What We Believe

Summary Statement of Faith

Grace and Truth Baptist Church

San Francisco, CA

đź“„ Download PDF

We believe:

The Bible is God’s infallible, inerrant Word, every word of which is given by inspiration of God, and providentially preserved for use by His people.1

As an unparalleled and accurate translation of the Hebrew and Greek Received Texts of Scripture, the Authorized, King James Version is used exclusively in the public preaching of our church.

The one and only living and Almighty God, Jehovah, is one undivided Being in three eternal Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.2 The Bible teaches the doctrine of the Trinity as confessed in the Nicene and Athanasian creeds. The Christian life is one of personal fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.3

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who united a true, complete, and sinless human nature to His Divine Person when He became Man through His virginal conception in the womb of His human mother Mary.4 The Council of Chalcedon confessed the truth of Scripture in its doctrine of the one Person of Christ in two natures.5 Christ died and shed His blood to offer a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.6 He was buried, rose bodily from the grave the third day, ascended to heaven, and is coming again.7

The Holy Spirit is the third eternal Person of the one Triune God.8 Christ baptized the church with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost,9 and the Spirit indwells all believers in this dispensation.10 The Spirit’s filling and fruit are essential for Biblical holiness.11 The miraculous signs and wonders performed in the first century validated the Apostles and their message,12 and, with the completion of the canon of Scripture and the passing of the Apostles, have ceased.13 The modern charismatic movement is not from God.14

God created the world out of nothing.15 Genesis records the literal account of the origin of the world thousands, not millions, of years ago, and records the literal account of the worldwide flood in the days of Noah.16 God made mankind—male and female—in His image and likeness.17

As a result of the disobedience of the first man, Adam, sin entered into the world, and death by sin. All the sons of Adam deserve spiritual and physical death because of the immediate imputation of Adam’s sin to all mankind, Christ only excepted.18 People also deserve condemnation because of the totally depraved and corrupt human nature with which they are born,19 and their countless personal transgressions, both through commission and through omission, of God’s holy law, in thought, word, and deed.20

When, enabled and drawn by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through the Word of God,21 sinners repent and believe the gospel,22 they are justified or declared righteous, based on the imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ,23 are adopted into the family of God,24 enter into the New Covenant or Testament,25 and are born again.26 Salvation is by God’s grace alone, through repentant faith alone,27 based on the death of Christ alone,28 and to the glory of God alone.29 When God gives sinners repentance and faith,30 they turn from their sins to receive Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King,31 trusting in and resting upon the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life.32 Everyone who is born again is eternally secure—once saved, each Christian is always saved from the penalty and power of sin, and certain of final and complete deliverance from the presence of sin.33 Christians can have full assurance34 of their election according to the foreknowledge of God35 and union with Jesus Christ by the Spirit through faith36 because of the sufficiency of Christ’s work for them, confirmed by the holy fruits of regeneration in their lives.37 Neither Calvinism nor Arminianism represent the teaching of Scripture on the doctrine of salvation.38 Eternal security is a tremendous encouragement to the Christian’s love for Christ and pursuit of holiness.39

Jesus Christ started His church during His ministry upon the earth and has preserved true churches from the first century until today.40 In modern times, those true churches—assemblies of visible saints41—are generally called “Baptist,” having formerly been called “Anabaptist,” as heirs of the first century churches, although doctrine and practice, not the wording of a local congregation’s name, are of the essence of a true church. Neither Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, nor Protestant denominations originating in the Reformation period have the doctrine or the historical heritage of Christ’s true churches. Christ’s church is an assembly of baptized believers, organized to carry out the Lord’s work.42 The church is neither universal and visible, nor universal and invisible, but is solely local and visible.43 The nation of Israel and the church are distinct entities, and Scriptural teaching on the relation of the church and Israel fits much more closely with dispensationalism than it does with covenant theology.44 Jesus Christ is the sole Head of His church.45 The human overseers of the church are pastors, also called elders or bishops,46 and are men who meet the qualifications in the pastoral epistles.47 Deacons are men who have a special role as servants in Christ’s church.48

