What We Believe

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Union Baptist Church Articles of Faith

ARTICLES OF FAITH

 

           I.      OF THE SCRIPTURES

 

We believe that the Holy Bible is that collection of sixty-six books from Genesis to Revelation, which as originally written was verbally inspired, the product of God through Spirit-controlled men; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; that it not only contains and conveys the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God; that it is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; that it is the true center of Christian union and the supreme authority by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried.

 

II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25

Psa. 119:160; Psa. 119:105: Psa. 119:130: Luke 24:25-27

John 17:17: Luke 24:44-45: Psa. 119:89: Prov. 30:5-6: Rom 3:4

I Pet. 1:23; Rev. 22:19; John 12:48; Isa. 8:20; Eph. 6:17

Rom 15:4; Luke 16:31; Psa. 19:7-11; John 5:45-47; John 5:39

 

       II.      OF THE TRUE GOD

 

We believe there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite intelligent Spirit, the Creator and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressively glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

 

Ex. 20: 2-3; Gen. 17:1; I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; John 4:24; Psa. 147:5; Psa. 83:18;   Psa 90:2; Jer. 10:10; Ex 15:11; Rev. 4:11

I Tim. 1:17: Rom. 11:33: Mark 12:30; Matt. 28:19; John 15:26

I Cor. 12:4-6; I John 5:7; John 10:30; John 17:5; Acts 5:3-4

I Cor. 2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6; Eph. 2:18; II Cor. 13:14

 

 

   III.      OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals endues, guides , teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.

 

John 14:16-17; Matt. 29:19; Heb. 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Gen. 1:1-3; II Thess. 2:7; John 16:8-11; John 15:26-27

Acts 5:30-32; John 3:5-6; Eph. 1:13-14; Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8: Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; John 16:13

John 14:26; Rom. 8:14; II Thess. 2:13; I Pet. 1:2; Rom. 8:26-27.

 

    IV.      OF THE DEVIL OR SATAN

 

We believe that Satan is a literal personality; that he was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels;  that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world; that he is man's great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy, the lord of the anti-christ, and the author of all the powers of darkness; that he is destined to final defeat at the hands of God's son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire, and place prepared for him and his angels. 

 

Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:14-17; Rev. 12:9; Jude 6; II Pet. 2:4; Eph. 2:2; John 14:30; I Thess. 3:5; Matt. 4:1-3; I Pet. 5:8; Zech. 3:1; I John 3:8; Matt. 13:25,37-39; Luke 22:3,4

Rev. 12:10; II Cor. 11:13-15; Mark 13:21,22; I John 4:3

II John 7; I John 2:22; Rev. 13:13,14; II Thess. 2:8-11

Rev. 19:11,16,20; Rev. 12:7-9; Rev. 20:10; Matt. 25:41

 

 


 

        V.      OF CREATION

 

We believe in the Genesis account of creation; that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God's own image and after His own likeness; 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; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and God's established law was that they should bring forth only "after their kind."  

 

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 17:24; Jer. 10:12; Neh. 9:6; Gen. 1:26-27; Gen. 2:21-23; Gen. 1:11; Gen. 1:24.

 

    VI.      OF THE FALL OF MAN

 

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Creator, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.

 

Gen.   3:16,24; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 5:19; Rom. 3:10-19; Eph. 2:1,3

Rom. 1:18; Ezek. 18:19-20; Rom. 1:32; Rom. 1:20; Rom. 1:28

Gal. 3:22.

 

 

VII.      OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN

 

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the 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; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a 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; that  having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, 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 Saviour.

 

Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24; 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; John 10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 1:4

I Pet. 2:24; I Pet. 3:18; Isa. 53:11; Heb. 12:2; I Cor. 15:20; Isa.53:12; Heb. 9:12-15; Heb. 7:25; I John 2:2.

 

VIII.      OF GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION

 

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; 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; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.

 

John 3:3; II Cor. 5:17; Luke 5:17; I John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; Acts 16:30-33; II Pet. 1:4

Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; II Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:13; John 3:8; John 1:12-13; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 5:9.

 

 

    IX.      OF JUSTIFICATION

 

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of His righteousness; 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 to us.

 

Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11; Zech. 13:1; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 5:1; Titus 3:4-7; Heb. 2:4; Gal. 3:11; Rom. 4:1-8; Heb. 10:38.

