But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy
in all manner of conversation; Because it is written,
be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16)

The Articles of Faith of the Church at St. Louis

"A declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us." - Luke 1:1

"But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets." - Acts 24:14

Introduction

The only complete and infallible source of truth in the universe is contained in God's Holy Scriptures. These articles of faith represent a brief summary of many of the aspects of the truth that God has revealed to us in His Word over time. Being the work of men, we know that this writing will contain errors, though none are put here intentionally. As God gives us more light in the future, we expect and plan to add to and revise this document so as to accurately represent our knowledge of His divine will for us.

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The Scriptures

Nature

We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old (Heb 1:1) and New Testament (II Pet 3:15-16; Rev 1:1-2) only and exclusively, in whole and in part, are the divinely inspired (II Tim 3:16-17), inerrant (Ps 19:7-11), God breathed (II Sam 23:2; II Pet 1:19-21), written word of God, and are the sole and total rule together of our faith and practice (Ps 119:104,128; Is 8:20).

Identification

We believe the Authorized, or King James, Version of 1611 is the Word of God in English. We believe that God, according to His promises, has providentially preserved and transmitted this Word through the scattered remnant of His true churches; and has providentially directed the collating, editing, and translating of the precious and essential text and manuscripts, the witness being that these are the only texts God has ever used in all the great fruit-bearing evangelical movements of history (Mat 7:16-20), and also that these texts have never been used in any of the awful and bloody ecclesiastical persecutions of history. We therefore believe any production based in whole or in part on any other texts, manuscripts (however ancient or accepted), or versions to be not the Word of God but to be a fraud.

Interpretation

We believe that the Scripture is to be interpreted only by itself (I Cor 2:13), apart from any private interpretation (II Pet 1:10), by prayerful and diligent study of the use of the words in the context of the work as a whole and with careful consideration given to the context of each part in the light of normal grammar and usage.

We believe that the Old Testament is only properly interpreted in the light of the revelation which God has given through His apostles and His Son, Jesus Christ (Heb 1:1-2), contained in the New Testament.

We believe that the divine record is total and complete in its revelation of God's will to His creatures (Deut 29:29), so that what is necessary for our knowledge of how to serve and please Him is conveyed to us within the pages of Scripture (Eccl 12:13; II Tim 3:16-17), by precept or by example, and that anything not specifically so imparted is not to be taught as God's will. (The argument from silence, e.g. what the Scripture does not teach, it does not teach, Heb 7:12-14.)

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God

His Attributes

We believe that there is only one (Deut 6:4; I Cor 8:4-6) living and true God (I Thes 1:9; Jer 10:10), who is infinite in being and perfection (Job 11:7-9), a most pure spirit (John 4:24), invisible (I Tim 1:17), immutable (Jas 1:17; Mal 3:6), immense (I Kings 8:27; Jer 23:23-24), eternal (Ps 90:2; I Tim 1:17), incomprehensible (Ps 145:3; Is 40:28; Rom 11:33), almighty (Gen 17:1; Dan 4:34-35; Rev 4:8), all wise (Ps 147:5; Rom 11:33-34; 16:27; Jude 25), most holy (Is 6:3; Rev 4:8), totally independent (Ps 115:3; 135:6; Is 46:10), most absolute (Ex 3:14), working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will (Eph 1:9, 11) for His own glory (Prov 16:4; Rom 11:36).

We believe He is most loving (I John 4:8, 16), gracious (Ex 22:27; Neh 9:17, 31), merciful (Ps 86:5; 103:8-13), long-suffering (Ps 86:15; II Pet 3:9), abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin (Ex 34:6-7). He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6), and is most just and terrible in His judgments (Neh 9:32-33), hating all sin (Ps 5:5-6) and who will by no means clear the guilty (Nah 1:2-3; Ex 34:7).

We believe that He has all life (Ps 36:9; John 5:26; 1:4; Acts 17:25), glory, goodness, blessedness in and of Himself; He is alone and unto Himself all-sufficient and independent, not standing in need of any creatures which He has made (Ex 3:14; Acts 17:24-25), nor deriving any glory from them (Job 22:2-3), but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the sole foundation of all being, of Whom, through Whom, and to Whom are all things (Rom 11:36); and He has most sovereign dominion over them to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever He pleases (Rev 4:11; I Tim 6:15; Dan 4:25, 35).

We believe that in His sight all things are open and manifest (Heb 4:13), that His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent of all creation (Rom 11:33-34; Ps 147:5), so that nothing is contingent or uncertain to Him (Acts 15:18; Ezek 11:5); that He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands (Ps 145:17; Rom 7:12), and that to this Great and August Being is due from angels, men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service or obedience that He is pleased to require of them (Rev 5:12-14).

His Unity

We believe that there is a Trinity of three Persons, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit (I John 5:7), in the unity of the essence of the Godhead; that these three Persons are equal in nature, power, and glory; and that the Word and the Holy Spirit are as truly and as properly and as eternally God as is the Father. (Col 2:9, Is 9:6)

The Sonship of Jesus Christ

We believe that the Word was set up by covenant from everlasting as the Mediator of the Eternal Covenant; and He, having engaged to be the Surety of His elect people, did, in the fullness of time (Gal 4:4-5; Heb 1:5-6; Luke 2:13-14), really assume human nature (Heb 2:16-18), and not before, neither in whole nor in part.

We believe that His human soul and spirit, being created things, did not exist from eternity, but were created and formed in His body by Him who forms the spirit of man within him; and this occurred when that body was conceived in the womb of the virgin (Luke 1:35).