Disciples are added to the church by baptism—the immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a beautiful symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.49 In the Lord’s Supper, the church commemorates Christ’s death until He comes through the elements of unleavened bread and the unfermented fruit of the vine.50 Pouring or sprinkling water on infants or adults is not Biblical baptism, nor are transubstantiation or consubstantiation taught in Scripture. Neither baptism nor the Lord’s Supper brings about the new birth or justification, as justification is by faith alone, apart from all works and religious rituals.51 Every believer has direct access to God as a spiritual priest.52

Christ’s churches have the serious responsibility to preach the gospel to every creature and make disciples world-wide.53 Christ’s churches offer Him reverent and solemn worship54 in accordance with His explicit commandment,55 singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,56 and rejecting all worldly and fleshly false worship, including the vast majority of what is termed “Contemporary Christian Music” today.57

Biblical predictions about future events should be interpreted literally.58 Literal interpretation requires that Christ’s second coming is premillennial and pretribulational.59 Those saved from their sin will live forever in conscious bliss and fellowship with God in the new heaven and new earth. Those who die without having their sins remitted will suffer conscious torment in the lake of fire forever and ever.60

Scripture teaches personal and ecclesiastical separation from all unrepentant doctrinal and practical apostasy and spiritual compromise, so that true churches and Christians earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints and out of love for Christ and others mark and avoid both unregenerate false teachers and even true believers who are committed to spiritual compromise, the latter, however, not being counted as enemies, but admonished as brethren.61

Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed62

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; from thence he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. In the holy church; we acknowledge one baptism on account of the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Creed of Chalcedon63

We confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a rational soul and body; consubstantial with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the manhood; in all things like unto us, yet without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, according to the manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two Persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning have declared concerning Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us.

Athanasian Creed64

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Christian faith.  Which faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.  And the Christian faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the substance.

For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.  But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.  The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.  The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.  And yet they are not three eternals, but one Eternal.

As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one Uncreated, and one Incomprehensible.  So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Spirit Almighty.  And yet they are not three almighties, but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.  And yet they are not three gods, but one God.

So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord.  And yet not three lords, but one Lord.

For as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge each Person by Himself to be both God and Lord, so we are also forbidden by the Christian religion to say that there are three gods or three lords.

The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten.  The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten.  The Holy Spirit is of the Father and the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits.

And in the Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another, but all three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

He therefore that will be saved must think thus of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For the right faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man; God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of the substance of his mother, born in the world; perfect God and perfect man, of a rational soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching His Godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching His manhood; who, although He is God and man, yet he is not two, but one Christ; one, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the manhood into God; one altogether; not by confusion of substance, but by unity of Person.  For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ; who suffered and died for our salvation and rose again the third day from the dead.  He ascended into heaven, He sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from whence He will come to judge the quick and the dead.  At His coming all men will rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their own works.

This is the Christian faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

Detailed Statement of Faith with Verse References65

Chapter 1

Of the Holy Scriptures

1. The holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.66 Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable, yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will, which is necessary unto salvation.67 Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare his will to his people;68 and afterward for the better preserving, and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of his people against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly to writing;69 which makes the holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God’s revealing His will to his people being now ceased. With the cessation of the sign gifts in conjunction with the completion of the canon of Scripture and the death of the Apostles, nobody living today has miraculous spiritual gifts such as the ability to speak in tongues or to utter infallible prophecy.70

2. Under the Name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written; are now contained all the Books of the Old and New Testament, which are these:

Of the Old Testament.

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

Of the New Testament.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Epistle of James, 1 & 2 of Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, Jude & Revelation.

All which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.71

3. The Books commonly called Apocrypha, not being inspired by God, are no part of the canon (or rule) of the Scripture, and therefore are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of, then other human writings.72

4. The authority of the holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the Author thereof; therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.73

5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God, to an high and reverent esteem of the holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man’s salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it does abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet, notwithstanding our full persuasion, and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.74

6. The whole council of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the holy Scriptures; unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men.75

Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God, to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word,76 and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies; which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.77

7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all;78 yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.79

8. The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old),80 and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them.81 But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right to, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search82 them, therefore they are to be translated into the common language of every nation unto which they come,83 that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all,84 they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.

