Confessions of Faith (Indian River Baptist Church)

8/14/2019 Confessions of Faith (Indian River Baptist Church)

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Our Beliefs

Article 1 Preamble

Because of our love for Christ, His gospel and His church, Indian River Baptist Church is

committed to the inerrancy, infallibility, sufficiency, and authority of the Scripture.

!bove all, "e"ish to ground our belief and practice fully and completely in #od$s revealed %ord. %e

commend our Church body to the propagation and defense of the #ospel as "e are fully

convinced that the #ospel is the ground on "hich the church stands or falls. &his #ood 'e"s is

historical (the persons and events of the #ospel, as recorded in the Scriptures, have actually

occurred), biblical (Scripture is the only authoritative ground for understanding the "or* of

Christ), and intensely personal ("here it is received, believed, and held firmly, individual persons

are saved). %e proclaim our commitment to contend for the faith once for all delivered.

Article 2 Our Confessional Heritage

%e recogni+e that the Church of our ord -esus Christ has eisted throughout centuries and

cultures for the past /,000 years. In the face of persecution, false teaching, and biblical neglect,congregations faithful to the %ord of #od have "ritten Confessions and Creeds to summari+e *ey

biblical truths. &he purpose of these documents "as to instruct #od$s people about the teachings

of Scripture and to defend the Church from false teachings.

History has proven all too often that false teachers easily corrupt those congregations and

movements "hich are not thoroughly grounded in the teachings of Scripture. uch of "hat calls

itself Christianity is nothing other than age1old heresies in modern garb. 2et the Church has been

called to be a 3pillar and buttress4 of truth ( &imothy 567), and for this reason "e declare our

adherence to the follo"ing creeds and confessions8"hich 3"e do "illingly receive4 as

trust"orthy articulations of essential biblical truth6

1. Apostles Creed2. Nicene Creed

3. Athanasian Creed9. The Chicago Statement on Bilical !nerranc"

7. The #ospel of $es%s Christ& An 'vangelical Celeration

:. The Camridge (eclaration

;. The (anvers Statement on Bilical )anhood and *omanhood+. 1,+- ondon Baptist Confession

%e believe these eight documents provide correct interpretations/of Scripture and authoritative

interpretations of the meaning and implications of our corporate Statements of Faith. &hey serve

as the fullest theological epression of the beliefs of Indian River Baptist Church.

%e recogni+e many "onderful translations of Scripture are available in


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Article 3 Statement of Basic Beliefs

&he follo"ing beliefs represent the core beliefs of the Christian faith. %hile a full understanding

and the ability to ade=uately articulate these beliefs is not re=uired, the eplicit re@ection of any

one of these particular beliefs dis=ualifies one from membership in Indian River Baptist Church.

. The Bile&&he Bible is #od$s holy "ord, and it is completely true, authoritative andsufficient.

/. The Trinit"&&here is but one living and true #od, one in essence, eternally eisting in

three Aersons6 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each e=ually deserving "orship and

obedience.

5. 0%man sinf%lness&!ll human beings are, by birth and action, sinners and are in rebellion

against #od.

9. enalt" for Sin&&he penalty for sin is eternal death (both physical and spiritual) and

separation from #od from all eternity in Hell.

7. The Nat%re of Christ&-esus Christ is the eternal Son of #od, "as born of a virgin,

performed miracles, and is both fully #od and fully human, yet "ithout sin.

:. The Cross of Christ&-esus Christ died on the cross as my substitute to pay the penalty for

my sin.

;. The es%rrection of Christ&-esus Christ physically rose from the dead and ascended into

heaven.

. The et%rn of Christ&-esus Christ "ill return at the Second Coming to @udge the living

and the dead, the redeemed to eternal life "ith Him, the unredeemed to eternal damnation

in hell.. aith in Christ&?nly by trusting in the person and "or* of -esus Christ alone can I be

reconciled to #od and eperience true life and @oy.

Article 4 Statement of Biblical Doctrine

&he follo"ing beliefs represent the ma@or tenants of the faith held and taught by the leadership ofIndian River Baptist Church. &he Church "ill preach, teach, counsel, and govern itself in

accordance "ith these theological convictions. Full agreement is necessary to hold the office of

pastor>elder and deacon, and other important ministry positions as determined by the

Aastor>Deacon Board.

1. Te !or" of #o"

%e believe that #od has graciously revealed His eistence and po"er in the created "orld,5and

has supremely revealed Himself to fallen human beings in the person of His Son, 9the incarnate

5!or "hat can be #no"n about $od is plain to them, because $od has sho"n it to them. !or his invisible

attributes, namel%, his eternal po"er and divine nature, have been clearl% perceived, ever since thecreation of the "orld, in the things that have been made 'Romans ()(*+-. /he heavens declare theglor% of $od, and the s#% above proclaims his handi"or# '0salm (*)(.

91ong ago, at man% times and in man% "a%s, $od spo#e to our fathers b% the prophets, but in these last

da%s he has spo#en to us b% his Son2 '3ebre"s ()(+. 4o one has ever seen $od5 the onl% $od, "ho isat the !ather6s side, he has made him #no"n '7ohn ()(8.

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%ord.7 oreover, this #od is a spea*ing #od:"ho, by His Holy Spirit,;has inspired the "ords

preserved in the Scriptures,the sity1si boo*s of the ?ld and 'e" &estaments. &hese "ritings

alone, in their entirety, constitute the verbally inspired %ord of #od, "hich is utterly

authoritative and "ithout error0in the original "ritings, complete in its revelation of His "ill for

salvation, sufficient 4sola script%ra5for all that #od re=uires us to believe and do, and final inits authority over every domain of *no"ledge to "hich it spea*s.

&he Bible is to be believed, as #od$s instruction, in all that it teachesE/ obeyed, as #od$s

command, in all that it re=uiresE5and trusted, as #od$s pledge, in all that it promises.9!s #od$s

79nd the :ord became ;esh and d"elt among us, and "e have seen his glor%, glor% as of the onl% Son

from the !ather, full of grace and truth '7ohn ()( So also no one comprehends the thoughts of $od e=cept the Spirit of $od.4o" "e have received not the spirit of the "orld, but the Spirit "ho is from $od, that "e might understandthe things freel% given us b% $od. 9nd "e impart this in "ords not taught b% human "isdom but taught b%the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those "ho are spiritual '( Corinthians )(-+(?.

@no"ing this Arst of all, that no prophec% of Scripture comes from someone6s o"n interpretation '

0eter ()-. !or I neither received it of man, neither "as I taught it, but b% the revelation of 7esus Christ'$alatians ()(. /hen the 1ORD put forth his hand, and touched m% mouth. 9nd the 1ORD said unto me,Behold, I have put m% "ords in th% mouth '7eremiah ()*.

9ll Scripture is breathed out b% $od and proAtable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and fortraining in righteousness ' /imoth% ?)(.