We believe His human nature consists of a true body (Heb 10:5), soul, and spirit all of which together and at once the Word of God assumed into union with His divine Person (John 1:14), when made of a woman and not before or any point of time after (Gal 4:4).

We believe this dual-natured Being is the prophesied Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ; His sonship beginning with and proceeding from the virgin's conception (Luke 1:32, 35), and being everlasting in duration.

We believe that the doctrine of the eternal generation or begetting of the Son of God, by nature, to be damnable heresy most grievous to God and most dangerous to those who profess belief in such teaching, as it denies the Lord of glory.

His Sovereign Rule (Providence)

We believe that God, the great Creator of all things, upholds (Heb 1:3), directs, disposes and governs all creatures, actions, and things (Dan 4:34-35; Ps 135:6; Acts 17:25-26, 28), from the greatest even to the least (Prov 21:1; Mat 10:29-31), by His most wise and holy providence (Prov 15:3; Ps 104:24; 145:17), according to His own will (Is 46:10-11; Eph 1:9, 11), to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy (Is 63:14; Eph 3:10; Rom 9:17-23; Gen 45:7; Ps 145:7).

We believe that God, in His ordinary providence, makes use of means (Acts 27:31, 44; Is 55:10-11); yet, He is free to work without (Hos 1:7; Mat 4:4), above (Rom 9:19-21), and against them (II Kings 6:6; Dan 3:27) at His pleasure.

We believe that the almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so manifest themselves in his providence that it extends even to the fall of man and all other sins of angels and men (Rom 11:32-34; II Sam 24:1; I Chron 21:1; I Kings 22:22-23; I Chron 10:4, 13-14; II Sam 16:10; Acts 2:23), and not to a bare permission only (Acts 14:16), but to the complete ordering and governing of them to His own holy ends (Gen 50:20; Is 10:6-7, 12; Ps 76:10; II Kings 19:28); yet the sinfulness of the acts thereof proceed only and entirely from the creatures involved and not from God Himself, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin (Jas 1:13-14, 17; I John 2:16; Ps 50:21).

We believe that our most wise, righteous, and gracious God does often times leave, for a season, His own children to many temptations and the corruption of their own hearts, so as to chastise them for that they may be humbled (II Chron 32:25-26, 31; II Sam 24:1) and raised to a more close and steady dependence upon Him for their support, to make them more watchful against future occasions of sin, and for various other just and holy ends (II Cor 12:7-9; Ps 73; 77:1, 10, 12; Mark 14:66-72 + John 21:15-17).

We believe that, because of their sins, God blinds and hardens wicked and ungodly men (Rom 1:24, 26, 28; 11:7-8), sometimes withdraws what light of understanding they have naturally (Mat 13:12; 25:29), exposes them to opportunities that their corrupt natures will exploit (Deut 2:30; II Kings 8:12-13) and gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan (Ps 81:11-12; II Thes 2:10-12) whereby they harden themselves, even under the same means that God uses to soften others (Ex 7:3; 8:15, 32; II Cor 2:15-16; Is 8:14; I Pet 2:7-8; Is 6:9-10; Acts 28:26-27).

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Creation

We believe the Triune God, for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness (Rev 4:11), did create out of nothing (Heb 11:3), in six days of one hundred forty-four sixty-minute hours (Gen 1; 2:2-3; Ex 20:11), the heavens and the earth and all that in them is, whether visible or invisible (Col 1:16; Ps 102:25; Is 44:24; John 1:3; Heb 1:2).

We believe this was accomplished with no gaps or unknown ages before, during, or between the six days; that God ceased creation upon the seventh day (Gen 2:2-3; Ex 20:11); and that the first eleven chapters of Gen to be actual and accurate history with the rest of Scripture.

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Sin and Man's Fall

Man's Creation State

We believe that God created the first man, Adam, after His own image and likeness (Gen 1:26-27);that he was upright (Eccl 7:29), holy, innocent and possessed of undying natural life; that he was given dominion over all of the creatures of the earth (Gen 1:26; 9:2; Ps 8:4-8); that he had a will able to choose to obey or disobey the commandments of his good and wise Creator; and that he enjoyed the blessing of full and joyful communion with God (Gen 2:8-15).

The Fall into Sin

We believe that Adam was capable of continuing in that state of righteousness, but sinned against God, changing his nature to sinful and mortal natural life (Gen 2:17); that his race without exception sinned in him (Rom 5:12-18), the guilt of that sin imputed to all and a corrupt nature passed unto them all who descended from him by ordinary and natural generation.

The Effects of Sin

We believe, therefore, that the entire human race are by their first birth, carnal and unclean, averse to all that is good (Rom 3:12), incapable of doing any good (Rom 3:10) , prone to every sin, totally unable to recover themselves, without strength, enemies of God, by nature the children of wrath (Eph 2:3), under a sentence of condemnation and therefore subject to physical death, involved in spiritual death, and appointed to eternal death, from all of which there is no deliverance but by the blood and works of Christ the Second Adam, and Him alone.

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Salvation

We believe that the Scripture shows five distinct divisions, aspects or phases of the work of God in the salvation of His people, and they are as follows:

Eternal - Election

We believe that before the world was created, God elected (Eph 1:4) a certain and invariable number of people (Rom 8:29-30), out of Adam's fallen race (Rom 9:21), to be delivered from the condemnation which they justly deserved (Rom 6:23) and to be adopted as His own children (Eph 2:1-3), this choice not based on any conceivable or foreseen compliance of those chosen (Ps 14:2-3; Rom 3:9-19), but simply upon the free grace and sovereign will of God (Eph 1:3-11).

We believe that in pursuance of this design, God the Father did determine and make a covenant with the Word and the Holy Spirit on behalf of those persons alone, wherein all the duties and necessary actions were appointed to the Godhead to perform, and all the spiritual blessings provided for the elect.