9. God’s promises to infallibly inspire and perfectly preserve His Words among His true churches lead by good and necessary consequence to the canonicity of the traditional Hebrew (and Aramaic) Masoretic text of Scripture and the Greek Received Text of Scripture.85 Because Scripture is still God’s Word when translated, it possesses Divine authority according to its substance when it accurately renders the original language text (which alone is finally and ultimately authoritative, both according to its words and according to its substance). It is therefore appropriate to recognize that faithful vernacular translations of the Received Hebrew and Greek texts of Scripture, such as the Authorized, King James Version in English, are worthy of reverence as the very Word of God.

10. As an unparalleled and accurate translation of the Hebrew and Greek Received Texts of Scripture, the Authorized, King James Version is used exclusively in the public preaching of our church in the English language. Preaching in other languages takes place exclusively from a Received Text Bible version that practices formal equivalence in its translation philosophy to the extent reasonably possible.

11. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself.86 Therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold but one) it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly.

12. The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.87

Chapter 2

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

1. The Lord our God is but one only living and true God;88 whose subsistence is in and of himself,89 infinite in being90 and perfection, whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit,91 invisible,92 without body, parts, or passions, who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, who is immutable,93 immense,94 eternal,95 incomprehensible, Almighty,96 every way infinite, most holy,97 most wise, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the council of his own immutable, and most righteous will,98 for his own glory,99 most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin,100 the rewarder of them that diligently seek him,101 and withal most just, and terrible in his judgments,102 hating all sin and all workers of iniquity,103 and who will by no means clear the guilty.104

2. God having all life,105 glory,106 goodness,107 blessedness, in and of himself: is alone in, and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he has made, nor deriving any glory from them,108 but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them, he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things,109 and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures,110 to do by them, for them, and upon them, whatsoever he pleases; in his sight all things are open and manifest,111 his knowledge is infinite and infallible, so as nothing is to him uncertain;112 he is most holy in all his councils, in all his works, and in all his commands;113 to him is due from angels and men,114 whatsoever worship, service, or obedience as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them.

3. In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father the Word (or Son) and Holy Spirit,115 of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole Divine essence,116 yet the essence undivided, the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding, the Son is eternally begotten of the Father,117 the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son,118 all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being; but distinguished by several peculiar, relative properties, and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on Him.

Chapter 3

Of Gods Decree

1. God has decreed in Himself from all eternity, by the most wise and holy council of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things whatsoever comes to pass;119 yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin, nor has fellowship with any therein,120 nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty, or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established,121 in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power, and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.122

2. God knows whatsoever may, or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions.123

3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life, through Jesus Christ,124 to the praise of His glorious grace;125 others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation,126 to the praise of His glorious justice. However, Scripture without equal ultimacy asserts that God actively and powerfully prepares His kingdom for the elect from the foundation of the world, while asserting only that the lost are fitted on account of their own sin for damnation.127

4. These angels and men thus predestinated, and foreordained, are particularly, and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain, and definite, that it cannot be either increased, or diminished.128

5. Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret council and good pleasure of his will, has chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, and in accordance with His foreknowledge.129

6. As God has appointed the elect unto glory, so he has by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto,130 wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ,131 are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified,132 and kept by his power through faith unto salvation,133 neither are any other justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved by Christ but the elect only.134

7. The Doctrine of this high mystery of predestination, is to be handled with special prudence, and care; that men attending the will of God revealed in his word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election;135 so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise,136 reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation, to all that sincerely obey the gospel.137

8. God is not willing that any person eternally perish, but that all come to repentance.138 He sincerely wills the salvation of every individual, and prepared hell for the devil and his angels, they having fallen into sin, not for mankind,139 so that those who eternally perish bear themselves all the responsibility for their damnation, as unwilling to receive His freely and sincerely offered grace.140

Chapter 4

Of Creation of the World, of Man, and concerning the Flood

1. In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,141 for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness,142 to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six literal days, and all very good.143

2. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female,144 with reasonable and immortal souls, rendering them fit unto that life to God, for which they were created; being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness;145 having the law of God written in their hearts,146 and power to fulfill it; and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.147

3. Besides the Law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil;148 which whilst they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.149

4. The account of origins presented in Genesis 1–11 is a simple but factual presentation of actual events, and therefore provides a reliable framework for scientific research into the question of the origin and history of life, mankind, the earth, and the universe.