 

        X.      OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH

 

We believe that Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced 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, at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King, relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour.

 

Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; I John 5:1; Acts 20:21

II Tim. 2:25-26; Luke 12:3; Acts 3:19; II Cor. 7:10; John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31; Psa. 38:4; Acts 24:25; I Cor. 14:25

Job 33:27,28; Luke 18:13; 15:18,24; James 4:7,10; Rom. 10:12,13; Acts 24:25; 5:31; Rev. 11:15; Heb. 5:6; Heb. 4:14,16.

 

 

    XI.      OF THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD IN ELECTION

 

We believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners; that being perfectly consistent with the free agency of man, it comprehends all the means in connection with the end; that it is a most glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, being infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable, that it utterly excludes boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy; that it encourages the use of means in the highest degree; that it may be ascertained by its effects in all who truly believe the gospel; that it is the foundation of Christian assurance, and that to ascertain it with regard to ourselves demands and deserves the utmost diligence.

 

II Tim. 1:8-9; Eph. 1:3-4; I Pet. 1:1-5; Rom. 11:4-6; I John 4:19; Hosea 12:9; Rom. 8:14-15, 19,24; II Thess. 2:13-14; Acts 14:48-49; Acts 15:14-16; Josh. 24:3; Psa. 119:173-174; Luke 10:42; Heb. 11:24,27; Rev. 22:17;; Ex. 33:19; Eph. 1:11,13; Rom. 9:23-24; Jer. 1:3,5; James 1:17-18;

Rom. 11:35-36; I Cor. 4:7; I Cor. 1:29; Eph. 2:9; Rom. 4:16; Col. 3:12-13; I Cor. 3:5-7; 15:10

Acts 1:24; I Thess. 2:12-13; I Pet. 2:9; Luke 18:7-8; John 15:16

Eph. 1:16,19; I Thess. 2:11-12; II Tim. 2:10; I Cor. 9:22; Rom. 8:28-30;

John 6:37,40;  II Pet. 1:10-11;Rom. 10:14-15; 11:13-14

II Cor. 1:10-11; I Thess. 1:4,10; Eph. 2:10; James 1:18,21

Rom. 8:33-39; Col. 2:2-3; Heb. 10:20,22; I John 4:10,13; Phil.3:12

Heb. 4:11; I John 3:2; Psa. 4:3-4; Rom. 8:16-17; Isa. 12:2;I John 5:13; I Cor. 6:15; II Cor. 13:5.

 

 

XII.      OF SANCTIFICATION

 

We believe that Sanctification is that work whereby the believing sinner is set apart to God from sin; that it involves three aspects which may be termed positional, progressive and final; that positional sanctification is the setting apart once and for all, by means of the blood of Christ, the believing sinner as God's own possession, so that in his standing he is reckoned holy.   That progressive sanctification is the present work of God whereby the believer, in his experience is progressively set apart from sin and brought toward perfection by the work of the Holy Spirit through the continual use of the appointed means-especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer; that final sanctification is the work in the future wherein God will wholly finish the process of perfection at the coming of Christ with His saints.

 

Heb. 13:12; Acts 26:18; I Cor. 6:11; Heb. 10:14; I Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:4; I Thess. 4:3; Rom. 6:22; John 17:17; Eph. 5:26; II Cor. 3:18; II Cor. 7:1; Col. 1:10-12; Eph. 4:11-13; Phil. 3:12-16

Rom. 12:1-3; I Pet. 2:1-3; Matt. 26:41; Eph. 6:18; Eph. 4:30-32; Phil. 1:6; I Thess. 5:23; I John 3:2; I Thess. 3:12-13.

 

XIII.      OF THE PERSEVERANCE AND SECURITY OF THE SAINTS

 

We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinquishes them from superficial professors; that a special providence watches over their welfare, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

 

John 8:31; Psa. 37:24-28; I John 3:9; 2:27-28; 5:18; Heb. 3:14; I John 2:19; John 17:12; Job 17:9; Rom. 8:28; Matt. 6:30; Psa. 121:3-5; Psa 125:1-2; 73:24; 138:8; Jer. 32:40; Luke 10:42; 22:31-32; John 6:37; John 6:38-39; 10:28-29; I Cor. 1:8-9; II Cor. 1:21.22; Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13; Jude 24-25; II Kings 6:16; Heb. 13:5; I John 4:4; II Tim. 1:12; 4:18; I Pet. 1:4-5; John 4:14; 5:24

 

 

XIV.      OF A LOCAL CHURCH OF CHRIST

 

We believe that a local church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers; associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws in the New Testament; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word.  That its only Scriptural officers are bishops, or pastors, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the epistles to Timothy and Titus; that the true mission of the church is the faithful carrying out of the Great Commission as we have opportunity; that the church is an independent, sovereign local body, possessing that absolute right of self-government, free from the inheritance of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that Christ is its only superintendent through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to fellowship together in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its fellowship.