We believe that this salvation, being decreed by Him who calls those things which are not as though they were (Rom 4:17), was considered as accomplished and finished before the world began.

We believe the eternal redemption and salvation which Christ has obtained by the shedding of His blood is special and particular; it was intentionally designed exclusively for the elect of God (Rom 8:33), the sheep of Christ (John 10:26-29), and they only share the benefits and blessings of it, and that infallibly (Rom 8:31-39), the rest of fallen mankind left in the state of condemnation it received from Adam's transgression in the garden of Eden (Rom 5:12; 9:21-22).

(Described: Eph 1:11; Isa 46:9-11; Acts 15:18; Rom 4:17; Condemnation: Prov 16:4; Rom 9:22; II Pet 2:9,17; Jude 4; Salvation: Rom 8:29-30; I Pet 1:2; Eph 1:3-5; II Tim 1:9; Acts 13:48; Rom 9:23; I Pet 1:20; Matt 25:34)

Legal - Justification

We believe the legal sentence of death against the elect was executed upon the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary, His pure and sinless life being the perfect and only substitute for the filthy rags of their righteousness, and His holy blood being the only acceptable propitiation for their sins (Rom 3:24-26; II Cor 5:21).

We believe that the Father received this offering of the Lamb of God (Heb 10:10, 14), and that He accordingly justifies the elect, seeing in them not their sins, but the spotless righteousness of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, their sins being forgotten and covered by His precious blood.

(Described: Gen 18:25; Deut 32:4; Job 8:3; Rom 3:4-6; Condemnation: Rom 5:12-19; cp 3:12; Salvation: I Pet 1:2; II Cor 5:21; Heb 2:14-17; 8:12; Is 40:2; Rom 3:24-26; 4:25; 5:14-19; Ex 34:7; Psa 85:10)

Vital - Regeneration, the New Birth

We believe that those elected by God and justified by Christ's blood are, in the course of this life, given a new and sinless nature (II Cor 5:17), created in true holiness, and capable of receiving and acting upon the spiritual realities taught in the Scriptures (John 1:12-13; I Cor 15:39-49; John 3:5-8).

We believe that the same powerful Spirit that moved upon the face of the deep in the creation of the world moves on the nature of the elect to create spiritual life where there was death and corruption (John 5:25), that Spirit following the spoken direction of the Son of God to give life to His child, His sheep (Jas 1:18), and that the soul of the child of God is totally passive in this process (Titus 3:5), just as a natural child is passive in his conception, gestation and birth (Eph 2:1-6, 10).

(Described: I Cor 15:39-49; Condemnation: Psa 51:5; John 3:6; Salvation: John 1:12-13; 3:5-8; 5:25; Eph 2:1-6, 10; II Cor 5:17; Jas 1:18; Tit 3:5)

Practical - Conversion

We believe that God provides the means for His elect, regenerate children to know Him and have fellowship with Him during this life through the preaching of and obedience to the Scripture, and that conversion is, accordingly, an educational process whereby the born again child of God learns of his helpless condition in Adam (Rom 3:9-19), of the wonderful salvation that His heavenly Father has provided through the life giving blood of Jesus Christ (John 3:16), and what His God requires of him to enjoy fellowship with Him in his pilgrimage of life (I Pet 1:13-23).

We believe that God grants to the elect the opportunity to repent and acknowledge the truth, but that, repentance, having been granted, it is their responsibility to exercise their God given faith (Phil 2:12; Jas 2:14-26; II Pet 1:5-12) and repentance to obtain the blessings that He offers in this life, and that this aspect of salvation, if they harden their hearts, can be lost and replaced by God's severe chastisement (Jas 5:19-20).

We believe that, in general, those whom God has chosen to be His own will believe and obey the gospel (Mat 7:20, 12:33; Rom 13:14; I John 3:10) call when they hear it, though we acknowledge that God, as the Sovereign Lord of the universe, can leave some individuals in ignorance of the glorious salvation that Christ secured for them, these being a small exception.

(Described: Matt 7:20; 12:33; Condemnation: Psa 58:3; Rom 3:9-19; Salvation: Phil 2:12-13; Rom 13:14; Jas 5:19-20; 2:14-26; I John 3:10; II Pet 1:5-12)

Final - Glorification

We believe that all of those chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and regenerated by the Spirit, shall be glorified together with Christ when He returns to judge the quick and the dead (II Tim 4:1), their mortal forms clothed with immortality (I Cor 15:53-54), and their sin wracked bodies resurrected or changed to be like the sinless body that our Lord Jesus Christ now inhabits (I Cor 15:52).

We believe that God will preserve His elect unto this glorious day, and that Jesus Christ shall present them unto the Father (Jude 24) pure and spotless (Eph 5:27), clothed in His own righteousness, regardless of their works of righteousness or lack thereof (Tit 3:5).

(Described: Job 23:13-14; Is 14:24;44:7; Condemnation: Rev 20:11-15; II Thes 1:6-9; Salvation: John 5:28-29; I Pet 1:5; Rom 8:23; 8:29-30; 9:23; I Thes 4:17; 5:25; Rev 21:27)

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Good Works

Definition

We believe that good works are only such as God commands in His holy Word (II Tim 3:16-17), and not such as are devised by men out of blind zeal (Phil 3:3-11), or upon any pretense of good intentions.

Source

We believe that the ability to do good works is something not at all of man himself (Rom 3:10-12), but wholly derived from the Spirit of God to do His good pleasure (Heb 13:20-21), and are an outgrowth of a renewed heart given by God in regeneration (Col 3:8-17; Rom 8:10-13).

