Article XVI:
The Perseverance of the Saints
We believe (a) that such only are real believers as endure unto
the end; (b) that their persevering
attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from
superficial professors;
(c) that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and (d) that
they are kept by the power of God
through faith unto eternal salvation.
(a) John 8:31-32; Col. 1:21, 23
(b) I John 2:19; Matt. 13:19-20
(c) Rom. 8:28; Matt. 6:30; Psa. 121:3; Heb. 1:14
(d) I Pet. 1:5; Phil 1:6; John 10:28-29; John 16:8 Rom. 8:35-39
Article XVII:
The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe that (a) there is radical and essential differences
between the righteous and the wicked;
(b) that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the
Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit
of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; (c) while all such as
continue in impenitence and unbelief
are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; (d) and this distinction
holds among men both in and after death,
in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious
suffering of the lost.
(a) Mal. 3:18; Gen. 18:23; Rom. 6:17-18; Prov. 11:31; I Pet. 4:18
(b) Rom. 1:17; I Cor. 15:22; Acts 10:34-35; I John 2:29; I John 3:7
(b+c) Rom. 6:16
(c) I John 5:19; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 7:6; Rom. 6:23
(d) Prov. 14:32; Luke 16:25; Matt. 25:34, 41; John 8:21; Luke 9:26;
John 12:25; Matt. 7:13-14
Article XVIII:
Civil Government
We believe that civil government is (a) of divine appointment, for
the interests and good order of human society;
(b) that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and
obeyed, (c) except only in things
opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; (d) who is the only Lord
of the conscience, and the
coming Prince of the kings of the earth.
(a) Rom. 13:7; II Sam. 23:3; Ex. 18:21-22
(b) Acts 23:5; Matt. 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Pet. 2:13-14, 17
(c) Acts 5:29; Acts 4:19-20; Dan. 3:17-18
(d) Matt. 10:28; Matt. 23:10; Rev. 10:6; Phil. 2:10-11; Psa. 72:11
Article XIX:
Israel
We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God's eternal
covenant people, (a) that she is now
dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ, (b) and
that she will be gathered in the
Holy Land and, after the rapture of the Church, will be saved as a
nation at the second advent of Christ.
(a) Gen. 13:14-17
(b) Rom. 11:1-32; Ezek. 37; Dan. 9:24-27
(c) Note especially: Rom. 11:26
Article XX:
Rapture and Subsequent Events
We believe in the pretribulational rapture of the Church, an event
which can occur at any moment,
(a) and that at that moment the dead in Christ shall be raised in
glorified bodies, and the living in Christ
shall be given glorified bodies, without tasting death, (b) and all
shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the
air before the seven years of the Tribulation. (c) We believe
that the Tribulation, which follows the Rapture
of the Church, will be culminated by (d) the premillenial return of
Christ in power and great glory
(e) to sit upon the throne of David (f) and to establish the millenial
kingdom.
(a) Matt. 24:27; Matt. 25:13; Acts 1:11; John 14:3; Phil. 3:20-21; Heb.
9:28; James 5:8
(b) I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:42-44, 51-54
(c) II Thess. 2:1-8; Rom. 8:1; I Thess. 5:9; Rev. 3:10
(d) Rev. 19:11-16; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:30-31
(e) Isa. 9:6-7; Luke 1:32; Acts 2:29-30
(f) Rev. 20:1-4, 6; Isa. 11:4-12; Isa. 32:1; Psa. 72:8; I Cor. 15:24-25
JEB 11/11/09