Introduction:
This confession of faith represents a summary expression of primary biblical doctrines subscribed to by the Elders of Reformed Baptist Church of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. This confession of faith is specific to Reformed Baptist Church of Elizabethtown. However, it is primarily a modernized revision of the First London Baptist Confession of Faith first penned in 1644 and then “corrected and enlarged” in 1646.
While this is not the fullest expression of all that is taught in Scripture, it is a guide that points us to Scripture as the only divinely revealed source for all faith, life, and practice.
Of Holy Scripture
The Holy Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain, and infallible standard of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. The light of nature and the works of creation and providence so clearly demonstrate the goodness, wisdom, and power of God that people are left without excuse; however, these demonstrations are not sufficient to give the knowledge of God and his will that is necessary for salvation. Therefore, the Lord was pleased at different times and in various ways to reveal himself and to declare his will to his church. To preserve and propagate the truth better and to establish and comfort the church with greater certainty against the corruption of the flesh and the malice of Satan and the world, the Lord put this revelation completely in writing. Therefore, the Holy Scriptures are absolutely necessary, because God’s former ways of revealing his will to his people have now ceased.
2 Timothy 3:15–17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20. Romans 1:19–21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalm 19:1–3. Hebrews 1:1. Proverbs 22:19–21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19, 20.
Of God
The Lord our God is but one God, whose subsistence (the state of remaining in force or effect) is in Himself; whose intrinsic nature cannot be comprehended by any but himself, who only has immortality, dwelling in the light, which no man can approach unto; who is in Himself most holy, every way infinite, in greatness, wisdom, power, love, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; who gives being, moving, and preservation to all creatures.
1 Cor. 8:6, Isa. 44:6, 46:9, Exod. 3:14, 1 Tim 6:16, Isa. 43:15; Ps. 147:5, Deut. 32:3; Job 36:5; Jer. 10:12, Exod. 34:6,7, Acts 17:28; Rom. 11:36.
Of the Godhead
In this divine and infinite Being there is the Father, the Son (Word), and the Holy Spirit; each having the whole divine Essence (the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something), yet the Essence undivided; all infinite without any beginning, therefore but one God; who is not to be divided in nature, and being, but distinguished by the distinct and Divine works of the Persons of the Triune Godhead.
1 Cor. 1:3; John 1:1, 15:26, Exod. 3:14; 1 Cor. 8:6
Of God’s Decree
God has decreed in Himself, before the world was, concerning all things, with all the circumstances of them, to work, dispose, and bring about all things according to the counsel of His own will, to His glory: (Yet without being the author of sin, or having fellowship with any therein) in which appears His wisdom in arranging all things, unchangeableness, power, and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree: And God has before the foundation of the world, foreordained some men to eternal life, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of His grace; leaving the rest in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His justice.
Isa. 46:10; Eph. 1:11, Rom. 11:33, Ps. 115:3; 135:6, 33:15; 1 Sam. 10:9, 26, Prov. 21:6; Exod. 21:13; Prov. 16:33, Ps. 144, Isa. 45:7, Jer. 14:22, Matt. 6:28, 30; Col. 1:16, 17; Num. 23:19, 20; Rom. 3:4; Jer. 10:10; Eph. 1:4,5; Jude 4, 6; Prov. 16:4.
Of Creation and the Fall of Mankind
In the beginning God made all things very good; created man male and female after His own image with the ability to obey his Creator in perfection, and free from all sin; but our first parents did not remain in this condition; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to seduce first Eve, then by her seducing Adam; who without any compulsion, in eating the forbidden fruit, transgressed the command of God, and fell, whereby death came upon all his descendants; who now are conceived in sin, and by nature the children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subject of death, and other miseries in this world, and forever, unless the Lord Jesus Christ set them free.
Gen. 1:1, Col. 1:16, Isa. 45:12, 1 Cor. 15:45, 46; Eccles. 7:29; Gen. 3:1,4,5; 2 Cor. 11:3, 1 Tim. 2:14; Gal. 3:22; Rom. 5:12, 18, 19, 6:22; Eph. 2:3.
