Article VI:
The Creation
We believe in the Genesis account of creation and (a) that it is
to be accepted literally,
and not allegorically or figuratively; (b) that man was created
directly in God's own
image and after His own likeness; (c) that man's creation was not a
matter of evolution or
evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable
periods of time from
lower to higher forms; (d) that all animal and vegetable life was made
directly,
and God's established law was they should bring forth only "after their
kind."
(a) Gen. 1:1; Ex. 20:11; Acts 4:24; Col. 1:16, 17; Heb. 11:3; John 1:3;
Rev. 10:6; Rom. 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jer. 10:12; Neh. 9:6
(b) Gen. 1:26-27; I Cor. 11:7
(c) Gen. 2:7; Gen. 2:21-23
(d) Gen. 1:11; Gen. 1:24
Article VII:
The Fall of Man
We believe (a) that Adam was created in innocence under the law of
his Maker, but
(b) by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state,
(c) in consequence of which,
all mankind are now sinners not by constraint, but of choice, because
of our inherited sinful nature and
(d) therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
(a) Gen. 3:1-6, 24
(b) Rom. 5:12; Rom. 5:19
(c) Rom. 3:10-19; Eph. 2:1, 3; Rom. 1:18; Ezek. 18:19-20
(d) Rom. 1:32; Rom. 1:20; Rom. 1:28; Gal. 3:22
Article VIII:
The Virgin Birth
We believe (a) that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost
in a miraculous manner;
(b) born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever
be born of woman, and
(c) that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son.
(a) Gen. 3:15
(b) Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psa. 2:7;
Gal. 4:4
(c) I John 5:20; I Cor. 15:47
Article IX: The
Atonement For Sin
We believe (a) that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace
(b) through the mediatorial offices of the
Son of God, Who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our
nature, yet without sin,
honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made
a full and vicarious
atonement for our sins; (c) that His atonment consisted not in setting
us an example by
His death as a martyr but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in
the sinner's place,
the Just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in
His own body on the tree;
(d) that, having risen bodily (e) from the dead, He ascended and is now
enthroned in heaven,
as our high priest (g) and uniting in His wonderful person the
tenderest sympathies with divine perfection.
He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an
all-sufficient Savior.
(a) Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24
(b) John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; Isa. 53:4-7; Rom.
3:25; I John 4:10;
I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21
(c) John 10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 1:4; I Pet. 2:24; I Pet. 3:18; Isa.
53:11; Heb. 12:2
(d) I Cor. 15:20; Isa. 53:12; Heb. 9:12-15; Heb. 7:25; I John 2:2
(e) Matt. 28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke
24:2, 4-6
(f) Acts 1:9, 11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 8:1; Heb. 12:2
(g) Heb. 8:6; I Tim. 2:5; I John 2:1; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 5:9-10
Article X:
Grace In The New Creation
We believe (a) that in order to be saved, sinners must be born
again; (b) that the new birth is a
new creation in Christ Jesus; (c) that it is instantaneous and not a
process; (d) that in the new
birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the
divine nature and
receives eternal life, the free gift of God; (e) that the new creation
is brought about in a manner
above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the
will of man, but wholly and
solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth,
so as to secure our voluntary
obedience to the gospel; (f) that its proper evidence appears in the
holy fruits of repentance and faith
and newness of life.
(a) John 3:3
(b) II Cor. 5:17
(c) Luke 5:27; I John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; Acts 16: 30-33
(d) II Pet. 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; II Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:13
(e) John 3:8; John 1:12-13
(f) Gal. 5:22; Eph. 5:9
JEB 11/11/09