0ver% "ord of $od proves true5 he is a shield to those "ho ta#e refuge in him '0roverbs ?-)E. /he

"ords of the 1ORD are pure "ords, li#e silver reAned in a furnace on the ground, puriAed seven times'0salm () So that b% t"o unchangeable things, in "hich it is impossible for $od to lie, "e "ho have;ed for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us '3ebre"s )(8.3eaven and earth "ill pass a"a%, but m% "ords "ill not pass a"a% 'Matthe"


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people hear, believe, and do the %ord, they are e=uipped as disciples of Christ and "itnesses to

the gospel.7

2. Te Trinit$

%e believe there is ?ne:and living;and true #od,an infinite,eternal,/0sovereign/Spirit,//

the a*er and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, inepressibly /5 glorious in holiness/9 and

"orthy of all possible honor,/7confidence/:and love6/;that in the unity of the #odhead there are

three persons6/#od the FatherE/#od the SonE50and #od the Holy Spirit.5%e believe they aree=ual in every divine perfection and eecuting distinct but harmonious offices in the great "or*

of redemption.

is faithful '3ebre"s (-)?.

7Do %our best to present %ourself to $od as one approved, a "or#er "ho has no need to be ashamed,

rightl% handling the "ord of truth ' /imoth% )(E. 3e must hold Arm to the trust"orth% "ord as taught,so that he ma% be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebu#e those "ho contradict it.'/itus ()*. If %ou put these things before the brothers, %ou "ill be a good servant of Christ 7esus, beingtrained in the "ords of the faith and of the good doctrine that %ou have follo"ed '( /imoth% Can %ou And out the limit of the 9lmight%> It is higher than

heavenJ"hat can %ou do> Deeper than SheolJ"hat can %ou #no"> Its measure is longer than the earthand broader than the sea '7ob (()F+*.

/0Before the mountains "ere brought forth, or ever %ou had formed the earth and the "orld, even from

everlasting to everlasting, %ou are $od. '0salm *-). See ( /im. ()(F.

/I #no" that %ou can do all things, and that no purpose of %ours can be th"arted '7ob


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3. Te Creation of te !orl" an" Humanit$

%e believe that #od, solely by an act of His sovereign po"er5/ and grace,55 and for the

manifestation of His glory,59brought the universe and everything in it into eistence,57out of

nothing.5:&he culminating "or*5;of His creative activity "as the creation of human beings, male

and female,5"hich are distinct from all other creation in that they are His o"n image. 5 %e

believe that #od directly formed !dam from the dust of the ground90and So also no one comprehends the thoughts of $od e=cept the Spirit of $od '( Corinthians)(-+((. 9nd he "ho searches hearts #no"s "hat is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedesfor the saints according to the "ill of $od 'Romans 8)F.

5/It is he "ho made the earth b% his po"er, "ho established the "orld b% his "isdom, and b% his

understanding stretched out the heavens '7eremiah (-)(. B% the "ord of the 1ORD "ere the heavensmade5 and all the host of them b% the breath of his mouth '0salm ??).

55O 1ORD, ho" manifold are %our "or#sL In "isdom hast %ou made them all) the earth is full of %our

riches '0salm (-


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4. %arriage& #en"er& an" 'amil$

%e believe the marital relationship, instituted by #od, is bet"een one man and one "oman,97and

establishes the only proper pattern of seual relations. 9:Furthermore, "e believe that gender is

ordained by #od and cannot be changed or altered by human "ill.9; %ithin the marriage

relationship #od has ordained that husband and "ife assume distinctive roles "hich reflect the

loving relationship bet"een Christ and the church, the husband eercising leadership and

authority in a "ay that displays the caring, sacrificial love of Christ, and the "ife submitting to

and obeying her husband in a "ay that models the love of the church for the ord. 9&o this end,

5:B% faith "e understand that the universe "as created b% the "ord of $od, so that "hat is seen "as not

made out of things that are visible '3ebre"s (()?. 9ll things "ere made b% him5 and "ithout him "asnot an% thing made that "as made '7ohn ()?. !or b% him "ere all things created, that are in heaven,and that are in earth, visible and invisible, "hether the% be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, orpo"ers) all things "ere created b% him, and for him 'Colossians ()(.5;

:hat is man that %ou are mindful of him, and the son of man that %ou care for him> et %ou have made

him a little lo"er than the heavenl% beings and cro"ned him "ith glor% and honor. ou have given him

dominion over the "or#s of %our hands5 %ou have put all things under his feet '0salm 8)


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#od commands that the believer only marry another follo"er of -esus Christ 9 and that this

covenantal relationship be life1long.70

%e believe that #od has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society.

Aarents are to cherish and love their children,7 understanding that human life begins at themoment of conception.7/&hey are to provide for their children, 75teaching them to *no" and love

the ord,79 and lead them,77 through a consistent lifestyle eample7:and loving discipline,7; toma*e choices based on biblical truth.7Children are to honor and obey their parents.7

9:/he husband should give to his "ife her conugal rights, and li#e"ise the "ife to her husband. !or the

"ife does not have authorit% over her o"n bod%, but the husband does. 1i#e"ise the husband does nothave authorit% over his o"n bod%, but the "ife does. Do not deprive one another, e=cept perhaps b%agreement for a limited time, that %ou ma% devote %ourselves to pra%er5 but then come together again, sothat Satan ma% not tempt %ou because of %our lac# of self+control '( Corinthians F)?+E. But because ofthe temptation to se=ual immoralit%, each man should have his o"n "ife and each "oman her o"nhusband2 But if the% cannot e=ercise self+control, the% should marr%. !or it is better to marr% than to burn"ith passion '( Corinthians F), *. 1et marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be

undeAled, for $od "ill udge the se=uall% immoral and adulterous '3ebre"s (?) Or "hat fello"ship can light have "ith dar#ness> :hatharmon% is there bet"een Christ and Belial> :hat does a believer have in common "ith an unbeliever>:hat agreement is there bet"een the temple of $od and idols> !or "e are the temple of the living $od. 9s$od has said) HI "ill live "ith them and "al# among them, and I "ill be their $od, and the% "ill be m%people.6 /herefore come out from them and be separate, sa%s the 1ord. /ouch no unclean thing, and I "illreceive %ou ' Corinthians )(


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(. Te 'all of %an)in"

%e believe that although humanity "as created in perfection, through Satan$s cunning deceit :0

!dam "illfully rebelled and sinned against #od.:ade in the image of #od, man distorted that

image by falling into sin and forfeited his original blessedness, :/both for himself and all his

progeny.:5 !s descendants of !dam, all human beings are totally depraved,:9parta*ers of !dam$s

fallen nature, and are sinners by nature:7 and by choice.:: !s a result, all human beings are

alienated from #od,:;spiritually dead,:enslaved to sin,:sub@ect to physical death,;0corrupted in

every aspect of their being;(e.g., physically, mentally, volitionally, emotionally, spiritually) and

condemned to eternal death;/8apart from #od$s o"n gracious intervention. nredeemedhumanity is sub@ect;5to Satan, the evil;9and murderous;7ruler of this "orld,;:prince of demons,;;

suQered %ou to put a"a% %our "ives) but from the beginning it "as not so. 9nd I sa% unto %ou, :hosoevershall put a"a% his "ife, e=cept it be for fornication, and marries another, commits adulter%) and "hoevermarries her "ho has been put a"a% commits adulter% 'Matthe" (*)8+*. But if the unbelieving depart,let him depart. 9 brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases) but $od hath called us to peace'( Corinthians F)(E.