Of Divine Providence
God, in His infinite power and wisdom, does arrange all things to the end for which they were created; that neither good nor evil happens to anyone by chance, or without His providence; and that whatever happens to the elect of God in Christ Jesus, is by His appointment, for His glory, and their good.
Job 38:11; Isa. 46:10,11, Eccles. 3:14, Mark 10:29,30; Exod. 21:13; Prov. 16:33, Rom. 8:28.
Of Redemption and Sovereign Grace
All the elect being loved of God with an everlasting love, are redeemed, quickened, and saved, not by themselves, nor their own works, lest any man should boast, but, only and wholly by God, of His own free grace and mercy, through Jesus Christ, who is made unto us by God, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and all in all, that he that rejoices, might rejoice in the Lord.
Jer. 31:2; Eph. 1:3, 7, 2:8,9; 1 Thess. 5:9, Acts 13:48; 2 Cor. 5:21; Jer. 9:23,24; 1 Cor. 1:30,31; Jer. 23:6.
And this is life eternal, that we might know Him the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. And on the contrary, the Lord will render vengeance, in flaming fire, to them who do not know God, and do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.
John 17:3; Heb. 5:9, 2 Thess. 1:8; John 6:36.
Of Godly Worship
The rule of this knowledge, faith, and obedience, concerning the worship of God, in which is contained the whole duty of man, is not men’s laws, or unwritten traditions, but only the written word of God contained and preserved in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; in which is plainly recorded all that is needful for us to know, believe, and practice; which are the only rule of holiness and obedience for all saints, at all times, in all places to be observed.
Col. 2:23; Matt 15:6,9; John 5:39, 2 Tim. 3:15,16,17; Isa. 8:20; Gal. 1:8,9; Acts 3:22,23.
Of the Christ of God
The Lord Jesus Christ, of whom Moses and the Prophets wrote and His Apostles preached, He is the Son of God, the brightness of His glory, by whom He made the world; who upholds and governs all things that He has made; who, when the fullness of time was come, was made of a woman, of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David; born of the virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her, the power of the most High overshadowing her; and He was also tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Gen. 3:15, 22:18, 49:10; Dan. 7:13, 9:24, etc.; Prov. 8:23; John 1:1,2,3; Heb. 1:8; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 7:14; Rev. 5:5; Gen. 49:9,10, Rom. 1:3, 9:10; Matt. 1:16; Luke 3:23,26; Heb. 2:16; Isa. 53:3,4,5; Heb. 4:15.
Of Christ the Mediator
Jesus Christ is made the mediator of the new and everlasting covenant of grace between God and man, ever to be perfectly and fully the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church of God for evermore.
1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 9:15; John 14:6; Isa. 9:6.7.
The Lord Jesus Christ was appointed to the office of Mediator by God from everlasting; and in respect of his manhood, from the womb called, separated, and anointed most fully and abundantly with all gifts necessary, God having poured out His Spirit upon Him without measure.
Prov. 8:23; Isa. 42:6, 49:15; 11:2,3,4,5, 61:1,2; Luke 4:17, 22; John 1:14, 26, 3:34.
Concerning His mediatorship, the Scripture holds forth Christ’s call to His office; for none takes this honor upon Him, but He that is called of God as was Aaron, it being an action of God, whereby a special promise being made, He ordained His Son to this office; which promise is, that Christ should be made a sacrifice for sin; that He should see His seed, and prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand; all of free and absolute grace towards God’s elect people, and without any condition foreseen in them to obtain it.
Heb. 5:4,5,6, Isa. 53:10,11; John 3:16; Rom. 8:32.
Of the Threefold Office of the Christ of God
This office to be Mediator, that is, to be Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church of God, is so established to and by Christ, that neither in whole nor any part thereof be transferred from Him to any other.
1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:24; Dan. 7:14; Acts 4:12; Luke 1:33; John 14:6.