5. The various original life forms or kinds, including mankind, were made by direct, supernatural, creative acts of God, not by natural, physical processes over millions of years.150

6. The living descendants of any of the original kinds (apart from man) may represent more than one species today, reflecting the genetic potential within each original kind. Only limited biological changes (including mutational deterioration) have occurred naturally within each kind since creation; one kind does not change over time into a different kind.151

7. The great flood of Genesis was an actual historic event, worldwide in its extent and catastrophic in its effects. At one stage during the flood, the waters covered the entire surface of the whole globe with no land surface being exposed anywhere; the flood of Noah is not to be understood as any form of local or regional flood. The Noachian flood was a significant geological event, and most fossiliferous sediments were deposited at that time.152

8. Scripture teaches that the origin of man and of the whole creation took place thousands, not tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or millions of years ago.153

9. The days in Genesis do not correspond to geologic ages but are six consecutive, 24-hour creative days. The first day began in Genesis 1:1, and the seventh day, which was also a normal 24-hour day, ended in Genesis 2:3.154

10. The gap theory, progressive creation, day-age, framework hypothesis, theistic evolution or evolutionary creation, functionality–cosmic temple, analogical days, day-gap-day, and all other views that try to fit macroevolution or millions of years into Genesis are incompatible with Scripture.

11. Truth and knowledge may not be divided into a secular and a religious realm, whereby allegedly “religious truth” about creation, or about any other subject, can contradict allegedly “secular truth.”155

12. No apparent, perceived, or claimed evidence in any field of study, including science, history, and chronology, can be valid if it contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture obtained by literal hermeneutics.156

13. Mankind, consisting of two genders (male and female), is created in the image of God. Each of these two distinct, complementary genders reflects the image of God.157

14. The special and unique creation of Adam from dust and Eve from Adam was supernatural and immediate. Adam and Eve did not originate from any other preexisting lifeforms.158

15. All human life has unique and eternal value and begins at conception, that is, at the moment of fertilization. Each unborn child is a unique, living human being, created in the image of God, and must be respected and protected both before and after birth. The abortion of an unborn child or the active, intentional taking of human life through euthanasia or assisted suicide constitutes a violation of the sanctity of human life and is a crime against God and man.159

16. There is only one race of mankind—the human race or Adam’s race. Adam and Eve were the first two humans. All people alive today are the descendants of Adam and Eve, as well as of Noah.160

17. Since all humans are made in the image of God, all humans, including the unborn, have equal dignity and value regardless of age, intelligence, gender, physical ability, shade of skin tone, religion, ethnicity, or any other characteristic.161

18. The only legitimate marriage—which is sanctioned by God and validated in the creation account of Genesis 1-2—is the joining of one naturally born man and one naturally born woman in a single, exclusive union as delineated in Scripture. God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other and has commanded that no sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. Any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, prostitution, homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, abuse, or any attempt to change one’s gender, or disagreement with one’s biological gender, is sinful and offensive to God.162

19. Gender and biological sex are equivalent and cannot be separated. A person’s gender is determined at conception (fertilization), coded in that person’s DNA, and cannot be changed by drugs, hormones, or surgery. Rejection of one’s biological sex (gender) or identifying oneself by the opposite sex is a sinful rejection of the way God made that person.163

Chapter 5

Of God’s Creation and Role for Male and Female

1. Both Adam and Eve were created in God’s image, equal before God as persons and distinct in their manhood and womanhood.164 Distinctions in masculine and feminine roles are ordained by God as part of the created order.165 Adam’s headship in marriage was established by God before the Fall, and was not a result of sin.166 The Fall introduced distortions into the relationships between men and women.167 In the home, the husband’s loving, humble headship tends to be replaced by domination or passivity; the wife’s intelligent, willing submission tends to be replaced by usurpation or servility. In the church, sin inclines men toward a worldly love of power or an abdication of spiritual responsibility, and inclines women to resist limitations on their roles or to neglect the use of their gifts in appropriate ministries.