7Behold, children are a heritage from the 1ord, the fruit of the "omb a re"ard. 1i#e arro"s in the hand of

a "arrior are the children of onePs %outh. Blessed is the man "ho Alls his Guiver "ith themL 3e shall not be

put to shame "hen he spea#s "ith his enemies in the gate '0salm (F)?+E. 9s a father sho"scompassion to his children, so the 1ord sho"s compassion to those "ho fear him '0salm (-?)(?. But"hen 7esus sa" it, he "as indignant and said to them, But 7esus said, 1et the little children come to meand do not hinder them, for to such belongs the #ingdom of heaven 'Matthe" (*)(


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and false god of this age "ho blinds man*ind from the truth of #od. ;&he supreme need of all

human beings is to be reconciled to the #od;under "hose @ust and holy "rath "e standE 0 the

only hope of all human beings is the undeserved love of this same #od, "ho alone can rescue us

and restore us to himself./

*. #o"+s eternal ,lan of sal-ation

%e believe that from all eternity5#od determined in grace to save9a great multitude of guilty

sinners7 from every tribe and language and people and nation,: "hom He fore*ne" andpredestined.;%e believe that #od @ustifies and sanctifies those "ho by grace 4sola gratia5have

faith 4sola fide5 in -esus 4sol%s Christ%s5, and that He "ill one day glorify them and @udge the

7;/he rod and reproof give "isdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother '0roverbs

*)(E. :hoever spares the rod hates his son, but he "ho loves him is diligent to discipline him'0roverbs (?)'3ebre"s ()F.

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!or I have chosen him, that he ma% command his children and his household after him to #eep the "a%of the 1ord b% doing righteousness and ustice, so that the 1ord ma% bring to 9braham "hat he haspromised him '$enesis (8)(*.

73onor %our father and %our mother, that %our da%s ma% be long in the land that the 1ord %our $od isgiving %ou '=odus -)(. Children, obe% %our parents in ever%thing, for this pleases the 1ord'Colossians ?)-. 3ear, m% son, %our fatherPs instruction, and forsa#e not %our motherPs teaching'0roverbs ()8.

:04o" the serpent "as more craft% than an% other beast of the Aeld that the 1ORD $od had made. 3e

said to the "oman, Did $od actuall% sa%, Hou shall not eat of an% tree in the garden6 '$enesis ?)(>/hen the 1ORD $od said to the "oman, H:hat is this that %ou have done>6 /he "oman said, H/he serpentdeceived me, and I ate6 '$enesis ?)(?. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived ve b% his cunning,%our thoughts "ill be led astra% from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ ' Corinthians (()?.

:But of the tree of the #no"ledge of good and evil %ou shall not eat, for in the da% that %ou eat of it %ou

shall surel% die '$enesis )(F. So "hen the "oman sa" that the tree "as good for food, and that it "asa delight to the e%es, and that the tree "as to be desired to ma#e one "ise, she too# of its fruit and ate,and she also gave some to her husband "ho "as "ith her, and he ate '$enesis ?).

://hen the e%es of both "ere opened, and the% #ne" that the% "ere na#ed. 9nd the% se"ed Ag leaves

together and made themselves loincloths. 9nd the% heard the sound of the 1ORD $od "al#ing in thegarden in the cool of the da%, and the man and his "ife hid themselves from the presence of the 1ORD $odamong the trees of the garden '$enesis ?)F+8.

:5/herefore, ust as sin came into the "orld through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread

to all men because all sinned 'Romans E)(. !or as b% a man came death, b% a man has come also theresurrection of the dead '( Corinthians (E)(.

:9/he natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of $od, for the% are foll% to him, and he is

not able to understand them because the% are spirituall% discerned '( Corinthians )(


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"ic*ed8all to the praise of His glory 4soli (eo gloria5. In His grace, #od commands and

implores all people to repentand believe,0having set His saving love on those He has chosen

and having ordained Christ to be their Redeemer./In His "isdom, #od has ordained this saving

"or* to be accomplished al"ays in connection "ith the presentation of the #ospel of the glory of

Christ.5

. Te Person an" !or) of Crist%e believe that -esus Christ is the divine and eternal Son of #od, 9e=ual "ith #od the Father and"ith #od the Holy Spirit and of the same nature. oved by love 7for and in obedience:to #od

the Father, -esus became man;"ithout ceasing to be #od that He might reveal #od and

:;our iniGuities have made a separation bet"een %ou and %our $od, and %our sins have hidden his face

from %ou so that he does not hear 'Isaiah E*). /he% are dar#ened in their understanding, alienatedfrom the life of $od because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart 'phesians 2:hen%ou "ere slaves of sin, %ou "ere free in regard to righteousness 'Romans )(, -.

;0But of the tree of the #no"ledge of good and evil %ou shall not eat, for in the da% that %ou eat of it %ou

shall surel% die '$enesis )(F. !or the "ages of sin is death 'Romans )?.

;/he heart is deceitful above all things, and desperatel% sic#5 "ho can understand it> '7eremiah (F)*.

/o the pure, all things are pure, but to the deAled and unbelieving, nothing is pure5 but both their mindsand their consciences are deAled '/itus ()(E. 9s it is "ritten) H4one is righteous, no, not one5 no oneunderstands5 no one see#s for $od. 9ll have turned aside5 together the% have become "orthless5 no onedoes good, not even one. /heir throat is an open grave5 the% use their tongues to deceive. /he venom ofasps is under their lips. /heir mouth is full of curses and bitterness. /heir feet are s"ift to shed blood5 intheir paths are ruin and miser%, and the "a% of peace the% have not #no"n. /here is no fear of $od beforetheir e%es. 4o" "e #no" that "hatever the la" sa%s it spea#s to those "ho are under the la", so that

ever% mouth ma% be stopped, and the "hole "orld ma% be held accountable to $od 'Romans ?)(-+(*./he 1ORDsa" that the "ic#edness of man "as great in the earth, and that ever% intention of the thoughtsof his heart "as onl% evil continuall% '$enesis )E.;/

9nd these "ill go a"a% into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life 'Matthe" E)


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redeem man*ind.00-esus "as the promised essiah (Christ) of Israel, 0"ho "as conceived

through the miraculous agency of the Holy Spirit,0/and "as born of the virgin ary.05He lived

a sinless life,09performed miraculous signs,07"as crucified under Aontius Ailate,0:arose bodily

from the dead on the third day,0;and ascended into heaven.0

%e believe He is seated at the right hand of #od the Father,0eercising in heaven and on earth

all of #od$s sovereignty,0 and is our High Ariest, and righteous !dvocate./ By Hisincarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension, -esus Christ acted as our representative and

substitute.5He did this so that in Him "e might become the righteousness of #od. 9?n the

cross and by His death He made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins, 7"hich "as the

;In their case the god of this "orld has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to #eep them from seeing

the light of the gospel of the glor% of Christ, "ho is the image of $od ' Corinthians


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voluntary:substitution of Himself in the sinner$s place, the @ust for the un@ust, Christ, the ord,

bearing our sin in His o"n body on the cross, and thus reconciled to #od all those "ho believe.;

By His resurrection Christ -esus "as vindicated by his Father,bro*e the po"er of deathand

defeated Satan/0"ho once had po"er over it,/and brought everlasting life to all His people. //

By His ascension He has been forever ealted as ord /5and has prepared a place for us to be"ith Him./9%e believe that salvation is found in Christ alone 4sol%s Christ%s5, for there is no

other name given under heaven by "hich "e must be saved./7

/. Te Person an" !or) of te Hol$ S,irit

%e believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, e=ual "ith #od the Father and "ith #od the

Son and of the same natureE and has al"ays been at "or* in the "orld, sharing in the "or* of

be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the Arstborn among man% brothers. 9ndthose "hom he predestined he also called, and those "hom he called he also ustiAed, and those "hom heustiAed he also gloriAed 'Romans 8)*+?-.

