Articles of Faith

1.     We believe in one only true and living God, and the Trinity of persons in the Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and yet not three but one God infinite in wisdom, mercy, justice, power, holiness and truth. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Malachi 2:10; John 1:1; John 10:30; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; I Timothy 2:5; I John 1:2; I John 5:7).

2.     We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the divinely inspired words of God, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. We prefer the Translation made under the authority of King James. (Deuteronomy 4:2; Acts 13:44; Romans 15:4, Romans 16:26; II Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-2; II Peter 1:20-21).

3.     We believe in the doctrine of original sin – that the whole of the human family were created in Adam, their seminal head, and that all alike fell in him by his transgression of the law, and all partake of his sinful nature. Man is inherently depraved and totally unable by his own free will and ability to recover himself from his fallen state, nor can he act in any way to move God to save him from his lost condition. (Genesis 2:17; John 6:44; Romans 3:9; Romans 5:12,18-19; I Corinthians 15:21-22).

4.     We believe in the doctrine of personal and unconditional election – that God chose His people, definite in number and identity, in Christ before the foundation of the world and hath predestinated them unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto Himself according to the good pleasure of His will to be conformed to the image of His Son that they should be holy and without blame before Him in love and live with Him in Glory. We believe that there are those of the elect in every nation, kindred, tongue, people and family on earth. (Psalms 139:15-16; Romans 8:28-30; Romans 9:11; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:3-12; I Thessalonians 1:4; II Thessalonians 2:13; II Timothy 2:19; I Peter 1:2; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 7:9).

5.     We believe that all the spiritual blessings that are essential for the consummation of the eternal salvation of the elect were given them in Christ before the world began, and were in time bestowed upon them by virtue of His suffering, blood and death, which constituted a full and complete atonement for their sins. We believe that Christ Jesus, who was set up from everlasting to be the Mediator between God and men, did in time, take upon Himself a human body nature, born of a virgin, and from sin excepted, and in that body He suffered and died for the sins of the elect, and no others. (John 5:21; John 6:37-40,44; John 10:28-30; John 17:1-4,9; Romans 4:6-8, Romans 5:9-12,18-19; I Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 1:3-12; I Timothy 2:5; II Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 10:5-10; Hebrews 13:20-21).

6.     We believe in the sovereign, irresistible, direct, immediate and ever effectual work of the Holy Spirit in the calling, regeneration and sanctification of the elect of God in His own appointed way and time. We believe that regeneration, or being born again, is not the act of the creature, nor is it the result of what he may do or believe, but it is the work of God, who gives eternal life to quicken the sinner. We believe that the elect will be justified in the sight of God only by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them by the direct operation of the Holy Ghost in their hearts. (John 3:5-8; I Corinthians 2:9; II Corinthians 4:16; Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 11:6; II Timothy 1:9).

7.     We believe that the saints shall be preserved by grace, kept by the power of God unto eternal glory, and that none of them shall perish or fall finally away. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust, from mortal bodies to immortal bodies. The just shall be conformed to the image of Christ, their bodies fashioned like unto His glorious and incorruptible body for everlasting joy and happiness with Him in eternal glory. The unjust shall forever experience punishment, shame, contempt and eternal separation from God in fiery torment. (Daniel 12:2; John 6:37-40; John 10:28-30; John 17:2-4; Acts 24:15; Romans 8:28-30; I Corinthians 15:49; Philippians 3:21).

8.     We believe that the gospel is to be preached as a witness to the truth and of Jesus Christ, for the comfort and instruction of regenerated men, women, and children. The gospel is not intended to regenerate the child of God and has no power to do so. We believe that faith is the gift of God and good works are the fruit of faith, and justify us in the sight of men, as evidence of our gracious state, to the ultimate glory of God. We believe that good works should be encouraged and maintained but are not a condition of eternal salvation. (Matthew 5:16; Matthew 24:14; Mark 16:15; Acts 13:48; Romans 1:16; Ephesians 2:8-10; II Timothy 3:16-17; Titus 3:8).

9.     We believe that Christ set up the New Testament church with all necessary elements for her happiness and well-being and that no auxiliaries should be added to the worship service or tolerated in the church. (Deuteronomy 4:2; I Corinthians 11:1-2; II Thessalonians 2:15; II Thessalonians 3:6).

10.    We believe that water baptism by total immersion to show forth the Lord’s burial and resurrection, and observance of the Lord’s Supper by taking unleavened bread and wine to show forth the Lord’s death, are ordinances of the church instituted by Jesus Christ, and that true believers are the only fit subjects. We believe that the washing of the saints’ feet is an example and duty, enjoined by Jesus Christ, and should be done by the saints in a church capacity. As we believe that communion and washing of the saints’ feet are to be observed in the capacity of close church fellowship, we invite only Primitive Baptist church members of like faith and order to commune with us. (Matthew 3:16; Matthew 26:20,26-29; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 22:19,29-30; John 13:4-5,12-17; Acts 2:37-39; Acts 8:12,37-39; Acts 20:7; Romans 6:4; I Corinthians 11:24-26; I Timothy 5:10).

11.    We believe that male members who have been scripturally baptized and give evidence that they are called of God to preach the gospel, by edifying the church in that exercise, are eligible, at the discretion and authority of the church, to be ordained to the ministry by coming under the hands of a presbytery. Only those so ordained have the authority to administer the ordinances of Jesus Christ. Likewise, male members who meet the scriptural qualifications to serve as deacons, may be ordained to that work by the church. (Jeremiah 3:15; Matthew 28:19; Acts 9:15; Acts 13:2; Ephesians 3:7; I Timothy 4:14-16; Hebrews 5:4).

12.    We believe that it is unscriptural and disorderly for any church member to unite or practice with or in any other institution or society, secret or otherwise, which has a form of religion or worship. (II Corinthians 6:14-17).

13.    We believe every duly organized church is an autonomous and independent local body, having exclusive authority to receive and to discipline her own members. While she should be considerate of her sister churches, she is accountable only to Jesus Christ, her Head and King. (Ephesians 5:23-27; Colossians 1:18).