Article XI:
The Freeness of Salvation
We believe (a) in God's electing grace; (b) that the blessings of
salvation are made free to all through
the gospel; (c) that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by
a cordial, penitent and obedient faith;
and (d) that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on
earth but his own inherent depravity and
voluntary rejection of the gospel, (e) which rejection involves him in
an aggravated condemnation.
(a) I Thess. 1:4; Col. 3:12; I Pet. 1:2; Titus 1:1; Rom. 8:29-30
(b) Matt. 11:28; Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Rom. 10:13; John 6:37
(c) Isa. 55:6; Acts 2:38
(d) Isa. 55:7; John 3:15-16; I Tim. 1:15; I Cor. 15:10; Eph. 2:4-5;
John 5:40
(e) John 3:18, 36
Article XII:
Justification
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to
such as believe in Him is Justification;
(a) that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of
eternal life on principles of righteousness;
(b) that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of
righteousness which we have done,
but solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood, His righteousness is
imputed unto us.
(a) Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11; Zech. 13:1; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 5:1, 9;
(b) Titus 3:5-7; Rom. 1:17; Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Rom. 4:1-8; Heb. 10:38
Article XIII:
Repentance and Faith
We believe that Repentance and Faith are (a) solemn obligations,
and (b) also inseparable graces,
(c) wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; (d) thereby,
being deeply convicted of our guilt,
danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn
to God with unfeigned contrition,
confession and supplication for mercy; (e) at the same time heartily
receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly
confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior.
(a) Acts 20:20
(b) Mark 1:15
(c) Acts 2:27-38
(d) Luke 18:13; Rom. 10:13; Psa. 51:1-4, 7; Isa. 55:6-7
(e) Luke 12:8; Rom. 10:9-11
Article XIV:
The
Atonement For Sin
We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized
believers (a) associated by a covenant of
faith and fellowship of the gospel; (b) observing the ordinances of
Christ; (c) governed by His laws; and
(d) exercising the gifts, rights, and privilieges invested in them by
His word; (e) that its scripturally
designated officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications,
claims and duties are clearly
defined in the Scriptures; (f) we believe the true mission of the
church is found in the great commission:
First, to make individual disciples; second, to baptize them; third, to
teach and instruct, as He has commanded.
We do not believe in the reversal of this order; (g) we hold that the
local church has the absolute right
of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of
individuals or organizations; and that
the one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; (h)
that it is scriptural for true churches to
cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the
furtherance of the gospel; that every church
is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its
cooperation; (i) on all matters of membership,
of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of
the local church is final.
(a) Acts 2:41
(a+b) Acts 2:42
(b) I Cor. 11:2
(c) Eph. 1:22-23
(d) Eph. 4:11; I Cor. 12:4, 8-11
(e) Acts 14:23; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 15:23; Acts 20:17-28; I Tim. 3:1-13
(f) Matt. 28:19-20
(g) Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-24; I Pet. 5:1-4
(h) Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-24; I Pet. 5:1-4
(i) I Cor. 6:1-3; I Cor. 5:11-13
Article XV:
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
We believe that Christian Baptism is (a) the believer's immersion
in water; (b) into the name of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; (c) to show forth in a solemn and
beautiful emblem our faith
in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our
death to sin and resurrection to a new life;
(d) that in scriptual order it (baptism) precedes the privileges of
church membership and is the public
recognition of the Lordship of Jesus Christ; (e) the Lord's Supper is a
memorial service in which the
elements of bread and wine reminds us of the love of God in Christ
Jesus, "Who spared not His own
Son but delivered Him up for us all," that this ordinance is to be
observed in anticipation of His coming
and preceded always by solemn self-examination.
(a) Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:6, 16; John 3:23; Rom. 6:4-5
(b) Matt. 28:19
(c) Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12
(d) Acts 2:41-42; Matt. 28:19-20
(e) I Cor. 11:23-28; Rom. 8:32
JEB 11/11/09