/he 1ORD has made ever%thing for its purpose, even the "ic#ed for the da% of trouble. '0roverbs () 9s it is "ritten,H3o" beautiful are the feet of those "ho preach the good ne"s6 'Romans (-)(?+(E.

9!or $od so loved the "orld, that he gave his onl% Son, that "hoever believes in him should not perish

but have eternal life. !or $od did not send his Son into the "orld to condemn the "orld, but in order thatthe "orld might be saved through him '7ohn ?)(+(F. Simon 0eter replied, ou are the Christ, the Son ofthe living $od 'Matthe" ()(.

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creation,/:empo"ering believers,/;e=uipping those in service to the ord,/and empo"ering

the preaching of prophets/and inspiring of Scripture.502et, "hen Christ had made atonement

for sin, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, a ne" era of the Spirit "as inaugurated in

"hich the promises of the Father "ere poured out on the Church at Aentecost, 5and that this era

is mar*ed by the unprecedented mission of the Spirit to glorify the crucified and risen Christ.5/

%e believe that the Spirit, to accomplish this mission, convicts all man*ind of sin andrighteousness,55 and that He regenerates,59 seals,57 guides,5: teaches,5; strengthens,5 and

sanctifies5 the believer. !part from the effectual "or* of the Spirit, no one "ould come to

faith,90 because all are dead in trespasses and sins9 and hostile to #od.9/&hus, for #od$s

7But I do as the !ather has commanded me, so that the "orld ma% #no" that I love the !ather '7ohn

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elect,95 the Spirit triumphs over all resistance,99 "a*ens them from spiritual death,97 and

removes their spiritual blindness.9: &he baptism9; and ind"elling9 of the Holy Spirit ta*es

place at conversion and is that sovereign act by "hich the individual is organically and vitally

@oined into Christ and His Church9.

%hile all genuine believers are ind"elt by the Holy Spirit at conversion, there is an ongoing, 70

empo"ering7"or* of the Spirit subse=uent to conversion as "ell. 7/&he Holy Spirit desires tofill each believer continually "ith increased po"er for preaching of the #ospel of the glory of

Christ, for victorious Christian living and "itness (the fruit of "hich is listed in #alatians 76//1

/61/E u*e 76;1/:. Healing of the invalid, -ohn 761:. Restoring the "ithered hand, att. /615E ar* 5617E u*e :6:1.

Restores the centurion$s servant, att. 6715E u*e ;610. Raises the "ido"$s son to life, u*e ;61:. Heals a demoniac, att.

/6//15;E ar* 56E u*e 69,7. Stills the storm, att. 6/51/;E 965/E ar* 965719E u*e 6//1/7. Casts devils out of t"o

#adarenes, att. 6/159E ar* 761/0E u*e 6/:15. Raises from the dead the daughter of -airus, att. 6,,/51/:E ar* 76//1

/9,57195E u*e 69,9/,917:. Cures the "oman "ith the issue of blood, att. 6/01//E ar* 76/7159E u*e 69519. Restores t"oblind men to sight, att. 6/;15. Heals a demoniac, att. 65/,55. Feeds five thousand people, att. 9671/E ar* :657199E u*e

6/1;E -ohn :6719. %al*s on the sea, att. 96//155E ar* :69717/E -ohn :6:1/. Heals the daughter of the Syrophenician "oman,

att. 76/1/E ar* ;6/9150. Feeds four thousand people, att. 765/15E ar* 61. Restores one deaf and mute, ar* ;6515;.

Restores a blind man, ar* 6//1/:. Restores sei+uring child, att. ;691/E ar* 691/E u*e 65;195. &ribute money obtained

from a fish$s mouth, att. ;6/91/;. Restores ten lepers, u*e ;61. ?pens the eyes of a one born blind, -ohn . Raises a+arusfrom the dead, -ohn 619:. Heals the "oman "ith the spirit of infirmity, u*e 5601;. Cures a one "ith dropsy, u*e 961:.

Restores t"o blind men near -ericho, att. /06/159E ar* 069:17/E u*e 657195. Curses a fig tree, att. /6;1//E ar* 6/1

9,/01/9. Heals the ear of alchus, u*e //6917.

0:0ilate said to them, H/hen "hat shall I do "ith 7esus "ho is called Christ>6 /he% all said, H1et him be

cruciAed6 '7ohn F). So 0ilate, "ishing to satisf% the cro"d, released for them Barabbas, and havingscourged 7esus, he delivered him to be cruciAed 'Mar# (E)(E.

0;Christ died for our sins in accordance "ith the Scriptures, that he "as buried, that he "as raised on

the third da% in accordance "ith the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the t"elve. /henhe appeared to more than Ave hundred brothers at one time, most of "hom are still alive, though somehave fallen asleep. /hen he appeared to 7ames, then to all the apostles. 1ast of all, as to one untimel%born, he appeared also to me'( Corinthians ()?b+8. !or since "e believe that 7esus died and rose again,even so, through 7esus, $od "ill bring "ith him those "ho have fallen asleep '( /hessalonians


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/5) and imparts the spiritual gifts of Christ to the believer for the edification of the Body and for

various "or*s of ministry in the "orld. &he Gsign1gifts$ are not normative in the church today.75

0. Te ustif$ing !or) of #o"

%e believe that @ustification is the free act of #od$s grace79"hereby He declares us to be

righteous based on the substitutionary atonement of Christ -esus. By His sacrifice on the cross,

Christ bore in our stead the punishment due us for our sins, 77ma*ing a proper, real, and full

satisfaction to #od$s @ustice7:on our behalf, so that "e may be at peace "ith #od. 7;His perfectobedience and punishment "ere accepted in place of our o"n,7and therefore this @ustification

includes the pardon of sin7and the imputation of Christ$s righteousness to all "ho trust in Christ

alone for their acceptance "ith #od. &his @ustification is given solely of #od$s free grace and not

Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thro"n do"n, "ho accuses them da% and nightbefore our $od 'Revelation ()(-.

Since then "e have a great high priest "ho has passed through the heavens, 7esus, the Son of $od, let

us hold fast our confession '3ebre"s It is Christ "ho died, and furthermore is also risen, "ho is even at the right

hand of $od, "ho also ma#es intercession for us '9cts 8)?