Purpose

We believe that good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith (Jas 2:20; 26); and by them believers manifest their thankfulness (Col 3:15-17), strengthen their assurance (I John 3:14-19; Heb 6:10-12), edify their brethren (Eph 4:11-16), adorn the profession of the gospel (Titus 2), stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God (I Pet 2:12), whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto (Eph 2:10).

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Evangelism

Purpose of True Evangelism

We believe that the gospel is the good news of salvation for God's elect, declaring salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone, and that this salvation is the only hope of eternal life, the gospel being merely the message of this glorious event, and having no power in and of itself to give life to those who hear it (II Tim 1:8-10), the giving of life being the sole province of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe that the preaching of the gospel will be viewed as foolishness and will be rejected by natural, unregenerate men, who thereby show their ungodly and unrepentant natures, while the same message will be viewed as the power and wisdom of God by those who have been regenerated by the grace of God (I Cor 1:18-24).

We believe that all who hear the gospel have the responsibility to believe and obey it, and those who do not believe and obey it receive to themselves damnation, the unbelieving elect receiving the just chastisement of God while in this life, and the non-elect receiving God's judgment both now and in eternity (II Thes 1:7-10; 2:8-14).

Means of True Evangelism

We believe that the gospel is to be proclaimed by any and all means available to those who will hear it (I Cor 9:16; 20-23); the normal course of this proclamation to be through the preaching of the Word of God by means of the ministry that God has left in this world (II Tim 4:2; 5), who are to be supported in this endeavor by their congregations for this work (I Cor 9:7-11).

We believe that the gospel is also proclaimed through the godly witness of believing saints, who are ready to give an answer of the reason of the hope that is within them to those who ask them (I Pet 3:15-16).

We believe that public teaching of the gospel, by whatever means (i.e. seminars, home neighborhood Bible studies), are good, proper, and should be encouraged among God's people.

The "Great Commission"

We believe that the "Great Commission" as taught in Mat 28 and related passages was fulfilled by those whom Christ appointed and empowered (Mat 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-18), with many mighty signs and wonders (II Cor 12:12; Rom 15:18-19), to perform that task, those being the apostles; and that the commission was completed before the destruction of the nation of Israel in 70 AD (Mat 24:14; Col 1:23; Rom 10:18).

The Use of the Law

We believe that the law of God, as contained in the Old Testament Scripture, has relevance for the New Testament believer in the following ways:

We believe it shows man what sin is (its terrible nature and its effects) and our need of the Savior, Jesus Christ (Gal 3:24).

We believe it shows man what God requires and forbids of His children for their sanctification, as it reveals God's moral nature, which does not change (John 14:15).

We believe it gives us examples of God's dealing with His people in all times, giving us hope of blessings for obedience and the sure knowledge of His cursing for disobedience (I Cor 10:11).

We believe that it provides wise rules in dealing with men to live by while in this life. (Proverbs)

We believe that the ceremonial law given to the Jews was filled with types and shadows of Him Who was to come, even our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who personally and in His life and ministry fulfilled all (Col 2:16-17).

We believe that the restrictions given in the Old Testament regarding foods and the observance of Jewish holy days have been done away with in the New Testament and are not binding upon Christ's saints in His churches (Acts 15:19-31; Rom 14:1-3; I Cor 10:23-31; Col 2:16-23).

We believe that God gave man to rest one day out of seven, and we believe that New Testament believers should follow this practice. We believe that believers are to assemble on the Lord's Day (Sunday) to worship Him, as was practiced by the early church. But we believe that the Sabbath, as taught in the Old Testament, has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and that we rest from our works for righteousness in Him (Col 2:16-17; Phil 3:8-9).

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The Church

Its Identity

We believe that the church, as referred to most often in the New Testament, is a local congregation or body of disciples of Jesus Christ (Eph 5:29-32); that it is identified by its location (Rom 16:1) and membership (Rom 16:5), and referred to under various titles and descriptions, singularly considered as the church (Rom 16:1), the whole church (Rom 16:23), the body (Col 1:18; I Cor 12:12-14, 27-28), the body of Christ (Eph 4:11-12), the bride of Christ (John 3:27-29; II Cor 11:2; Rev 21:2-3, 9-10, 27), the temple of the Holy Ghost (I Cor 3:16-17; 6:18-20; Eph 2:19-22), and collectively known as the churches of Christ (Rom 16:16) and the churches of God (I Cor 11:16).

We believe that a church is formed by the mutual consent and commitment of individual believers to perform their Scriptural duties. It does not require any pastor, church or other body to ordain them as a church, though there is nothing unscriptural with a pastor or another church assisting or aiding in the forming of a new church (Titus 1:5).

We believe that this is the kingdom foretold by the Old Testament prophets, proclaimed by John the Baptist (Mat 3:1-3), and established by the ministry of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ (Mat 10:1, 7).

Its Independence

We believe that each church stands alone under Christ as its head, independent of any pope, cardinal, president or moderator and separate from any other body, group or organization in this world (Eph 1:15-23; Col 1:18).

We believe that fellowship, as described in Scripture (Acts 2:42; Phil 1:3-6; 2:1-2), is a function of individual members of a local body and not of churches in conventions, associations, denominations or other such structures, and, while praying for God's blessing on His churches, wherever they may be (II Cor 8:1-4), and being willing to help those whom we encounter (Luke 10:25-37), we believe it to be improper to form any alliance between our congregation and any other body or congregation (Eph 5:23-24; Col 1:18).

