ARTICLES OF FAITH.
The
following “Articles of Faith” have been taken from the 11 BOYD’S NATIONAL
BAPTIST PASTOR’S GUIDE and presented here for the guidance of Ministers of the
Spiritual Baptist Faith because they represent the tenets upon which our faith
hangs. The Pastor’s Guide was prepared for Negro Baptist Preachers and Baptist
Churches of America whose organizational structure is almost identical to ours,
whose history and growth parallel the history and growth of the Spiritual
Baptists, whose faith, like ours, rests in the risen Saviour, son of the Most
High God and the Holy Spirit, the Guide and Comforter.
1. THE
SCRIPTURES
We believe
that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect
treasure of heavenly instruction, that it has God for its author, salvation for
its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter, that reveals the
principles by which God will judge us, and therefore is, and shall remain to the
end of the world, the true centre of Christian union, and the supreme standard
by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried.
2. THE
TRUE GOD
We believe
the Scriptures teach that there is one and only one living and true God, and
infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is Jehovah, the Maker and Supreme Ruler
of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all
possible honor, confidence and love, that in the unity of the Godhead there are
three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine
perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of
redemption.
3. THE
FALL OF MAN
We believe
Scriptures teach that man was created in holiness under the law of his maker,
butt by voluntary transgressions fell from that holy and happy state, in
consequences of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but
choice, being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of
God, positively inclined to evil, and therefore under just condemnation to
eternal ruin without defense or excuse.
4. THE
WAY OF SALVATION
We believe
that the Scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace,
through the mediatory offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the
Father, freely took upon him our nature , yet without sin, honored the divine
law by his personal obedience, and by his death made a full atonement for our
sins, that having risen from the dead, he is now enthroned in heaven, uniting in
his wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection he is every
way qualified to be a suitable , a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Saviour.
5.
JUSTIFICATION
We believe
the Scriptures teach that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such
as believe in him is justification, that justification includes the pardon of
sin, and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness that it is
bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteous which we have done,
which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us God, that it
brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures
every other blessings needful for time an eternity.
6. THE
FREENESS OF SALVATION
We believe
the scriptures teach that the blessing of salvation are made free to all by the
Gospel, that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them, by cordial,
penitent and obedient faith, and the nothing prevents the salvation of the
greatest sinner on earth, but his own determined depravity and voluntary
rejection of the Gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated
condemnation.
7.
REGENERATION
We believe
that the scriptures teach that in order to be saved, sinners must be
regenerated, or born again, that regeneration consists in giving a holy
disposition to the mind, that it is effected in a manner above our
comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth,
so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel, and that its proper
evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith, the newness of
life.
8.
REPENTANCE AND FAITH
We believe
the scriptures teach that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also
inseparable graces, wrought n our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God,
whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the
way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contribution,
confession, and supplication for mercy, at the same time heartily receiving the
Lord Jesus Christ as our prophet, priest and king, and relying on him alone as
the only and all-sufficient Saviour.
9.
GOD’S PURPOSE OF GRACE
We believe
the scriptures teach that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to
which he graciously regenerates sanctifies and saves sinners, that being
perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means
in connection with the end, that it is a most glorious display of God’s
sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, Holy and unchangeable, that it
utterly excludes boasting and promotes humility, love prayer, praise, trust in
God, and active imitation of his free mercy, that it encourages the use of means
in the highest degree, that it may be ascertained by it’s effects in all who
truly believe the Gospel, that it is the foundation of Christian assurance, and
that to ascertain It with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost
diligence.
10.
SANCTIFICATION
We believe
the scriptures teach that sanctification is the process by which, according to
the will of God, we are partakers of His holiness, that I is a progressive work,
that it is begun in regeneration, and that it is carried on in the hearts of
believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter
in the continual use of the appointed means- especially the word of God,
self-examination, self- denial, watchfulness, and prayer.
11.
PRESERVANCE OF SAINTS
We believe
the scriptures teach that such only are believers as endure to the end, the
their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes
them from superficial professors, that a special Providence watches over their
welfare, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
12.
THE LAW AND GOSPEL
We believe
the scriptures teach that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of
his moral government, that it Is holy just and good, and that the inability
which the Scriptures ascribes to fallen men to fulfill its precepts , arises
entirely from their love of sin, to deliver them from which, and to restore them
through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the Holy Law , is one great end of
the Gospel, and of the Means of Grace connected with the establishment of the
visible church.
13. A
GOSPEL CHURCH
We believe
the scriptures teach that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of
baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the
Gospel, observing the ordinance of Christ, governed by laws, and exercising the
gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word.
14.
BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe
the scriptures teach that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a
believer, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, to show forth in
a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified , buried, and risen
Saviour, with it’s effect, in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life,
that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation, and to the
Lord’s Supper, in which the members of the church, by the sacred use of bread
and wine, are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ, preceded always
by solemn self examination.
15. THE
CHRISTIAN SABBATH
We believe
the scriptures teach that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, or
Christian Sabbath, and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining
from all secular labor and sinful recreation by the devout observance of all the
means of grace, both private and public, and by preparation for the rest
remained for the people.
16.
CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe
the scriptures teach that civil government is of Devine appointment, for the
interest and good order of human society, and that magistrates are to be prayed
for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only in things apposed to the
will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience and the
Prince of the Kings of the earth.
17.
RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED
We believe
the scriptures teach that there is a radical and essential difference between
the righteous and the wicked, that such only as through faith are justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly
righteous in his esteem, while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief
are in his sight wicked, and under the curse, and this distinction holds among
men both in and after death.
18. THE
WORLD TO COME
We believe
the scriptures teach that the end of the world is approaching, that at the last
day, Christ will descend from heaven and raise the dead from the grave for final
retribution, that a solemn separation will then take place, that the wicked will
be adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy, and that
this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on
principles f righteousness.