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in consideration of any thing "e have done,:0 and is accessed solely through faith: in our

Redeemer -esus Christ,:/in order that both the eact @ustice and the rich grace of #od might be

glorified in the @ustification of sinners. %e believe that a +eal for personal and public obedience

flo"s from this free @ustification.

1. Te Sanctif$ing !or) of #o"

%e believe that sanctification is the divine setting apart of the believer unto #od for his glory,

"hereby "e are made more li*e ChristE "hich is accomplished in a threefold manner. First, it isan eternal act of #od, based upon redemption in Christ, "hich has established the believer in a

of life5 %ou "ill ma#e me full of gladness "ith %our presence6 '9cts )6 /he stingof death is sin, and the po"er of sin is the la". But than#s be to $od, "ho gives us the victor% through our1ord 7esus Christ '( Cor (E)E


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position of holiness at the moment he trusts Christ as Savior.:5Second, it is a continuing process

in the saint as the Holy Spirit applies the %ord of #od to life, :9delivering us more and more

from the pollution of sin:7and rene"ing our entire nature according to the image of Christ. ::

&hird, it is the final accomplishment of this process at the ord$s return, "hen the last vestiges of

corruption "ill be forever removed.:;

%e believe that the sanctification, "hich comes by the Spirit through faith, : is imperfect andincomplete in this life.: !lthough slavery to sin is bro*en,;0 and sinful desires are

progressively;"ea*ened by the po"er #od,;/yet there remain remnants of corruption in every

heart that give rise to irreconcilable "ar,;5and call for vigilance in the lifelong fight of faith.;9

/::hen %ou send forth %our Spirit, the% are created, and %ou rene" the face of the ground '0salm

(-


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11. Te e Birt

%e believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again ;7in faith to -esus Christ.;:&his

ne" birth is result of the @ustifying and sanctifying "or* of #od in "hich the individual becomes

a ne" creation in Christ -esus;; instantaneously. %hen born again, those "ho "ere formerly

spiritually dead in their sinful rebellion are made parta*ers of the divine nature ; and receive

eternal life, the free gift of #od. &he proper evidence of this ne" birth is in the holy fruits of

repentance, faith and ne"ness of life.;

3ol% Spirit '/itus ?)E.

57 2and "ho has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee '

Corinthians (). 3e "ho has prepared us for this ver% thing is $od, "ho has given us the Spirit as aguarantee ' Corinthians E)E. In him %ou also, "hen %ou heard the "ord of truth, the gospel of %oursalvation, and believed in him, "ere sealed "ith the promised 3ol% Spirit, "ho is the guarantee of ourinheritance until "e acGuire possession of it, to the praise of his glor% 'phesians ()(?+(


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12. Te Perse-erance of te Saints

%e believe the same #od "hose po"er @ustified the believer is also at "or* in the continued

sanctification of that believer.0&hus, all "ho are truly born again are *ept by #od the Father

for -esus Christ,/and can not fall from the state of saving grace, 5but "ill persevere in their

faith to the end,9and be eternally saved. %hile it is true that believers, through temptation and

the prevalency of corruption remaining in them "hich "ars against their ne" nature, 7can fall

into grievous sin, it is also true that a real believer in -esus Christ cannot completely abandon

himself to the dominion of sin.:&he person "ho has truly been made righteous in -esus Christ

"ill live by faith,;as one cannot have Christ as Savior "ho re@ects him as ord.

up "ith him and seated us "ith him in the heavenl% places in Christ 7esus 'phesians ) '9cts (()(E+(F.

92the Spirit of truth, "hom the "orld cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor #no"s him. ou

#no" him, for he d"ells "ith %ou and "ill be in %ou '7ohn (


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13. Se,aration from unrigteousness

%e believe that there is a radical and essential difference bet"een the righteous and the "ic*ed.

&hose "ho have, through faith, been truly @ustified and sanctified, are righteous in the eyes of

#od0. Conversely, those "ho continue in sin and unbelief are "ic*ed in His eyes. &herefore,

as children of #od "hose citi+enship is in heaven, /"e are to "al*5 in separation from this

present "orld,9abstaining from all "orldliness7"hich defiles the mind and body and "hich

brings reproach to the name of Christ.

ou are not %our o"n '( Corinthians )(*. 9nd because %ou are sons, $od has sent the Spirit of his Soninto our hearts, cr%ing, 9bbaL !atherL '$alatians :e "ereburied therefore "ith him b% baptism into death, in order that, ust as Christ "as raised from the dead b%the glor% of the !ather, "e too might "al# in ne"ness of life. !or if "e have been united "ith him in adeath li#e his, "e shall certainl% be united "ith him in a resurrection li#e his. :e #no" that our old self "ascruciAed "ith him in order that the bod% of sin might be brought to nothing, so that "e "ould no longer beenslaved to sin. !or one "ho has died has been set free from sin. 4o" if "e have died "ith Christ, "ebelieve that "e "ill also live "ith him. :e #no" that Christ, being raised from the dead, "ill never dieagain5 death no longer has dominion over him. !or the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but thelife he lives he lives to $od 'Romans )(+(-.70

9nd I am sure of this, that he "ho began a good "or# in %ou "ill bring it to completion at the da% of7esus Christ '0hilippians ().

7But %ou "ill receive po"er "hen the 3ol% Spirit has come upon %ou2 '9cts ()8.

7/!or it is $od "ho "or#s in %ou, both to "ill and to "or# for his good pleasure '0hilippians )(?.

(E?

9n evil and adulterous generation see#s for a sign, but no sign "ill be given to it e=cept the sign of7onah 'Matthe" ()


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14. Te ature of te Curc

%e believe in one universal Church, the e66lesia (3called1out ones4), composed of all those called

by #od to salvation and righteousness,:the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe,

and tongue, and people, and nation, ;"ho are Christ$s chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy

nation, and a people belonging to #odEunited to Him through faith by the Spirit in one Body,

"ith Christ Himself as its HeadE/00"hose ultimate purpose is to declare the praises of Him "ho

called us out of dar*ness into His "onderful light./0

hear m% voice. 1et %our ears be attentive to m% cr% for merc%. If %ou, O 1ORD, #ept a record of sins, O 1ord,"ho could stand> But "ith %ou there is forgiveness5 therefore %ou are feared '0salm (?-)(+


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%e believe this universal Church, according to the pattern of the 'e" &estament, finds epression

in local assemblies/0/in "hich believers agree together to hear the %ord of #od proclaimed, /05to

engage in corporate "orship,/09to practice the ordinances of baptism /07and the ord$s Supper,/0:

to build each other$s faith through the manifold ministries of love,/0; to hold each other

accountable in the obedience of faith through Biblical discipline, /0and to engage in local and"orld evangeli+ation./0&he Church is a body in "hich each member should find a suitable

ministry for Christ$s spiritual giftsE/0it is the household of #od in "hich the Spirit d"ellsE /andit is the covenantal community "hich serves as the pillar and buttress of #od$s truth in a truth1

denying "orld,//eisting as the salt and light of the #ospel /5 in order that man*ind may be

saved/9and #od glorified./7

:;2so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, "ithout spot or "rin#le or an% such thing,

that she might be hol% and "ithout blemish 'phesians E)F. Beloved, "e are $od6s children no", and"hat "e "ill be has not %et appeared5 but "e #no" that "hen he appears "e shall be li#e him, because "eshall see him as he is '( 7ohn ?).