Its Membership

We believe that a church is composed of individuals who have professed belief in Jesus Christ as their only Lord and Savior from sin (John 20:31), have been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Acts 8:35-39), and have mutually agreed together to worship God and perform their Scriptural duties towards one another (Acts 2:38, 41-47).

We believe that a member is received into a congregation by unanimous consent of all of the members of that congregation (Rom 15:5-7). Therefore a member is put out or released from membership only by unanimous consent of the members of the congregation (II Cor 2:6).

Its Rulership

We believe that a church is properly ruled by bishop(s) (Phil 1:1; I Tim 3:1-2; Titus 1:7; I Pet 2:25); pastor, elder (I Tim 5:17), shepherd (John 21:16-17; I Pet 2:25; I Pet 5:2-3), overseer (Acts 20:28; I Pet 5:2), or ruler (Heb 13:7,17,24) being other terms to describe the duties of the office and sometimes, individuals in the same office(Eph 4:11); ordained of God (II Tim 1:9; 11) and set aside for his task by the laying on of hands by a duly ordained minister (I Tim 4:6; 14; II Tim 1:6), whose task it is to feed the flock of God (Acts 20:28 c17; I Pet 5:2) and direct the congregation's affairs in the light of the Scriptures (I Tim 4:11-13).

We believe that the bishop is to rule over the congregation as Christ's ambassador (II Cor 5:20; Eph 6:20) with the power to enforce the oracles of God upon His people (Heb 5:12; I Tim 4:11; I Pet 4:11), his leadership being to declare God's mind as taught in His Scripture (I Cor 2:16; Titus 3:1,8), to insist upon its obedience (II Cor 2:9; I Pet 1:13-16), and to guide by the example of his own godly life and deportment (I Tim 4:16; 6:11-12; Titus 2:7-8).

We believe that they that preach the gospel should, where at all possible, be completely supported by their congregation (I Cor 9:14) so as to give themselves wholly to the work of the ministry, to prayer and study of the Word (I Tim 4:15; II Tim 2:4).

We believe that God has given the office of deacon to the church to serve the congregation in carnal necessities (Acts 6:1-7; Phil 1:1); that deacons are to be selected by the congregation (Acts 6:3) and ordained to their office by the bishop(s) (Acts 6:6; I Tim 3:8-13) , under whose authority they serve; and that they are to be men who are sound and exemplary in their spiritual lives and conduct before the congregation and the world in general. (I Tim 3:8-13)

We believe that these two offices, that of bishop and deacon, are the only offices that God has ordained for His congregations since the end of the time of reformation when scripture was completed (Heb 9:10). The term Elder in reference to an office of the church is general (Acts 14:23; 15:4,6,22-23; 20:17; 21:18; I Tim 5:17,19; Titus 1:5; Jas 15:4; I Pet 5:1), and included Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and Bishops (Pastors and Teachers) (Eph 4:11).

We believe that the Presbyterian practice of distinguishing between "ruling" and "teaching" elders is unscriptural and a misinterpretation of the Scriptures.

We believe that women are to be silent in the church and under the authority of their fathers or husbands and are not to be in positions of authority over a man, but have a proper role in teaching each other and their children. (I Cor 14:34-35; I Tim 2:11-15; Titus 2:3-5)

Its Worship and Practice

We believe that the worship of God as given by precept and example in the New Testament (Acts 2:42) consists of assembling to pray (Acts 4:31; Phil 4:6), sing (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16), praise God (Acts 16:25; Heb 13:15; Rev. 19:5), offer up thanksgiving (Col 4:2), exhort one another to our duties (Heb 3:13; 10:25), make collection for poor saints (Acts 11:29; Rom 15:25-27; I Cor 16:1-3) and for the support of the ministry ( I Cor 9:7-14; Gal 6:6; I Tim 5:17-18), and hear God's word taught and proclaimed (Mat 13:16-23; Acts 2:42; Neh. 8:8; Rom 10:14-17; I Cor 1:17-18; 2:4; II Tim 4:2; Titus 1:3; I Pet 1:25).

We believe that the New Testament emphasizes the teaching aspect of God's worship (Rom 14:16-19; I Cor 14:5;12;17;19;26 Eph 4:11-16; I Thes 5:11), so that this is given preeminence over other forms of worship, with the aim of proper instruction being to guide members to better performance of their duties, first of all toward God (Acts 20:20-21; Rom 12:1-4; I Cor 11:2; Col 1:28), then to each other (Rom 12:5-21; I Thes 4:9; 18; Titus 2:1-10), and finally toward men with whom they associate in this world (Rom 12:18; I Tim 3:7; II Tim 2:24-26; Titus 2:7-8).

We believe that the proper form of musical expression in New Testament churches is congregational singing unaccompanied by musical instruments, the purpose being to praise God and to edify each other. (Jas 5:13, Eph 5:19, Col 3:16)

Its Relationship to Auxiliaries

We believe that any additions to or departures from those things taught in Scripture are to be rejected as unnecessary and ungodly (Deut 4:1-2; 12:29-32 ; Isa 29:13-14; Matt 15:6-9; Eph 4:14, Col 2:16-23; Rom 16:17-18; Rev 22:19); such things as Sunday schools, youth groups, church camps, bus ministries, Christian schools, choirs, gospel clowns and the like have nothing to do with the worship of God in His church and should be forbidden. This does not preclude members of a congregation, voluntarily and apart from the assembly, in banding together to engage in profitable enterprises such as the education of their children or arranging for times of recreation together, but such activities are clearly not to be part of the ministry of a New Testament church.