This office to which Christ is called is threefold; a Prophet, Priest, and King: This number and order of offices is necessary, because in our ignorance, we stand in need of His prophetic office; in respect to our great alienation from God, we need His priestly office to reconcile us; in respect to our unwillingness and utter inability to return to God, we need His kingly office, to convince, subdue, draw, uphold and preserve us to His heavenly kingdom.
Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22,23; Heb. 3:!, 4:14,15; Ps. 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:20; Acts 26:18; Col. 1:21; John 16:8, Ps. 110:3; Song of Sol. 1:3; John 6:44; Phil. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:18.
Of Christ as Prophet
Concerning the prophecy of Christ, it is that whereby He has revealed the will of God, whatever is needful for His servants to know and obey; and therefore He is called not only a prophet and doctor, and the apostle of our profession, and the angel of the covenant, but also the very wisdom of God, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, who forever continues to reveal the same truth of the gospel to His people.
John 1:18; 12:49,50; 17:8; Deut. 18:15; Matt. 23:10; Heb. 3:1; Mal. 3:1; 1 Cor. 1:24; Col. 2:3.
That the Lord Jesus Christ might be complete in His office of Prophet, it was necessary He should be God, and also that He should be man; For unless He had been God, He could never have perfectly understood the will of God; and unless He had been man, He could not suitably have unfolded his prophetic office in His own person to men.
John 1:18; Acts 3:22; Deut. 18:15; Heb. 1:1.
Note: Jesus Christ is God, a fact that is wonderfully and clearly expressed in the Scriptures. He is called the mighty God, Isa. 9:6. That Word was God, John 1:1. Christ, who is God over all, Rom 9:5. God manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3:16. The same is very God, 1 John 5:20. He is the first, Rev. 1:8. He gives being to all things, and without Him nothing was made, John 1:2. He forgives sins, Matt. 9:6. He is before Abraham, John 8:58. He was and is, and ever will be the same, Heb. 13:8. He is always with His people to the end of the world, Matt. 28:20. Which could not be said of Jesus Christ, if He were not God. And to the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, Heb. 1:8, John 1:18.
Also, Christ is not only perfectly God, but the perfect man, made of a woman, Gal. 4:4. Made of the seed of David, Rom 1:3. Coming out of the loins of David, Acts 2:30. Of Jesse and Judah, Acts 13:23. In that the children were partakers of flesh and blood He Himself likewise took part with them, Heb. 2:14. So that He that sanctifies, and they that are sanctified are all of one, Heb.2:11. See Acts 3:22, Deut. 18:15; Heb. 1:1.
Of Christ as Priest
Concerning His priesthood, Christ having sanctified Himself, hath appeared once to put away sin by that one offering of Himself a sacrifice for sin, by which He hath fully finished and suffered all things God required for the salvation of His elect, and removed all rites and shadows, etc. and is now entered within the veil into the Holy of Holies, which is the presence of God. Also, He makes His people a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God through Him. Neither does the Father accept, nor Christ offer to the Father, any other worship or worshippers.
John 17:19; Heb. 5:7,8,9,10,12; Rom. 5:19, Eph. 5:2; Col. 1:20; Eph. 2:14, etc.; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 8:1; 1 Pet. 2:5; John 4:23,24.
The priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ was not legal or temporary, but according to the order of Melchisedec, and is stable and perfect, not for a time, but forever, which is suitable to Jesus Christ, as to Him that ever lives. Christ was the Priest, Sacrifice, and Altar: He was Priest according to both natures; He was a sacrifice according to His human nature; in Scripture His sacrifice is attributed to His body, to His blood: Yet the effectual nature of His sacrifice did depend upon His divine nature. He was the altar according to His divine nature, it belongs to the altar to sanctify that which is offered upon it, and so it ought to be of greater dignity than the sacrifice itself.
Heb. 7:16, etc.; Heb. 5:6, 10:10; 1 Pet. 1:18,19; Col. 1:20, 22; Heb. 9:13; Acts 20:28; Heb. 9:14, 13:10,12,15; Matt. 23:17; John 17:19.