:But "e ought al"a%s to give than#s to $od for %ou, brothers beloved b% the 1ord, because $od chose

%ou as the Arstfruits to be saved, through sanctiAcation b% the Spirit and belief in the truth '/hessalonians )(?.

:4ot that I have alread% obtained this or am alread% perfect, but I press on to ma#e it m% o"n, because

Christ 7esus has made me his o"n '0hilippians ?)(. If "e sa% "e have no sin, "e deceive ourselves, andthe truth is not in us. If "e confess our sins, he is faithful and ust to forgive us our sins and to cleanse usfrom all unrighteousness. If "e sa% "e have not sinned, "e ma#e him a liar, and his "ord is not in us '(7ohn ()8+(-. M% little children, I am "riting these things to %ou so that %ou ma% not sin. But if an%onedoes sin, "e have an advocate "ith the !ather, 7esus Christ the righteous '( 7ohn )(. $ive us this da%our dail% bread, and forgive us our debts, as "e also have forgiven our debtors 'Matthe" )((+(. So%ou also must consider %ourselves dead to sin and alive to $od in Christ 7esus. 1et not sin therefore reignin %our mortal bodies, to ma#e %ou obe% their passions. Do not present %our members to sin asinstruments for unrighteousness, but present %ourselves to $od as those "ho have been brought fromdeath to life, and %our members to $od as instruments for righteousness 'Romans )((+(?. But I sa%,"al# b% the Spirit, and %ou "ill not gratif% the desires of the ;esh. !or the desires of the ;esh are againstthe Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the ;esh, for these are opposed to each other, to #eep%ou from doing the things %ou "ant to do. But if %ou are led b% the Spirit, %ou are not under the la"'$alatians E)(+(8.

;0!or sin "ill have no dominion over %ou, since %ou are not under la" but under grace 'Romans )(


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1(. Te 5ea"ersi, of te Curc

%e believe that the final and true leader of the Church is -esus Christ, the incarnate %ord and

Redeemer, "ho operates through the continued agency of the Holy Spirit, and therefore the local

church is to be free from all eternal ecclesiastical and secular governmental control. In His grace

and "isdom, He calls on local congregations to recogni+e and affirm the divine calling of

spiritually =ualified men/: to give leadership to the church in the offices of elder and deacon.

&he elders, to "hom the entire congregation is commanded to heed and submit,/;are accountable

to the ord -esus and His %ord,/and are responsible to oversee #od$s people through teaching,

counsel, encouragement, prayer, and protection from false teaching./ &he deacons areresponsible to serve the spiritual and material needs of the church as directed by the elders and to

"ill a"ard to me on that Da%, and not onl% to me but also to all "ho have loved his appearing ' /imoth%


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"or* in con@unction "ith them for the benefit of the body. //0!ccording to #od$s created design,

"omen are not to fill the role of elder or deacon in the local church, but are encouraged to fully

use their gifts in appropriate roles that edify the body of Christ and spread the gospel. // &he

congregation, comprised of a regenerate membership,/// is to be actively involved in the

governing of the church on *ey matters.//5

1*. Ba,tism an" te 5or"+s Su,,er%e believe that baptism and the ord$s Supper are ordained and commanded by -esus Christ tobe practiced until his return.//9

christs and false prophets "ill arise and perform signs and "onders, to lead astra%, if possible, the elect'Mar# (?).

9!or "e have come to share in Christ, if indeed "e hold our original conAdence Arm to the end

'3ebre"s ?)(


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%e believe that Christian baptism is only for those "ho have repented and come to faith in

Christ,//7and is done as a sign and seal of faith epressed in the crucified, buried and risen Savior,

through "hom "e died to sin and rose to ne" lifeE //:and symboli+ed by being immersed into

"ater//;in the name of the Father and the Son and the Spirit.//

%e believe that the ord$s supper is the commemoration of Christ$ death in "hich gathered

believers//eat bread,/50signifying Christ$s body given for His people, and drin* from the cup,signifying the ne" covenant made possible by Christ$ blood./5&his should al"ays be preceded

/he e%es of the 1ORD are ever%"here, #eeping "atch on the "ic#ed and the good '0roverbs (E)?.

/he "a% of the "ic#ed is an abomination to the 1ORD, but he loves him "ho pursues righteousness'0roverbs (E)*.

/But our citiKenship is in heaven, and from it "e a"ait a Savior, the 1ord 7esus Christ '0hilippians ?)-.

5I therefore, a prisoner for the 1ord, urge %ou to "al# in a manner "orth% of the calling to "hich %ou

have been called 'phesians


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by self1eamination,/5/ understanding the promises of blessing if ta*en "orthily/55 and the

"arnings of @udgment if ta*ing "hile in unrepentant sin./59

1. Te %ission of Crist+s Curc

%e believe that the mission of the Church, given to every believer by the ord -esus Christ to be

obeyed until his return, is to proclaim the #ospel /57to every tribe and tongue and people and

nation,/5:bapti+ing them in the name of Christ and teaching them the "ords and "ays of the

ord./5;&he ultimate aim of this mission is that #od "ould create, by the %ord of his po"er,"orshippers "ho glorify his name through sincere faith and loving obedience./5

/059nd the% devoted themselves to the apostles6 teaching2 '9cts ) $od udges those outside. 0urge the evil person from among %ou '( Corinthians E)((+?. /o thishe called %ou through our gospel, so that %ou ma% obtain the glor% of our 1ord 7esus Christ. So then,brothers, stand Arm and hold to the traditions that %ou "ere taught b% us, either b% our spo#en "ord or b%our letter ' /hessalonians ?)(


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1/. 5ife after Deat

%e believe that "hen Christians die they are made perfect in holiness/5 and their souls are

immediately received into the presence of Christ,/90"hich is more glorious and more satisfying

than any eperience on earth./9&he souls of the unsaved have no part in the blessings of #od,

and are immediately cast into a state of conscious punishment and torment /9/until the great and

final @udgment./95

!t the end of this age, "e believe the righteous, in resurrected and glorified bodies, /99"ill enter

into Christ$s *ingdom, "hich is the beginning of a never1ending @oy/97 in the hearts of the

the% have gone out for the sa#e of the name, accepting nothing from the $entiles. /herefore "e ought tosupport people li#e these, that "e ma% be fello" "or#ers for the truth '? 7ohn F+8. 9nd 7esus came andsaid to them, 9ll authorit% in heaven and on earth has been given to me. $o therefore and ma#e disciplesof all nations, baptiKing them in the name of the !ather and of the Son and of the 3ol% Spirit, teachingthem to observe all that I have commanded %ou. 9nd behold, I am "ith %ou al"a%s, to the end of the age'Matthe" 8)(8+-.

