ARTICLES OF FAITH

 I. The Triune God

1. We believe in one eternally existent, infinite God, Sovereign

of the universe; that He only is God, creative and administrative,

holy in nature, attributes, and purpose; that He, as God, is Triune in essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

(Genesis 1; Leviticus 19:2; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 5:16; 6:1-7; 40:18-31; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; John 14:6-27; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 2:13-18)

 II. Jesus Christ

2. We believe in Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the

Triune Godhead; that He was eternally one with the Father;

that He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born

of the Virgin Mary, so that two whole and perfect natures,

1. Scripture references are supportive of the Articles of Faith and were placed here by action of the 1976 General Assembly but are not to be considered as part of the Constitutional text.

that is to say the Godhead and manhood, are thus united in

one Person very God and very man, the God-man. We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and that He truly arose from the dead and took again His body, together with all things appertaining to the perfection of man’s nature, wherewith He ascended into heaven and is there engaged in intercession for us.

(Matthew 1:20-25; 16:15-16; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-18; Acts 2:22-36; Romans 8:3, 32-34; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:12-22; 1 Timothy 6:14-16; Hebrews 1:1-5; 7:22-28; 9:24-28; 1 John 1:1-3; 4:2-3, 15)

III. The Holy Spirit

3. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the

Triune Godhead, that He is ever present and efficiently active

in and with the Church of Christ, convincing the world

of sin, regenerating those who repent and believe, sanctifying

believers, and guiding into all truth as it is in Jesus.

(John 7:39; 14:15-18, 26; 16:7-15; Acts 2:33; 15:8-9; Romans 8:1-27; Galatians 3:1-14; 4:6; Ephesians 3:14-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 3:24; 4:13)

 IV. The Holy Scriptures

4. We believe in the plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures,

by which we understand the 66 books of the Old and

New Testaments, given by divine inspiration, inerrantly revealing the will of God concerning us in all things necessary

to our salvation, so that whatever is not contained therein is

not to be enjoined as an article of faith.

(Luke 24:44-47; John 10:35; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:10-12; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

V. Sin, Original and Personal

5. We believe that sin came into the world through the

disobedience of our first parents, and death by sin. We believe

that sin is of two kinds: original sin or depravity, and

actual or personal sin.

5.1. We believe that original sin, or depravity, is that corruption of the nature of all the offspring of Adam by reason

of which everyone is very far gone from original righteous-

ness or the pure state of our first parents at the time of

their creation, is averse to God, is without spiritual life, and

inclined to evil, and that continually.We further believe that

original sin continues to exist with the new life of the regenerate, until the heart is fully cleansed by the baptism with

the Holy Spirit.

5.2. We believe that original sin differs from actual sin in

that it constitutes an inherited propensity to actual sin for

which no one is accountable until its divinely provided remedy

is neglected or rejected.

5.3. We believe that actual or personal sin is a voluntary

violation of a known law of God by a morally responsible

person. It is therefore not to be confused with involuntary

and inescapable shortcomings, infirmities, faults, mistakes,

failures, or other deviations from a standard of perfect conduct

that are the residual effects of the Fall. However, such

innocent effects do not include attitudes or responses contrary

to the spirit of Christ, which may properly be called

sins of the spirit. We believe that personal sin is primarily

and essentially a violation of the law of love; and that in relation to Christ sin may be defined as unbelief.

(Original sin: Genesis 3; 6:5; Job 15:14; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9-10; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 1:18-25; 5:12-14; 7:1—8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:1-4; Galatians 5:16-25; 1 John 1:7-8 Personal sin: Matthew 22:36-40 {with 1 John 3:4}; John 8:34-36; 16:8-9; Romans 3:23; 6:15-23; 8:18-24; 14:23; 1 John 1:9—2:4; 3:7-10)

VI. Atonement

6. We believe that Jesus Christ, by His sufferings, by the

shedding of His own blood, and by His death on the Cross,

made a full atonement for all human sin, and that this

Atonement is the only ground of salvation, and that it is sufficient for every individual of Adam’s race. The Atonement is

graciously efficacious for the salvation of the irresponsible

and for the children in innocency but is efficacious for the

salvation of those who reach the age of responsibility only

when they repent and believe.

(Isaiah 53:5-6, 11; Mark 10:45; Luke 24:46-48; John 1:29; 3:14-17; Acts 4:10-12; Romans 3:21-26; 4:17-25; 5:6-21; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Galatians 1:3-4; 3:13-14; Colossians 1:19-23; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:9; 9:11-14; 13:12; 1 Peter 1:18-21; 2:19-25; 1 John 2:1-2)

VII. Prevenient Grace

7. We believe that the human race’s creation in Godlikeness

included ability to choose between right and wrong,

and that thus human beings were made morally responsible;

that through the fall of Adam they became depraved so

that they cannot now turn and prepare themselves by their

own natural strength and works to faith and calling upon

God. But we also believe that the grace of God through Jesus

Christ is freely bestowed upon all people, enabling all

who will to turn from sin to righteousness, believe on Jesus

Christ for pardon and cleansing from sin, and follow good

works pleasing and acceptable in His sight.