Of Christ as King
Concerning His kingly office, Christ being risen from the dead, and ascended into heaven, and having all power in heaven and earth, He does spiritually govern His church, and does exercise His power over all, angels and men, good and bad, to the preservation and salvation of His elect people, and to the overruling and destruction of His enemies. By this kingly power He applies the benefits, virtue, and fruits of His prophecy and priesthood to His elect, subduing their sins, preserving and strengthening them in all their conflicts against Satan, the world, and the flesh, keeping their hearts in faith and devoted fear by His Spirit: By His mighty power He rules the unbelieving sinners of this world, using, limiting and restraining them, as it seems good to His infinite wisdom.
1 Cor. 15:4; 1 Pet. 3:21,22; Matt. 28:18,19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:1, 5:30,31; John 19:36; Rom. 14:9; John 5:26,27; Rom. 5:6,7,8; 14:17; Gal. 5:22,23; Mark 1:27; Heb. 1:14; John 16:15; Job 2:8; Rom. 1:21, [9:17-18]; Eph. 4:17,18; 2 Pet. 2.
The Lord Jesus Christ’s kingly power will be more fully demonstrated when He will come in glory to reign among His saints, when He shall put down all rule and authority under His feet, that the glory of the Father may be perfectly expressed in His Son, and the glory of the Father and the Son in all His members.
1 Cor. 15:24,28; Heb. 9:28; 2 Thess. 1:9,10; 1 Thess. 4:15,16,17; John 17:21, 26.
Of the Redemptive Work of Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ by His death purchased salvation for the elect that God gave unto Him: These only have interest in Him, and fellowship with Him, for whom He makes intercession to His Father on their behalf, and to them alone does God by His Spirit apply this redemption; as also the free gift of eternal life is given to them, and no one else.
Eph. 1:14; Heb. 5:9; Matt. 1:21; John 17:6; Heb. 7:25; 1 Cor. 2:12; Rom. 8:29,30; 1 John 5:12; John 15:13, 3:16.
Of Faith
Faith is the gift of God, worked in the hearts of the elect by the Spirit of God; by which faith they come to know and believe the truth of the Scriptures, and the excellency of them above all other writings, and all things in the world, as they hold forth the glory of God in His attributes, the excellency of Christ in His nature and offices, and of the power and fulness of the Spirit in His workings and operations; and so are enabled to cast their souls upon His truth consequently believed.
Eph. 2:8; John 6:29, 4:10; Phil. 1:29; Gal. 5:22; John 17:17; Heb. 4:11,12; John 6:63.
Of Preservation and Perseverance
All those who have this precious faith worked in them by the Spirit, can never finally nor totally fall away; by the work of the Spirit and the subsequent fruits, against which there is no law, He begets and nourishes all the redeemed of Christ Jesus in faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise, and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take the elect of God off that foundation and rock, which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief, and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of this light and love may be clouded and overwhelmed for a time; yet God is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, His blood bought people being engraven upon the palms of His hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.
Matt. 7:24,25; John 13:10, 10:28,29; 1 Pet. 1:4,5,6; Isa. 49:13,14,15,16.
Of the Power of the Gospel
Faith is ordinarily begotten by the preaching of the gospel, or word of Christ, without respect to any power or agency in fallen men; who, being dead in trespasses and sins, do believe and are converted by no less power than that which raised Christ from the dead.
Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:28; Rom. 9:16; Ezek. 16:16; Rom. 3:12, 1:16; Eph. 1:19, Col. 2:12.
The preaching of the gospel to the conversion of sinners, is absolutely free; no way requiring as absolutely necessary, any qualifications, preparations, or terrors of the law, or preceding ministry of the law, but only and alone the naked soul, a sinner and ungodly, to receive Christ crucified, dead and buried, and risen again; who is made a prince and a Savior for such sinners as through the gospel shall be brought to believe on Him.
John 3:14,15, 1:12; Isa. 55:1; John 7:37; 1 Tim. 1:15; Rom. 4:5, 5:8; Acts 5:30,31, 2:36, 1 Cor. 1:22,24.
