|
1.
The Bible. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments
were given by inspiration of God, and are our infallible rule of
faith and practice.
2.
God. There is one living
and true God, revealed in nature as the Creator, Preserver, and
Righteous Governor of the universe; and in the Scriptures as Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost; yet as one God, infinitely wise and good, whom
all intelligent creatures are supremely to love, adore, and obey.
3.
Christ. Christ is God manifest in the flesh; in His
divine nature truly God, in His human nature truly man. The mediator
between God and man, once crucified, He is now risen and glorified,
and is our ever present Saviour and Lord.
4.
The Holy Spirit. The Scriptures assign to the Holy Spirit
all the attributes of God.
5.
The Government of God. God exercises a wise and
benevolent providence over all beings and all things by maintaining
the constitution and laws of nature. He also performs special acts,
not otherwise provided for, as the highest welfare of men requires.
6.
The Sinfulness of Man. Man was created innocent, but by
disobedience fell into a state of sin and condemnation. His
posterity, therefore, inherit a fallen nature of such tendencies that
all who come to years of accountability, sin and become guilty before God.
7.
The Work of Christ. The Son of God by His incarnation,
life, sufferings, death, and resurrection effected for all a
redemption from sin that is full and free, and is the ground of
salvation by faith.
8.
The Terms of Salvation. The conditions of salvation are:
(1) Repentance or sincere sorrow for sin and hearty renunciation of
it. (2) Faith or the unreserved committal of one's self to Christ as
Savior and Lord with purpose to love and obey Him in all things. In
the exercise of saving faith, the soul is renewed by the Holy Spirit,
freed from the dominion of sin, and becomes a child of God. (3)
Continuance of faith and obedience unto death.
9.
Election. God determined from the beginning to save all
who should comply with the conditions of salvation. Hence by faith in
Christ men become His elect.
10.
Freedom of the Will. The human will is free and
self-controlled, having power to yield to the influence of the truth
and the Spirit, or to resist them and perish.
11.
Salvation Free. God desires the salvation of all, the
Gospel invites all, the Holy Spirit strives with all, and whosoever
will may come and take of the water of life freely.
12.
Perseverance. All believers in Christ, who through grace
persevere in holiness to the end of life, have promise of eternal salvation.
13.
Gospel Ordinances. BAPTISM, or the immersion of
believers in water, and the LORD'S SUPPER, are the ordinances
to be perpetuated under the Gospel. FEET WASHING, an ordinance
teaching humility, is of universal obligation, and is to be
ministered to all true believers.
14.
Tithing. God commanded tithes and offerings in the Old
Testament; Jesus Christ endorsed it in the Gospel (Matt. 23:23), and
the apostle Paul said, "Upon the first day of the week let every
one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him" (1
Cor. 16:2a).
15.
The Christian Sabbath. The divine law requires that one
day in seven be set apart from secular employments and amusements,
for rest, worship, holy works, and activities, and for personal
communion with God.
16.
Resurrection, Judgment, and Final Retribution. The
Scriptures teach the resurrection of all men at the last day. Those
who have done good will come forth to the resurrection of life, and
those who have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation; then the
wicked will "go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous
into eternal life."
|