/0But grace "as given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ6s gift29nd he gave the

apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to eGuip the saints for the "or# ofministr% 'phesians 9s it is, there are man% parts, %et one bod%. /he e%ecannot sa% to the hand, I have no need of %ou, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of %ou.On the contrar%, the parts of the bod% that seem to be "ea#er are indispensable, and on those parts of thebod% that "e thin# less honorable "e besto" the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated"ith greater modest%, "hich our more presentable parts do not reGuire. But $od has so composed thebod%, giving greater honor to the part that lac#ed it, that there ma% be no division in the bod%, but that themembers ma% have the same care for one another. If one member suQers, all suQer together5 if onemember is honored, all reoice together. 4o" %ou are the bod% of Christ and individuall% members of it.

9nd $od has appointed in the church Arst apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, thengifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various #inds of tongues. 9re all apostles> 9re all prophets>9re all teachers> Do all "or# miracles> Do all possess gifts of healing> Do all spea# "ith tongues> Do allinterpret> But earnestl% desire the higher gifts '( Corinthians ()(+?-.

/N:e have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ 7esus himself being the

cornerstone, in "hom the "hole structure, being oined together, gro"s into a hol% temple in the 1ord. Inhim %ou also are being built together into a d"elling place for $od b% the Spirit 'phesians )-+.

// If I dela%, %ou ma% #no" ho" one ought to behave in the household of $od, "hich is the church of the

living $od, a pillar and buttress of the truth '( /imoth% ?)(E.

/5 ou are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, ho" shall its saltiness be restored> It is no

longer good for an%thing e=cept to be thro"n out and trampled under people6s feet. ou are the light of the

"orld. 9 cit% set on a hill cannot be hidden. 4or do people light a lamp and put it under a bas#et, but on astand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same "a%, let %our light shine before others, so that the%ma% see %our good "or#s andgive glor% to %our !ather "ho is in heave 'Matthe" E)(?+(.

/9/he sa%ing is trust"orth% and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ 7esus came into the "orld tosave sinners 'I /imoth% ()(E. 3o" then "ill the% call on him in "hom the% have not believed> 9nd ho"are the% to believe in him of "hom the% have never heard> 9nd ho" are the% to hear "ithout someonepreaching 'Romans (-)(

/7B% their approval of this service, the% "ill glorif% $od because of %our submission ;o"ing from %our

confession of the gospel of Christ ' Corinthians *)(?a.

/;


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redeemed/9: as #od displays more and more of His infinite and inehaustible greatness and glory

for the @oy of his people./9;2et those "ho have suppressed the truth in unrighteous/9"ill be

resurrected and brought before the ord for final @udgment,/9 and "ill be consigned to

everlasting conscious misery,/70 for "hich reason the ord patiently and loving delays his

return./7

10. Te Secon" Coming of Crist

%e believe in the imminent, pre1tribulational, pre1millennial return of Christ for His Church, and

that at that moment the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies, and the living in Christ

shall be given glorified bodies "ithout tasting death, and all shall be caught up to meet the ord

/:For elders6/he sa%ing is trust"orth%) If an%one aspires to the oce of overseer, he desires a noble tas#./herefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one "ife, sober+minded, self+controlled,respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drun#ard, not violent but gentle, not Guarrelsome, not a loverof mone%. 3e must manage his o"n household "ell, "ith all dignit% #eeping his children submissive, for ifsomeone does not #no" ho" to manage his o"n household, ho" "ill he care for $od6s church> 3e mustnot be a recent convert, or he ma% become puQed up "ith conceit and fall into the condemnation of thedevil. Moreover, he must be "ell thought of b% outsiders, so that he ma% not fall into disgrace, into a snareof the devil '( /imoth% ?)(+F. /his is "h% I left %ou in Crete, so that %ou might put "hat remained into

order, and appoint elders in ever% to"n as I directed %ouJif an%one is above reproach, the husband of one"ife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debaucher% or insubordination. !or anoverseer, as $od6s ste"ard, must be above reproach. 3e must not be arrogant or Guic#+tempered or adrun#ard or violent or greed% for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self+controlled, upright, hol%, anddisciplined. 3e must hold Arm to the trust"orth% "ord as taught, so that he ma% be able to give instructionin sound doctrine and also to rebu#e those "ho contradict it '/itus ()E+*. For Deacons6Deacons li#e"isemust be digniAed, not double+tongued, not addicted to much "ine, not greed% for dishonest gain. /he%must hold the m%ster% of the faith "ith a clear conscience. 109nd let them also be tested Arst5 then letthem serve as deacons if the% prove themselves blameless. /heir "ives li#e"ise must be digniAed, notslanderers, but sober+minded, faithful in all things. 1et deacons each be the husband of one "ife,managing their children and their o"n households "ell. !or those "ho serve "ell as deacons gain a goodstanding for themselves and also great conAdence in the faith that is in Christ 7esus '( /imoth% ?)8+(?.

/;'ote italici+ed portion6Obey your leaders and submit to them, for the% are #eeping "atch over %our souls,

as those "ho "ill have to give an account. 1et them do this "ith o% and not "ith groaning, for that "ouldbe of no advantage to %ou '3ebre"s (?)(F.

/'ote italici+ed portion6Obe% %our leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls,

as those who will have to give an account.1et them do this "ith o% and not "ith groaning, for that "ouldbe of no advantage to %ou '3ebre"s (?)(F./

1et the elders "ho rule "ell be considered "orth% of double honor, especiall% those "ho labor in

preaching and teaching '( /imoth% E)(F. But some believers "ho belonged to the part% of the 0hariseesrose up and said, HIt is necessar% to circumcise them and to order them to #eep the la" of Moses.6 /heapostles and the elders "ere gathered together to consider this matter '9cts (E)E+. 0a% carefulattention to %ourselves and to all the ;oc#, in "hich the 3ol% Spirit has made %ou overseers, to care for thechurch of $od, "hich he obtained "ith his o"n blood '9cts -)8. N/he elders must shepherd the ;oc# of$od that is among %ou, e=ercising oversight, not under compulsion, but "illingl%, as $od "ould have %ou5not for shameful gain, but eagerl%5 not domineering over those in %our charge, but being e=amples to the;oc#. 9nd "hen the chief Shepherd appears, %ou "ill receive the unfading cro"n of glor% '( 0eter E)+


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in the air before the seventieth "ee* of Daniel. /7/%e believe that the tribulation, "hich follo"s

the Rapture of the Church, "ill be culminated by the revelation of Christ in po"er and great glory

to sit upon the throne of David and to establish the millennial reign./75

2. Ci-il #o-ernment an" 6eligious 5ibert$

%e believe that #od, as the Supreme !uthority, has ordained civil government/79 and has set up

civil authorities to rule over communities for the public good and for his glory. #od has given tocivil government the po"er to punish evil and encourage good behavior./77Christians are to

//I do not permit a "oman to teach or to e=ercise authorit% over a man5 rather, she is to remain Guiet.!or 9dam "as formed Arst, then ve '( /imoth% )(+(?.