The same power that converts the sinner to faith in Christ, carries on within the soul through all duties, temptations, conflicts, sufferings; and whatever a believer is, he is by grace alone, and is carried on in all obedience and temptations by the same.
1 Pet. 1:5, 2 Cor. 12:9, 1 Cor. 15:10; Phil. 2:12, 13; John 15:5; Gal. 2:19,20.
Of Union in Christ
All believers are united to God by the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ; by which union, God is one with them, and they are one with Him; and that all believers are the sons of God, and joint heirs with Christ, to whom belong all the promises of this life, and that which is to come.
1 Thess. 1:1; John 17:21, 20:17; Heb. 2:11, 1 John 4:16; Gal. 2:19,20.
Those who have been brought into union with Christ, are justified from all their sins by the blood of Christ, which justification is a gracious and full acquittal of a guilty sinner from all sin, by God, through the satisfaction that Christ has made by His death for all their sins, and this is applied to the elect of God through faith alone apart from works of the law.
1 John 1:7; Heb. 10:14, 9:26; 2 Cor. 5:19; Rom. 3:23; Acts 13:38,39; Rom. 5:1, 3:25,30.
Of Sanctification
All believers are a holy and sanctified people, and that sanctification is a spiritual grace of the new covenant, and an effect of the love of God manifested in the soul, whereby the believer presses after a heavenly and evangelical obedience to all the commands, which Christ as head and king in His new covenant hath prescribed to them.
1 Cor. 12; 1 Pet. 2:9; Eph. 1:4; 1 John 4:16; Matt. 28:20.
Of Reconciliation
All believers, through the knowledge of that justification of life given by the Father and brought forth by the blood of Christ, have as their great privilege of that new covenant, peace with God, reconciliation, whereby they that were afar off are made nigh by that blood, and have peace that passes all understanding; they posses joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received atonement.
2 Cor. 5:19; Rom. 5:9,10; Isa. 54:10; Eph. 2:13,14, 4:7; Rom. 5:10,11.
Of the Life of Faith
While yet in this mortal life and in this fallen world, all believers are in a continual warfare and combat against sin, self, the world, and the devil; and are liable to all manner of afflictions, tribulations and persecutions, being predestined and appointed thereunto, and whatsoever the believer possess or enjoys of God spiritually, is by faith alone; and outward and temporal things are lawfully enjoyed through ordinary use by them who have no faith.
Rom. 7:23,24; Eph. 6:10,11, etc.; Heb. 2:9,10, 2 Tim. 3:12; Rom. 8:29; 1 Thess. 3:3; Gal. 2:19,20; 2 Cor. 5:7; Deut. 2:5.
The only strength by which the redeemed people of God are enabled to encounter all oppositions and trials of this mortal life, is only by Jesus Christ, who is the captain of their salvation, being made perfect through sufferings; who has engaged His faithfulness and strength to assist them in all their afflictions, and to uphold them in all their temptations, and to preserve them by His power to His everlasting kingdom.
John 16:33, 15:5; Phil. 4:11, Heb. 2:9,10; 2 Tim. 4:18.
Of the Church
The Lord Jesus Christ has manifested His spiritual kingdom through His Church, whom He has purchased and redeemed to Himself as a unique inheritance; The local expression of the Church is a company of visible saints, called and separated from the world by the word and Spirit of God, to the visible profession of faith of the gospel, being baptized into that faith, and joined to the Lord, and each other, by mutual agreement in the practical enjoyment of the ordinances commanded by Christ their head and king.
Matt. 11:11; 2 Thess. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:1; Rom. 1:7; Acts 19:8,9, 26:18; 2 Cor. 6:17; Rev. 18:4; Acts 2:37, 10:37; Rom. 10:10; Matt. 18:19,20; Acts 2:42, 9:26; 1 Pet. 2:5.
To His Church, the Lord Jesus Christ has made His promises, and gives the signs of His covenant, presence, acceptance, love, blessing and protection. By the Lord’s sovereign design are the fountains and springs of His heavenly graces flowing forth to refresh and strengthen His Church and the people therein.
