily restricting the expressions of individual and corporate worship in line with Scriptural examples. I believe in the Great Commission to the church, which is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that Christ has commanded until He returns. (Matthew 16:16-19; 25:11-13; 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; John 1:12-13; 3:3-7; Acts 2:41-42; 6:5-6; 14:23; 15:22-23; 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-3; 11:2; 12:4,8-11; 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-13; 5:23-25; 5:32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 1:9-12; Hebrews 10:25)
I believe in the two ordinances instituted by Christ for the church: baptism of believers and the communion.
Christian Baptism is the outward symbolism of the inward reality of regeneration and the confession of faith of the believer before the church and the world. Biblical baptism is properly done by immersion (Gr. Baptismo or baptizo, lit. immersion), symbolizing the identification the identification of the believer with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Baptism does not save, nor is it a requirement for salvation, but is a step of obedience to the Lord’s example and identification with the visible local church. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 2:41; 8:34-38; 9:15-18; 10:34-48; 16:31-34; 18:8; Romans 6:3-5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:19-21)
Communion or the Lord’s Supper is a memorial meal symbolically commemorating the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for our sins and as a proclamation of His second coming. The elements do not become the body and blood of Christ but are rather symbols thereof, proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes again. (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 1:19-20; Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
I believe in the literal Devil, Or Satan, the adversary who was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. He is man's great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness - destined however to final defeat at the hands of God's own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 4:1-3; 13:25; 25:41; 27:39; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2; 2Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Peter 2:4; 1 John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3; 2 John 7; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-10; 13:13-14; 19:11,16,20; 20:1-3,10)
I believe that the 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 coming Prince of the kings of the earth. I believe in the functional separation of church and state, without prejudice to the believer’s calling to be a salt and light to the world. (Exodus 18:21-22; 2 Samuel 23:3; Psalm 72:11; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 10:28; 22:21; 23:10; Acts 4:19-20; 23:5; Romans 13:7; Philippians 2:10-11; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14,17)
SOLAGRATIA; 2006 All Rights Reserved.
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