We believe that all persons, though in the possession of

the experience of regeneration and entire sanctification,

may fall from grace and apostatize and, unless they repent

of their sins, be hopelessly and eternally lost.

(Godlikeness and moral responsibility: Genesis 1:26-27; 2:16-17; Deuteronomy 28:1-2; 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Psalm 8:3-5; Isaiah 1:8-10; Jeremiah 31:29-30; Ezekiel 18:1-4; Micah 6:8; Romans 1:19-20; 2:1-16; 14:7-12; Galatians 6:7-8 Natural inability: Job 14:4; 15:14; Psalms 14:1-4; 51:5; John 3:6a; Romans 3:10-12; 5:12-14, 20a; 7:14-25 Free grace and works of faith: Ezekiel 18:25-26; John 1:12-13; 3:6b; Acts 5:31; Romans 5:6-8, 18; 6:15-16, 23; 10:6-8; 11:22; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14; 10:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Timothy 4:10a; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:12-15; 6:4-6; 10:26-31; James 2:18-22; 2 Peter 1:10-11; 2:20-22)

VIII. Repentance

8. We believe that repentance, which is a sincere and thorough

change of the mind in regard to sin, involving a sense

of personal guilt and a voluntary turning away from sin, is

demanded of all who have by act or purpose become sinners

against God. The Spirit of God gives to all who will repent

the gracious help of penitence of heart and hope of mercy,

that they may believe unto pardon and spiritual life.

(2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 32:5-6; 51:1-17; Isaiah 55:6-7; Jeremiah 3:12-14; Ezekiel 18:30-32; 33:14-16; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 3:1-14; 13:1-5; 18:9-14; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 17:30-31; 26:16-18; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:8-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Peter 3:9)

IX. Justification, Regeneration, and Adoption

9. We believe that justification is the gracious and judicial

act of God by which He grants full pardon of all guilt and

complete release from the penalty of sins committed, and acceptance as righteous, to all who believe on Jesus Christ and

receive Him as Lord and Savior.

10. We believe that regeneration, or the new birth, is that

gracious work of God whereby the moral nature of the repentant believer is spiritually quickened and given a distinctively spiritual life, capable of faith, love, and obedience.

11. We believe that adoption is that gracious act of God by

which the justified and regenerated believer is constituted a

son of God.

12. We believe that justification, regeneration, and adoption

are simultaneous in the experience of seekers after God

and are obtained upon the condition of faith, preceded by repentance; and that to this work and state of grace the Holy

Spirit bears witness.

(Luke 18:14; John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; 5:24; Acts 13:39; Romans 1:17; 3:21-26, 28; 4:5-9, 17-25; 5:1, 16-19; 6:4; 7:6; 8:1, 15-17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 2:16-21; 3:1-14, 26; 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:1, 4-5; Philippians 3:3-9; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 1:9; 3:1-2, 9; 4:7; 5:1, 9-13, 18)

X. Entire Sanctification

13. We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God,

subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made

free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state

of entire devotement to God, and the holy obedience of love

made perfect. It is wrought by the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart

from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy

Spirit, empowering the believer for life and service. Entire sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus, is 34 CHURCH CONSTITUTION wrought instantaneously by faith, preceded by entire consecration; and to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness. This experience is also known by various terms representing its different phases, such as “Christian perfection,” “perfect love,” “heart purity,” “the baptism with the Holy Spirit,” “the fullness of the blessing,” and “Christian holiness.”

14. We believe that there is a marked distinction between

a pure heart and a mature character. The former is obtained

in an instant, the result of entire sanctification; the latter is

the result of growth in grace. We believe that the grace of entire sanctification includes the impulse to grow in grace. However, this impulse must be consciously nurtured, and careful attention given to the requisites and processes of spiritual development and improvement in Christlikeness of character and personality.Without such purposeful endeavor, one’s witness may be impaired and the grace itself frustrated and ultimately lost.