Matt. 28:18, etc.; 1 Cor. 11:24, 3:21; 2 Cor. 6:18; Rom. 9:4,5; Ps. 133:3; Rom. 3:7,10; Ezek. 47:2.
Of the Believer’s Responsibility to the Church
All the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ in all the conditions of this mortal life in which they find themselves are to acknowledge Him to be their Prophet, Priest and King; and called thither to be enrolled and engaged among His household servants, to present their bodies and souls, and to bring their gifts God has given them, to be under His heavenly administration and government, to lead their lives in this protected sheepfold, and watered garden, to have communion here with His saints, that they may be assured that they are made meet to be partakers of their inheritance in the kingdom of God; and to supply each other’s wants, inward and outward; (and although each person hath a propriety in his own estate, yet they are to supply each other’s needs, according as their necessities shall require, that the name of Jesus Christ may not be blasphemed through the necessity of any in the Church) and also having joined with a local expression of the Lord’s Church, they are here by Himself to be bestowed in their several order, due place, peculiar use, being fitly compact and knit together according to the effectual working of every part, to the edifying of itself in love.
Acts. 2:41,47; Isa. 4:3, 1 Cor. 12:6,7, etc.; Ezek. 20:37,40; Song of Sol. 4:12; Eph. 2:19; Rom. 12:4,5,6; Col. 1:12, 2:5,6,19; Acts 20:32, 5:4, 2:44,45, 4:34,35; Luke 14:26; 1 Tim. 6:1; Eph. 4:16.
Of Church Offices
Being thus joined together in the Lord Jesus Christ, every local church has power given to them from Christ, for their wellbeing, to choose from among themselves men for elders and deacons, being qualified according to the word, as those which Christ hath appointed in His testament, for the feeding, governing, serving, and building up of His Church; and that no other governing body has any power to impose on the church any man who has not been chosen from among them.
Acts 1:23,26, 6:3, 15:22,25; Rom. 12:7,8; 1 Tim. 3:2,6,7; 1 Cor. 12:8,28; Heb. 13:7,17; 1 Pet. 5:1,2,3,4:15.
The gospel ministers who have been lawfully called by the local church, as aforesaid, ought to continue in their calling and place according to God’s ordinance, and carefully to feed the flock of God committed to them, not for greed, but of a ready mind.
Heb. 5:4; John 10:3,4; Acts 20:28,29; Rom. 12:7,8; Heb. 13:7,17; 1 Pet. 5:1,2,3.
The ministers of Christ ought to have whatever they need, supplied freely by the church, that according to Christ’s ordinance they that preach the Gospel should live of the gospel by the law of Christ.
1 Cor. 9:7,14; Gal. 6:8; Phil. 4:15,16; 2 Cor. 10:4; 1 Tim. 1:2; Ps. 110:3.
Of the Ordinance of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, given by Christ, to be dispensed upon persons professing faith, and made disciples; who upon profession of faith, ought to be baptized, and after to partake of the Lord’s Supper together with the local church body to which they have joined themselves.
Matt. 28:18,19; John 4:1; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:37,38, 8:36,37, etc.
The way and manner of dispensing the ordinance of baptism is dipping or plunging the body under water; it being a sign, must answer the things signified, which is, that interest the saints have in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ: And that as certainly as the body is buried under water, and risen again, so certainly shall the bodies of the saints be raised by the power of Christ, in the day of the resurrection, to reign with Christ.
Matt. 3:16; Mark 15:9 reads (into Jordan) in Greek; John 3:23, Acts 8:38; Rev. 1:5, 7:14; Heb. 10:22; Rom. 6:3,4,5,6; 1 Cor. 15:28,29. The word baptizo signifies to dip or plunge.
The person designed by Christ to dispense the ordinance of baptism, the Scripture holds forth to be a disciple; it being nowhere tied to a particular church officer, or person extraordinarily commissioned in its administration, being given to those considered disciples, being men able to preach the gospel.
Isa. 8:16; Eph. 2:7; Matt 28:19; John 4:2; Acts 20:7, 11:10; 1 Cor. 11:2, 10:16,17; Rom. 16:2; Matt. 18:17.
The supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night he was betrayed. It is to be observed in his churches to the end of the age as a perpetual remembrance and display of the sacrifice of himself in his death. It is given for the confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits of Christ’s death, their spiritual nourishment and growth in him, and their further engagement in and to all the duties they owe him. The supper is to be a bond and pledge of their communion with Christ and each other.
1 Corin. 11:23–26. 1 Corin. 10:16, 17, 21.
Of Local Church Authority
The Lord Jesus Christ has likewise given power to His Church to receive in, and cast out, any member that is living in unrepentant sin; and this power is given to every congregation, and not to one particular person, either member or officer, but in relation to the whole body, in reference to their faith and fellowship.
Rom. 15:2; Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:4,11,14, 12:6, 2:3; 2 Cor. 2:6,7.
Every individual member of each local church, regardless of excellence, authority, or knowledge, is subject to the censure and judgment of the body with which they have joined themselves; and the church ought not without great care and tenderness, and due advice, but by the rule of faith, to proceed against her members.
Matt. 18:16, 17:18; Acts 11:2,3; 1 Tim. 5:19, etc.; Col. 4:17; Acts 15:1,2,3.
To keep the local expression of His Church in holy and orderly communion, the Lord Jesus Christ places some men over the church; who by their office, are to govern, oversee, visit, watch; likewise, for the better keeping of the church body, in all places by the members, He hath given authority, and laid duty upon all to watch over one another.
Acts 20:27,28; Heb. 13:17,24; Matt. 24:45; 1 Thess. 5:2, 14; Jude 3,20; Heb. 10:34,35 [cf. 24,25], 12:15.
Also, men to whom God hath given gifts in the church, may and ought to teach and preach according to the proportion of faith, and to teach publicly the word of God, for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the church.
1 Cor. 14:3, etc.; Rom 12:6; 1 Pet. 4:10, 11; 1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Thess. 5:19, etc.
Of Restoration in the Church
The local church being rightly gathered and continuing in the obedience of the gospel of Christ, individual members are not to separate for faults and corruptions (for as long as the church consists of men subject to failings, there will be differences in the true constituted church) until they have in due order, and tenderness, sought a biblical and gospel centered resolution thereof.
Rev. 2, 3; Acts 15:12; 1 Cor. 1:10; Heb. 10:25; Jude 19; Rev. 2:20,21,27; Acts 15:1,2; Rom. 14:1; 15:1,2,3.
Of Fellowship Between Local Churches
Although the particular local congregations be distinct, every one as a compact and knit city within itself; yet are they all to walk by one rule of truth; so also the local assembly, when possible, are to have the counsel and help of other assemblies of like faith and practice, if necessity require it, as members of one body, in the common faith, under Christ their head.
1 Cor. 4:17, 14:33,36, 16:1; Ps. 122:3; Eph. 2:12,19; Rev. 21; 1 Tim. 3:15, 6:13,14; 1 Cor. 4:17; Acts 15:2,3; Song of Sol. 8:8,9; 2 Cor. 8:1,4, 13:14.
Of the Church and Civil Magistrate
A civil magistracy is an ordinance of God, set up by Him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well; and that in all lawful things, commanded by them, subjection ought to be given by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake; and we are to make supplications and prayers for kings, and all that are in authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.
Rom. 13:1,2, etc.; 1 Pet. 2:13,14; 1 Tim. 2:1,2,3.
Note: Concerning the worship of God; there is but one lawgiver, which is able to save and destroy, James 4:12; which is Jesus Christ, who hath given laws and rules sufficient in His word for His worship; and for any to make more, were to charge Christ with want of wisdom, or faithfulness, or both, in not making laws enough, or not good enough for His house: Surely it is our wisdom, duty, and privilege, to observe Christ’s laws only, Ps 2:6,9,10,12. So it is the magistrates duty to tender the liberty of mens’ consciences, Eccles. 8:8 (which is the tenderest thing unto all conscientious men, and most dear to them, and without which all other liberties will not be worth the naming, much less enjoying) and to protect all under them from all wrong, injury, oppression and molestation; it is our duty to do, and we believe it to be our express duty, especially in matters of religion, to be fully persuaded in our minds of the lawfulness of what we do, as knowing whatsoever is not of faith is sin. And as we cannot do anything contrary to our understandings and consciences, so neither can we forebear the doing of that which our understandings and consciences bind us to do. And if the magistrate should require us to do otherwise, we are to yield our persons in a passive way to their power, as the saints of old have done, James 5:4. And thrice happy shall he be, that shall lose his life for witnessing the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Pet. 5; Gal. 5.
