I. Articles of Faith Flashcards
1: OF THE SCRIPTURES
- We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.
Psalm 18:30
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Romans 15:4
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
2: TRUE GOD
- We believe that there is but one God, the Maker, Preserver, and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfections and being infinite in all of them; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.
Jeremiah 10:10
But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, and the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.
Romans 11:36
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to whom be glory forever, Amen.
3: FALL OF MAN
3. We believe that man was created in holiness, but by voluntary transgression fell from the holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are sinners, not by constraint but choice.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin
entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned–
4: WAY OF SALVATION
- We believe that the salvation of sinners is totally of grace; through the mediatorial office of the Son of God; who by the appointment of the Father freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin; and by His death made full atonement for our sins.
Hebrews 9:28
So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
1 Peter 2:24-25
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed. (25) For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
5: JUSTIFICATION
- We believe that justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ. On the sole account of the obedience and sanctification of Christ, sinners receive and rest in Him and His righteousness by faith.
Romans 5:18
Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
Acts 13:39
And by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses.
6: FREENESS OF SALVATION
- We believe that the blessings of Salvation
are made free to all by the gospel; it is the
duty of all to accept them by obedient faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of the
greatest sinner on earth, but his own
voluntary rejection of the gospel.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit
of the Lord is, there is liberty.
John 8:36
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
7: GRACE AND REGENERATION
- We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again; it is a change of heart, brought by the Holy Spirit who quickens the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually to understand the word of God. Renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness.
Titus 3:4-5
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, (5) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
8: REPENTANCE AND FAITH
- We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties and inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God. Having been deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, we turn to God with confidence and supplication for mercy receiving the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:19-20
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, (20) “and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before.”
Hebrews 6:1
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.
9: GOD’S PURPOSE OF GRACE
- We believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners. It is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness. It is the foundation of Christian assurance.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
2 Timothy 1:9
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
10: SANCTIFICATION
- We believe that sanctification is a process by which we become partakers of His Holiness. This sanctification is a progressive striving through the divine strength of God’s word and the dwelling of the Holy Spirit. After regeneration we are made pure through God’s word and a relationship with Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
John 17:19
And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
11: PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
- We believe that those whom God has chosen will never totally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin. They shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by God through faith in being saved.
2Corinthians 4:8-10
We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; (9) persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-(10) always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
12: HARMONY OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL
- We believe 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 scripture(s) ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts, is excused through the grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Luke 16:17
“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fall.”
Romans 2:15-16
Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them (16) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
13: BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
- We believe that baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer where they are immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his or her fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, for the remission of sins and of the giving of self to God, in order to live and walk in the newness of life. The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and to be observed by His churches until the Second Coming of Christ. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and it is also to be a bond pledge and renewal of communion with Him.
1 Corinthians 11:26
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
14: CHRISTIAN SABBATH
- We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, and it is to be kept sacred for the purpose of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Thus, resting from employment and amusements with works of necessity and mercy being the only exceptions.
Ezekiel 20:20
‘hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.”
Hebrews 4:9-10
There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. (10) For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
15: RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WICKED
- We believe that there is a difference between the righteous and the wicked. Righteousness comes only through being justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and sanctified by the spirit of God. While all who continue in unbelief
are in His sight wicked
and under the curse.
1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
Proverbs 15:9
The way of the wicked
is an abomination to the Lord,
But He loves him who follows righteousness.