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The Duties of Church Membership

Regular Assembly

We believe that it is the duty of every member to be in regular attendance whenever the church assembles for the comfort of our mutual faith and the exercise of our duties one to another, such absences as caused by illness, performance of special acts of charity and other reasonable circumstances being excepted. (Heb 10:24-25; Acts 2:42)

Exercise of Gifts

We believe that God has placed the members within His churches as it has pleased Him, and that He has blessed them with a variety of natural and spiritual gifts for the benefit of the entire body. (Rom 12:6-8; I Cor 12:4-7; 27-31) Each member should be exhorted and encouraged to use the gift or gifts that he has been given for the blessing and profit of the congregation in general and the other members in particular, whether public or private. (I Cor 14: 12; Heb 10:24-25)

Judgment of Members in Sin

We believe that a church is responsible before God to judge those of its own who are publicly known to be living in sin or error, as the New Testament teaches that there are offences which are not to be named once among saints. (Eph 5:3-13; I Cor 5:1-5) Those found guilty of such offences are to be removed from the membership of the body, turned over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, and exhorted to repentance, for the glory of Christ and their own salvation. Upon demonstration of repentance such should be reinstated as members of the congregation. (II Cor 2:6-8)

We believe that it is the duty of each member to work for the recovery of any brother or sister that is privately known to have committed sin or be in error, (Matt 18:15-17) and upon demonstration of godly repentance such matters should be covered, forgiven and forgotten, even as Christ covers, forgives and forgets our sins when we confess them to Him and forsake them. (Luke 17:3-4; Jas 5:19-20)

We believe that the church has the right to judge between members in small matters of this life as they arise, and that such judgment is binding upon all; any member failing to abide by the church's judgment in such matters is to be removed from the membership, as discussed above. (Matt 18:17)

Christian Liberty of Conscience

We believe that only what the Scripture positively teaches or negatively forbids should be held and enforced upon believers, the silence of Scripture to be echoed by the church. Where the Bible speaks and declares It must be followed, but other areas are to be left to the conscience of the individual believer before God. (Rom 14:1-23; I Cor 8:1-13)

We believe that our liberty is not to be used as a cover for wickedness, and that it is to be limited by a charitable consideration of the conscience of others and our own faith. (I Cor 8:9; Gal 5:13; I Pet 2:15-16)

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Scriptural Ordinances

Importance of all that God commands on any subject

We believe that it is an error to select certain points of doctrine and practice, or "fundamentals”, for special enforcement or for establishing grounds for fellowship, and then to leave the remainder of God's revelation to the whim of the individual or congregation as to what is to be believed and practiced. (Prov 30:6; II Pet 1:20)

We believe that every word of God is pure (Jas 3:17; Psa 12:6; 119:140, 160, 172; Prov 30:5) and should be obeyed in its sphere of reference. While not all passages are of equal weight on every subject, yet each is to be followed and obeyed in the area of life to which it speaks, (Psa 119:130) being the mind of God on that subject and an ordinance to be followed by His saints. (Tit 1:9; I Tim 6:3)

Denial of Sacramentalism

We believe that obedience to God's revealed commandments brings His blessing upon the life of those who are exercised therein; (Rev 22:14) but it is a grievous error and heresy promulgated by the church of Rome and her offspring to believe that by keeping God's ordinances, any kind of supernatural grace is imparted to the soul or life of the person, or that partaking in any observance given in Scripture makes a person holy intrinsically. (Rom 9:16; 11:6; II Tim 1:9; Tit 3:5)

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Baptism

Purpose

We believe that baptism is the first act of gospel obedience for the child of God; (Acts 8:36-38) he publicly declares his allegiance to Jesus Christ and witnesses his dependence on Christ's death, burial and resurrection for his salvation, of which baptism is a symbol and picture. (I Pet 3:21)

Nature

We believe that baptism is totally figurative and emblematic in nature, (I Cor 15:29) no special grace or supernatural power being conferred upon the recipient; that it is simply the answer of a good conscience toward God, (I Pet 3:21; Rom 8:37) and not a means of imparting regeneration to a soul, as the Roman Whore and other heretical groups maintain.

We believe that baptism is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; a symbol of the believer's death to sin, and its power over him, and his resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ; and a figure of his hope, that being his resurrection at the last day to be with his Lord and Savior forever in glory. (Col 2:12)

Subject

We believe that baptism is only properly administered to a person who is of sufficient age and sensibilities to express belief and confidence in Jesus Christ for the saving of his soul. (I Pet 3:21)

Mode

We believe that the mode dictated in Scripture (by the meaning of the words used, by the nature of what it symbolizes, and by the examples given in the New Testament) is immersion of the candidate into water and the raising of him up out of water. (I Pet 3:21; I Cor 15:29; Col 2:12; Rom 6:3-5) Therefore pouring, sprinkling or any other wetting is not Bible baptism.

Administrator

We believe that baptism is only to be administered by a duly ordained minister of the gospel. (Acts 8:36-39; I Cor 1:12-16)

Relationship to church membership

We believe that baptism is a prerequisite for a person who is seeking to join a New Testament church, (Acts 9:18, 26-27) but, as it is the personal act of a believer answering a good conscience toward God, that it is erroneous to view baptism as a rite that adds a person to a church. (Acts 2:41)

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The Lord's Supper

Purpose and nature

We believe that the Lord's supper is an observance given to New Testament churches as a memorial of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ until He returns. (Matt 26:29; I Cor 11:26) It is totally symbolic in nature and serves to remind God's people of the price that was paid for their redemption.

We believe that the Mass, transubstantiation, consubstantiation and all other forms of Roman Catholic sacramentalism are doctrines from the father of lies himself, (I Tim 4:1-6; II Cor 11:13-15) and are to be rejected as gross heresy. (I Pet 2:1; Gal 5:19-21)

For members only of the local body

We believe that the Scripture clearly teaches that communion -common union -can only exist among members of a body, (I Cor 12:12-27) the same local body (Eph 2:22, 4:6) that is responsible for maintaining its purity through church judgment; (I Cor 11:31, 32) therefore, only those who are members of our local body are allowed to partake of the Lord's table in our assembly.