///:hoever sa%s he abides in him ought to "al# in the same "a% in "hich he "al#ed '( 7ohn ). /o the

church of $od that is in Corinth, to those sanctiAed in Christ 7esus '( Cor ()a. But se=ual immoralit%and all impurit% or covetousness must not even be named among %ou, as is proper among saints'phesians E)?. 9lso see footnote on Hholding each other accountable6 in the church section above.

//5

&hesematters include, at least, the follo"ing6 415 the selection of its spirit%al leaders&9nd the t"elve summoned thefull number of the disciples and said, HIt is not right that "e should give up preaching the "ord of $od toserve tables. /herefore, brothers, pic# out from among %ou seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit andof "isdom, "hom "e "ill appoint to this dut%. But "e "ill devote ourselves to pra%er and to the ministr% ofthe "ord.6 9nd "hat the% said pleased the "hole gathering, and the% chose Stephen, a man full of faithand of the 3ol% Spirit, and 0hilip, and 0rochorus, and 4icanor, and /imon, and 0armenas, and 4icolaus, aprosel%te of 9ntioch. /hese the% set before the apostles, and the% pra%ed and laid their hands on them.425 The commissioning of missionaries&/hen the apostles and elders, "ith the "hole church, decided to choosesome of their o"n men and send them to 9ntioch "ith 0aul and Barnabas. /he% chose 7udas 'calledBarsabbas and Silas, t"o men "ho "ere leaders among the brothers '9cts (E). 435 The e7comm%nication of%nrepentant8 sinf%l memers&If %our brother sins against %ou, go and tell him his fault, bet"een %ou and himalone. If he listens to %ou, %ou have gained %our brother. But if he does not listen, ta#e one or t"o othersalong "ith %ou, that ever% charge ma% be established b% the evidence of t"o or three "itnesses. If herefuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. 9nd if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to%ou as a $entile and a ta= collector 'Matthe" (8)(E+(F.

//9

Baptism6$o therefore and ma#e disciples of all nations, baptiKing them 'Matthe" 8)(*a. ord$s Supper6!or I received from the 1ord "hat I also delivered to %ou, that the 1ord 7esus on the night "hen he "asbetra%ed too# bread, and "hen he had given than#s, he bro#e it, and said, H/his is m% bod% "hich is for%ou. Do this in remembrance of me.6 In the same "a% also he too# the cup, after supper, sa%ing, H/his cupis the ne" covenant in m% blood. Do this, as often as %ou drin# it, in remembrance of me.6 !or as often as%ou eat this bread and drin# the cup, %ou proclaim the 1ord6s death until he comes '( Corinthians (()?+.

//79nd 0eter said to them, HRepent and be baptiKed ever% one of %ou in the name of 7esus Christ for the

forgiveness of %our sins, and %ou "ill receive the gift of the 3ol% Spirit6 '9cts )?8. 9nd the% "erebaptiKed b% him in the river 7ordan, confessing their sins 'Matthe" ?). Crispus, the ruler of thes%nagogue, believed in the 1ord, together "ith his entire household. 9nd man% of the Corinthians hearing0aul believed and "ere baptiKed '9cts (8)8.

//:Do %ou not #no" that all of us "ho have been baptiKed into Christ 7esus "ere baptiKed into his death>

:e "ere buried therefore "ith him b% baptism into death, in order that, ust as Christ "as raised from the

dead b% the glor% of the !ather, "e too might "al# in

ne"ness of life 'Romans )?+6 9nd he commanded the chariot to stop, and the% both"ent do"n into the "ater, 0hilip and the eunuch, and he baptiKed him. 9nd "hen the% came up out of the"ater, the Spirit of the 1ord carried 0hilip a"a%, and the eunuch sa" him no more, and "ent on his "a%reoicing '9cts 8)?+?*. 7ohn also "as baptiKing at 9enon near Salim, because "ater "as plentiful there,and people "ere coming and being baptiKed '7ohn ?)?. :e "ere buried therefore "ith him b% baptisminto death 'Romans )


31/34

submit to civil government, conscientiously honor their leaders, obey the la"s of the land, /7:pay

taes,/7; and pray for those in authority./7 ?nly "hen civil government commands "hat is

forbidden in the Scriptures must Christians disobey in favor of obeying -esus Christ./7

%e believe each church is independent and must be free from interference by an ecclesiastical orpolitical authority, "ith ever member of the Body of Christ being responsible to #od in matters of

faith./:0&he Church and State are distinct, "ith each fulfilling its duties to #od free from controlby the other. %hile civil authority is separated from church government, it should not be

separated from #od and his la".

//$o therefore and ma#e disciples of all nations, baptiKing them in the name of the !ather and of the Son

and of the 3ol% Spirit 'Matthe" 8)(*.

//But in the follo"ing instructions I do not commend %ou, because "hen %ou come together it is not forthe better but for the "orse. !or, in the Arst place, "hen %ou come together as a church, I hear that thereare divisions among %ou. 9nd I believe it in part,for there must be factions among %ou in order that those"ho are genuine among %ou ma% be recogniKed. :hen %ou come together, it is not the 1ord6s supper that%ou eat. !or in eating, each one goes ahead "ith his o"n meal. One goes hungr%, another gets drun#.:hatL Do %ou not have houses to eat and drin# in> Or do %ou despise the church of $od and humiliatethose "ho have nothing> :hat shall I sa% to %ou> Shall I commend %ou in this> 4o, I "ill not '( Corinthians(()(F+.

/504o" as the% "ere eating, 7esus too# bread, and after blessing it bro#e it and gave it to the disciples,and said, H/a#e, eat5 this is m% bod%6 'Matthe" ).

/59nd he too# a cup, and "hen he had given than#s he gave it to them, sa%ing, HDrin# of it, all of %ou, for

this is m% blood of thecovenant, "hich is poured out for man% for the forgiveness of sins6 'Matthe" )F+8.

/5/1et a person e=amine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drin# of the cup '( Corinthians

(()8.??

/he cup of blessing that "e bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ> /he bread that "e brea#,is it not a participation in the bod% of Christ> Because there is one bread, "e "ho are man% are one bod%,

for "e all parta#e of the one bread '( Corinthians (-)(+(F. So 7esus said to them, /rul%, trul%, I sa% to%ou, unless %ou eat the ;esh of the Son of Man and drin# his blood, %ou have no life in %ou. :hoever feedson m% ;esh and drin#s m% blood has eternal life, and I "ill raise him up on the last da%. !or m% ;esh is truefood, and m% blood is true drin#. :hoever feeds on m% ;esh and drin#s m% blood abides in me, and I inhim. 9s the living !ather sent me, and I live because of the !ather, so "hoever feeds on me, he also "illlive because of me2 It is the Spirit "ho gives life5 the ;esh is no help at all. /he "ords that I have spo#ento %ou are spirit and life '7ohn )E?+EF, ?.? /hen do "hat is good, and %ou "ill receive his approval, for he is $od6s servant for %our good.But if %ou do "rong, be afraid, for he does not bear the s"ord in vain. !or he is the servant of $od, anavenger "ho carries out $od6s "rath on the "rongdoer 'Romans (?)?+

Confessions of Faith (Indian River Baptist Church)

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