 

Matt. 18:17; I Cor. 1:2; Acts 5:11; 11:22; 8:1; I Cor. 1:13

Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Rom. 16:1,5,23; I Cor. 4:17; 14:23

III John 9; I Tim. 3:5; Acts 2:41-42; Phil. 1:5; I Cor. 11:2 II Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17-20; Matt. 18:15-18; Matt. 28:20, John 14:15; 15:12; I Thess. 1:1-9; I Thess. 4:2; II John 6; Gal. 6:2; I John 2:4; I Cor. 14:12; Phil. 1:27; I Cor. 12:1,12; 1:4,8; Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23; I Tim. 3:1,8; Titus 1:5-7

 

 

 

XV.      OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER

 

We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect, in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation, and to the Lord's Supper in which the members of the church, by the emblems of the bread and fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ until He comes and should be preceded always by self- examination.

 

 Mark 1:5,9; Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:5,6; John 4:1-2; 3:22-23; Mark 16:16; Acts 1:21-22; Acts 2:41; 16:32-34; 18:8; 8:12; Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Gal. 3:26-28; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:5; Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 11:26; Matt. 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:14-20; I Cor. 11:28; 5:8; 10:16,21; 11:17-

29.

 

XVI.      OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED

 

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; 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; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and after death.

 

 

XVII.      OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT

 

We believe that Civil Government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience and the Prince of the Kings of the earth.

 

Rom.13:1-7; Deut. 16:18; II Sam.23:3; Ex. 18:21-23; Jer. 30:21; Acts 25:2; 4:28-29; Matt. 10:28; Dan. 3:15-18; 6:14-18; 6:7-10;

Acts 4:17-20; Matt. 23:1-; Rom. 14:3-4; Rev. 19:16; Psa. 72:11;

Psa. 2:10-11; Rom. 14:11; I Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14.

 

XVIII.      OF THE RESURRECTION AND IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST AND RELATED EVENTS.

 

We believe that Christ rose bodily from the grave "the third day according to the scriptures", that He ascended "to the right hand of the throne of God"; that He alone is our "merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God", that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven", bodily, personally and visibly; that it is composed of two aspects--His coming in the air for His saints prior to the Day of the Lord in the which the dead in Christ shall rise first and the living saints "shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" and later He shall come with His saints to the earth to set up the Throne of David, that he shall reign upon earth a thousand years in righteousness until He shall put all enemies under His feet.

 

Matt. 28:5-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27: I Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:6;  Luke 24:2; Luke 24:4-6; Acts 1:11; Luke 24:51 Mark 16:19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 8:1; Heb. 12:2; Heb 8:6; I Tim. 2:5; I John 2:1; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 5:9-10; John 14:3;  Acts 1:11; I Thess. 4:16; Matt. 24:27; Matt. 25:13; James 5:8; Mat. 24:42; Heb. 9:28; I Thess. 4:16; I Cor. 15:42-44; I Cor. 15:51-53; I Thess. 4:17;  Phil. 3:20-21; Luke 1:32; Isa. 9:6-7; Acts 9:29-30; I Cor. 15:25; Isa. 32:1; Isa. 11:4-5; Psa. 72:8; Rev. 20:1-4; Rev. 20:6.

 

XIX.      A BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.

 

In light of God’s creative design, we believe that the Bible teaches that marriage is the joining of a man and a woman and that sexual intimacy is to be expressed only within the bond of a Biblically defined marriage.  Any other form of marriage or sexual intimacy is immoral and a perversion of God’s gracious will. (Genesis 2:18, 25 and 25; Matthew 19:4-5; Romans 1:24-29; 7:2I Corinthians 6:9-20; and Ephesians 5:22-33)