Duty of self examination

We believe that God expects His children to judge themselves (I Cor 11:27-30; I Pet 4:17) and to come to His table with clean hearts, having confessed their sins to Him, and that those who come without such preparation bring upon themselves His chastisement and judgment.

The example of foot washing

We believe that the example given by Christ in John 13 was to teach His disciples the importance of humility and service to one another; but the absence of further instructions on the subject in the Pauline and General epistles as well as no further examples in the New Testament lead us to conclude that this is not a practice that is required of New Testament saints. (I Tim 5:9-10)

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Separation

Personal

We believe that God has called His children to be light and salt in a dark and corrupt world, so that it is incumbent upon every believer to walk in wisdom toward those who are in the world (Matt 5:13), to be renewed in his mind (Rom 12:2), to think soberly and righteously (Titus 2:11-14), to keep his body under subjection, and to keep himself unspotted from the world (Jas 1:27).

Holy Days

We believe that the religious holidays observed by the world, such as Christmas, Easter, and Halloween, are, at best, mixtures of pagan practices and doctrines with portions of God's truth. They are products of the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth (the Roman Catholic church). We believe they are strictly forbidden and condemned by God in His holy Word, and cannot be participated in by godly, knowledgeable Christians, but should be separated from and taught against in His churches. (Deut 12:30-31)

National Holidays

We affirm that holidays declared by our nation, such as Thanksgiving and Independence Day, are allowed to be observed by God’s people with reverence toward God and His Word. (I Thes 5:18; Titus 3:1)

Secret Orders

We believe that the religion of Jesus Christ is one of light, not darkness, and one of revealed truth, not hidden mysteries, so that it is impossible for a Christian to be a member of a secret society or esoteric fraternal order. (Luke 11:36; II Cor 6:14-18; Eph 5:11)

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Authority

The Purpose for Authority

We believe that God, as the Supreme Lord and King of all creation, has ordained positions or offices of authority over men for the orderly functioning of society, for the good of those under them, and for His own honor and glory. (Rom 13:1-6; I Tim 2:1-3; Heb 13:17)

The Offices God Has Ordained

Husbands - We believe that God has ordained for men to rule over women in the relationship of marriage. (Eph 5:22-24; Col 3:18; I Pet 3:1,5; I Cor 14:35; Titus 2:5; I Cor 11:9)

Parents - We believe that God has ordained parents to rule over children in the relationship of a family. (Eph 6:1-2; Col 3:20; Prov 30:17; 23:22; Prov 1:8)

Masters - We believe that God has ordained that masters rule over servants in the business relationship. (Col 3:22, 4:1, I Tim 6:1-2. Titus 2:9, I Pet 2:18)

Pastors - We believe that God did ordain priests (OT) and has now ordained pastors (NT) to rule over His people in the congregation. (Jer 3:15; Eph 4:11-12)

Governors - We believe that God has ordained kings and magistrates to rule over citizens in political and national relationships. (I Chr 29:22, Prov 29:2, Matt 8:9, Mark 10:42, Luke 20:20; 22:25)

The Response to Authority

We believe that, in their proper spheres, each officer represents God directly and should be prayed for, honored, paid their appropriate tribute and dues, reverenced and feared as God's personal representative, and not from a motive of personal regard for the man in the office, but out of respect for the office and for God's appointment of the individual in that office (Rom 13:6-7; Heb 13:17, 24); and those who disobey or resist those officers in their rightful exercise of their authority do get to themselves damnation and should be in fearful expectation of judgment for their folly. (Rom 13:4)

We believe that it is right and proper for God's children, in order to maintain a godly reputation in this world and that the ignorance of foolish men be silenced, to subject themselves to every civil ordinance of man for the Lord's sake (I Pet 2:13-16), and in particular to be ready and willing to pay taxes to the state and nation in which they reside, rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's (Mat 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25; Matt 17:24-27). The only exception occurs when the civil authority requires God’s children to break a commandment of Scripture, wherefore we must obey God rather than man. (Acts 4:19)

Spiritual Gifts and the Charismatic Movement

We believe that it is proper to divide the spiritual gifts listed in the New Testament into ordinary gifts, which are given by God to His churches throughout all ages for their profit and edification, and special gifts, which are further divided into the sign gifts and the revelatory gifts. (I Cor 14:12)

We believe that the sign gifts recorded in the New Testament were given for the purpose of convincing unbelieving Jews that the preaching of the gospel by the apostles was of God (I Cor 14:21-22), and that they ceased by 70 AD, when God had ended His witness to the Jews by destroying them as a nation.

We believe that the revelatory gifts recorded in the New Testament were given to reveal the fullness of God's truth in the New Covenant to his churches until such time as His apostles had completed writing the New Testament, at which time they ended. (I Cor 13:8-13)

We believe that the modern Charismatic movement with its emphasis of love over truth, its disdain for sound doctrine, its love of compromising associations, and ungodly rejection of Scriptural guidelines for the use of tongues shows itself to be part of the prophesied lying sins and wonders of these, the last days. (I Cor 13:8)

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Prophecy

Purpose

We believe God gave prophecies to glorify Himself and to confirm the saints' faith when the events occur and are not given as a source for speculation about the future; that history shows the fulfillment of the events that God foretold, and His people can take comfort and strength from the fact that God has demonstrated His power in the affairs of men and that He told them about those things before they happened (Isaiah 41:21-26; 44:6-8; 45:20-21; 46:9-11; 48:3,5; John 13:19; 14:29; 16:4).