(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17; John 7:37-39; 14:15-23; 17:6-20; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9; Romans 6:11-13, 19; 8:1-4, 8-14; 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:14—7:1; Galatians 2:20; 5:16-25; Ephesians 3:14-21; 5:17-18, 25-27; Philippians 3:10-15; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Hebrews 4:9-11; 10:10-17; 12:1-2; 13:12; 1 John 1:7, 9) (“Christian perfection,” “perfect love”: Deuteronomy 30:6; Matthew 5:43-48; 22:37-40; Romans 12:9-21; 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13; Philippians 3:10-15; Hebrews 6:1; 1 John 4:17-18 “Heart purity”: Matthew 5:8; Acts 15:8-9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:3 “Baptism with the Holy Spirit”: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9 “Fullness of the blessing”: Romans 15:29 “Christian holiness”: Matthew 5:1—7:29; John 15:1-11; Romans 12:1—15:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:17—5:20; Philippians 1:9-11; 3:12-15; Colossians 2:20—3:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:7-8; 5:23; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; Hebrews 10:19-25; 12:14; 13:20-21; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Peter 1:1-11; 3:18; Jude 20-21)

XI. The Church

15. We believe in the Church, the community that confesses

Jesus Christ as Lord, the covenant people of God made

new in Christ, the Body of Christ called together by the

Holy Spirit through the Word. God calls the Church to express its life in the unity and fellowship of the Spirit; in worship through the preaching of the Word, observance of the sacraments, and ministry in His name; by obedience to Christ and mutual accountability. The mission of the Church in the world is to continue the redemptive work of Christ in the power of the Spirit through holy living, evangelism, discipleship, and service. The Church is a historical reality, which organizes itself in culturally conditioned forms; exists both as local congregations and as a universal body; sets apart persons called of God for specific ministries. God calls the Church to live under His rule in anticipation of the consummation at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Exodus 19:3; Jeremiah 31:33; Matthew 8:11; 10:7; 16:13-19, 24; 18:15-20; 28:19-20; John 17:14-26; 20:21-23; Acts 1:7-8; 2:32-47; 6:1-2; 13:1; 14:23; Romans 2:28-29; 4:16; 10:9-15; 11:13-32; 12:1-8; 15:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; 7:17; 11:1, 17-33; 12:3, 12-31; 14:26-40; 2 Corinthians 5:11—6:1; Galatians 5:6, 13-14; 6:1-5, 15; Ephesians 4:1-17; 5:25-27; Philippians 2:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 13; 2:4-12, 21; 4:1-2, 10-11; 1 John 4:17; Jude 24; Revelation 5:9-10)

XII. Baptism

16. We believe that Christian baptism, commanded by our

Lord, is a sacrament signifying acceptance of the benefits of

the atonement of Jesus Christ, to be administered to believers

and declarative of their faith in Jesus Christ as their

Savior, and full purpose of obedience in holiness and righteousness. Baptism being a symbol of the new covenant, young children may be baptized, upon request of parents or guardians who shall give assurance for them of necessary Christian training. Baptism may be administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, according to the choice of the applicant.

(Matthew 3:1-7; 28:16-20; Acts 2:37-41; 8:35-39; 10:44-48; 16:29-34; 19:1-6; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-28; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:18-22)  

XIII. The Lord’s Supper

17. We believe that the Memorial and Communion Supper

instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is essentially

a New Testament sacrament, declarative of His sacrificial

death, through the merits of which believers have life and

salvation and promise of all spiritual blessings in Christ. It

is distinctively for those who are prepared for reverent appreciation of its significance, and by it they show forth the

Lord’s death till He come again. It being the Communion

feast, only those who have faith in Christ and love for the

saints should be called to participate therein.

(Exodus 12:1-14; Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; John 6:28-58; 1 Corinthians 10:14-21; 11:23-32)

XIV. Divine Healing

18. We believe in the Bible doctrine of divine healing and

urge our people to seek to offer the prayer of faith for the

healing of the sick. We also believe God heals through the

means of medical science.

(2 Kings 5:1-19; Psalm 103:1-5; Matthew 4:23-24; 9:18-35; John 4:46-54; Acts 5:12-16; 9:32-42; 14:8-15; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; James 5:13-16)

XV. Second Coming of Christ

19. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again;

that we who are alive at His coming shall not precede them

that are asleep in Christ Jesus; but that, if we are abiding in

Him, we shall be caught up with the risen saints to meet the

Lord in the air, so that we shall ever be with the Lord.

(Matthew 25:31-46; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 9:26-28; 2 Peter 3:3-15; Revelation 1:7-8; 22:7-20)

XVI. Resurrection, Judgment, and Destiny

20. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, that the

bodies both of the just and of the unjust shall be raised to

life and united with their spirits—“they that have done

good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done

evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

21. We believe in future judgment in which every person

shall appear before God to be judged according to his or her

deeds in this life.

22. We believe that glorious and everlasting life is assured

to all who savingly believe in, and obediently follow, Jesus

Christ our Lord; and that the finally impenitent shall suffer

eternally in hell.

(Genesis 18:25; 1 Samuel 2:10; Psalm 50:6; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2-3; Matthew 25:31-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-31; 20:27-38; John 3:16-18; 5:25-29; 11:21-27; Acts 17:30-31; Romans 2:1-16; 14:7-12; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 20:11-15; 22:1-15)