In cases when we do not find the magistrate [or governing authority] to favor us herein, we dare not suspend our practice, because we believe we ought to live in obedience to Christ, in professing the faith which was once delivered to the saints, which faith is declared in the holy Scriptures, and that we are to witness to the truth of the Old and New Testaments unto the death, if necessity require, in the midst of all trials and afflictions, as His saints of old have done; not accounting our goods, lands, wives, children, fathers, mothers, brethren, sisters; yea and our own lives dear unto us, so we may finish our course with joy; remembering always, that we ought to obey God rather than men, who will when we have finished our course, and kept the faith, give us the crown of righteousness; to whom we must give an account of all our actions, and no man being able to discharge us of the same.
Acts 2:40,41, 4:19, 5:28,29, 20:23; 1 Thess. 3:3; Phil. 1:28,29; Dan. 3:16,17, 6:7,10,22,23; 1 Tim. 6:13,14; Rom. 12:1,8; 1 Cor. 14:37; Rev. 2:20; 2 Tim. 4:6,7,8; Rom. 14:10, 12; 2 Cor. 5:10; Ps. 49:7,50:22.
Of Individual Responsibilities to Civil Government
It is lawful for a Christian to be a magistrate or civil officer; and also it is lawful to take an oath, so it be in truth, and in judgment, and in righteousness, for confirmation of truth, and ending of all strife; and that by wrath and vain oaths the Lord is provoked and this land mourns.
Acts 8:38, 10:1,2,35; Rom. 16:23; Deut. 6:13; Rom. 1:9; 2 Cor. 10,11; Jer. 4:2; Heb. 6:16.
We are to give unto all men whatsoever is their due, as their place, age, estate, requires; and that we defraud no man of anything, but to do unto all men, as we would have them do unto us.
1 Thess. 4:6; Rom. 13:5,6,7; Matt. 22:21; Titus 3; 1 Pet. 2:15,17, 5:5; Eph. 5:21,23, etc. , 6:1,9; Titus 3:1,2,3.
Of the Resurrection of the Dead
There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust, and everyone shall give an account of himself to God, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:12. [Matt. 25; Rev. 22:11,12,13,14,15.]
The Conclusion
We desire to give to Christ that which is His; and unto all lawful authority that which is their due; and to owe nothing to any man but love; to live quietly and peaceably, as it becometh saints, endeavoring in all things to keep a good conscience, and to do unto every man as we would have them do to us, that as our practice is, so it may prove us to be a reasonable, quiet, and harmless people and to labor and work with our hands that we may not be chargeable to any, but to give to him that needeth, both friends and enemies, accounting it more excellent to give than to receive.
Also we confess, that we know but in part, and that we are ignorant of many things which we desire and seek to know; and if any shall do us that friendly part to show us from the word of God that which we see not, we will have cause to be thankful to God and them; but if any man shall impose upon us anything that we see not to be commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ, we should in His strength rather embrace all reproaches and tortures of men, to be stripped of all outward comforts, and if it were possible, to die a thousand deaths, rather than to do anything against the least tittle of the truth of God or against the light of our own consciences. And if any shall call what we have said heresy, then do we, with the Apostle acknowledge, that after the way they call heresy, worship we the God of our fathers, disclaiming all heresies (rightly so called) because they are against Christ, and to be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in obedience to Christ, as knowing our labor shall not be in vain in the Lord.
*Adopted April 14, 2024 with approval of the elders and deacons, with unanimous vote of the church.*