Methodology for Studying

We believe that God has spoken in signs and similitudes, figurative, metaphorical, and symbolic language, describing future events both natural and spiritual that need to be carefully interpreted; and that to engage in a totally literalistic scheme of interpretation, as the followers of C.I. Scofield, John Darby, and others of the Dispensational and Futuristic schools do, is to wrest and pervert the Scripture (Hos 12:10; Rev 1:1; John 12:33; 21:19; Acts 2:16; 15:13-18; I Pet 1:11).

We believe that the present gospel age contains the reality fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament, and that fulfillment in Jesus Christ, His life and ministry, should be sought above all else; and we believe that the Old Testament prophecies must be viewed in the light of the revelation given to the apostles and writers of the New Testament (John 5:39; Acts 15:13-18; Gal 3:19; Col 2:16-17; Heb 9:10; Rev 19:10).

The place of the Jews

We believe that the nation of Israel, called the Jews in the New Testament, was God's chosen people to convey, until the time of Christ, His worship, testimonies, commandments, and oracles to the world, and His vehicle for bringing the Son of God into the world through the lineage of David, and as such was accorded blessing and honor that no other nation or people on earth had (Deut 7:6-8; Ps 147:19-20; Rom 3:1-2; 9:1-5). Since the cross, there is no further distinction between Jews and Gentiles in their standing before God through Christ, and there is no further role for them as a separate nation with divine privileges, neither is there any re-gathering planned for them to any city on earth (Luke 21:24; Rom 2:28-29; 9:6; Gal 3:16-29; 4:21-31; Eph 2:11-22; Heb 12:22-24; Rev 2:9; 3:9).

The Place of the Church

We believe that the gospel church is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophets' message concerning the rebuilding of God's temple; that it is the visible portion of God's kingdom consisting of both Jews and Gentiles; and that it, as a bride adorned for her husband, will be glorified with Jesus Christ when He returns (Dan 2:44; Luke 16:16; Acts 15:13-18; 28:17-29; Heb 12:22-24,29; Rev 21:1-4).

The Identity of the Man of Sin

We believe that the testimony of Scripture, as confirmed by the witness of history, amply shows the man of sin to be the Papacy of Rome, which has been a constant adversary of the truth of Jesus Christ and His saints during the Dark Ages and up to the present (Dan 7:1-28; II Thess 2:1-12; I Tim 4:1-3; Rev 12:12-17; 13:1-9; 17:1-6,18).

The 70th Week of Daniel

We believe that Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry of three and one-half years, from His baptism to His crucifixion, fulfills the seventieth week described in Daniel 9:24-27 (Mark 1:15; Luke 2:38; John 19:30). We believe the other event in this prophecy is the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies under Titus the prince in 70 A.D. for Israel’s abominable wickedness in crucifying their Messiah (Matt 21:33-45; 22:1-7; Luke 19:41-44).

Matthew 24 and the Olivet Discourse

We believe that the events described and prophesied in the Olivet discourse were fulfilled in God's destruction of the city of Jerusalem, and the Jewish nation thereby, in 70 AD by the Roman armies under Titus (Matt 3:7-12; 16:27-28; 21:33-45; 22:1-7; 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 17:20-37; 19:41-44; 21:5-36; I Thess 2:14-16; Heb 10:23-31).

The Final Judgment and the Future State of Man

We believe that there shall be a general resurrection of the dead and a final judgment where all men shall give account of themselves and be judged by their works (Eccl 12:13-14; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; Rom 14:10-12; II Cor 5:9-11).

We believe that the unregenerate, being justly and righteously condemned for their wicked and abominable works, shall be cast into the lake of fire, a real and literal place of torment, which they shall inhabit with the Devil and his angels for eternity (II Thess 1:7-9; Rev 20:11-15).

We believe that the elect, while some will initially be ashamed at the Lord's coming because of their slothfulness and lack of godly diligence, yet all their sins having been fully and completely paid for by the propitiation of Jesus Christ, and being judged pure and holy through His substituted righteousness, shall enjoy everlasting fellowship with God in perfect, glorified bodies in the new heavens and new earth created for them by God (I Thess 4:13-18; II Thess 2:9-10; I John 2:28).

We believe that God's saints who die before these events occur go to be with the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven and shall return with Him at the general resurrection, therefore we reject the doctrine of soul sleep as unscriptural (I Kings 2:1,11; Luke 16:22; II Cor 5:6-8; Phil 1:23-24; I Thess 4:13-18).

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Church Covenant

We believe all and each of these doctrines to be doctrines of the Holy Scriptures, and subject to change only with clear and persuasive evidence from the Bible alone. Now all and each of these doctrines together with the entirety of Holy Scripture we covenant together as a church, in common faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, to embrace, maintain, and defend, believing it our duty to stand fast (Jude 3), in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith once delivered to the saints. (I Cor 16:13; Phil 4:1; I Thes 3:8; II Thes 2:15)

We esteem it our duty to walk with each other in all humility and brotherly love, to watch over each other's conversation, to stir up each other to love and good works, overlooking one another in love for good and not for evil; not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together as we have opportunity to worship God according to His revealed will; and when the case requires, to warn, admonish, and rebuke one another according to the rules of the Gospel. We earnestly desire to contribute together also, to the need of the poor saints, to the support of the ministry, and the furtherance of the Gospel as the possessions of life and the providence of God may enable and direct us. (I Thes 5:12-13; Heb 10:25; II Thes 3:14-15; Rom 15:26; Eph 4:11-12; II Cor 6:3-10)

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