2. The Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, manifests the equally high value and dignity which God attached to the roles of both men and women.168 Both Old and New Testaments also affirm the principle of male headship in the family, in the covenant community, and in the state.169 Redemption in Christ aims at removing the distortions introduced by the curse. In the family, husbands should forsake harsh or selfish leadership and grow in love and care for their wives; wives should forsake resistance to their husbands’ authority and grow in willing, joyful submission to their husbands’ leadership.170 In the church, redemption in Christ gives men and women an equal share in the blessings of salvation; nevertheless, the leadership role of pastor, elder, or bishop and deacon are restricted to men, and women are not to teach adult men.171 In the state, men to lead and, when appropriate, fight in the armed forces, while women are keepers at home.172 In all of life Christ is the supreme authority and guide for men and women, so that no earthly submission—domestic, religious, or civil—ever involves a mandate to follow a human authority into sin.173

3. In both men and women a heartfelt sense of call to ministry should never be used to set aside Biblical criteria for particular ministries.174 Rather, Biblical teaching should remain the authority for testing our subjective discernment of God’s will. No man or woman need ever live without a fulfilling ministry for the glory of Christ and the good of this fallen world.175

4. God-ordained distinctions between men and women extend to their appearence. It is a shame for a man, but a glory to a woman, to have long hair, and a woman must not wear that which pertains to a man, neither must a man put on a woman’s garment.176

Chapter 6

Of Divine Providence

1. God, the good Creator of all things, in his infinite power, and wisdom, upholds, directs, disposes, and governs all creatures, and things,177 from the greatest even to the least,178 by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created; according unto his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable council of His own will; to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness and mercy.179

2. Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly;180 so that there is not anything that befalls any apart from his providence;181 yet by the same providence he orders them to fall out, according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.182

3. God in His ordinary providence makes use of means;183 yet is free to work, without,184 above,185 and against them186 at His pleasure.

4. The Almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that His determinate council extends itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions, both of angels, and men;187 which also he most wisely and powerfully bounds, and otherwise orders, and governs,188 in a manifold dispensation to His most holy ends:189 yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceeds only from the creatures, and not from God; who being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be, the author or approver of sin.190

5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God, does oftentimes, leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruptions of their own heart, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption, and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close, and constant dependence for their support, upon himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends,191 so that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by His appointment, for His glory, and their good.192

6. As for those wicked and ungodly men, whom God as a righteous judge, for former sin does blind and harden;193 from them he not only withholds his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon in their hearts:194 but sometimes also withdraws the gifts which they had,195 and exposes them to such objects as their corruptions makes occasion of sin;196 and withal gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan,197 whereby it comes to pass, that they harden themselves, even under those means which God uses for the softening of others.198

7. As the providence of God does in general reach to all creatures, so after a most special manner it takes care of the holy Scriptures,199 of His physical people—the nation of Israel,200 of his spiritual people—all who are born again through faith in Jesus Christ, 201 and of his church,202 and disposes of all things to the good of those he has redeemed.203

Chapter 7

Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof.

1. Although God created man upright, and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof;204 yet he did not long abide in this honour; Satan using the subtilty of the serpent to seduce Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given unto them, in eating the forbidden fruit;205 which God was pleased according to his wise and holy council to permit, to His own glory.

2. Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we fell in them, whereby death came upon all; all becoming dead in sin,206 and wholly defiled, in all the faculties, and parts, of soul, and body.207

3. They being the root, and by Gods appointment, Adam standing in the room, and stead of all mankind; the guilt of this sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation,208 being now conceived in sin,209 and by nature children of wrath,210 the servants of sin, the subjects of death211 and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.212

4. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil,213 do proceed all actual transgressions.214

5. This corruption of nature, during this life, remains in those that are regenerated:215 and although it be through Christ pardoned, and mortified, yet both itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.216

6. The special creation of Adam (the first man) and Eve (the first woman) and their subsequent fall into sin is the basis for the necessity of salvation for mankind;217 since all mankind, having fallen in Adam, can be redeemed by the Christ, the Second Adam.218

7. Human death (both physical and spiritual), as well as all animal death, disease, bloodshed, suffering, extinction, thorns and thistles, and all other natural evils, from earthquakes to hurricanes to tsunamis, entered this world subsequent to, and as a direct consequence of, man’s sin.219

Chapter 8

Of God’s Covenants and Dispensations

1. The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto him as their Creator, yet they could never have attained the reward of life, but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which He has been pleased to express, by way of covenant.220

2. Moreover man having brought himself under the curse of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace221 wherein he freely offers unto sinners, life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved;222 and promising to give unto all those that believe and are ordained unto eternal life, His Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to come to Christ.223

3. This covenant is revealed in the gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of the woman,224 and afterwards by farther steps, until the full discovery thereof was completed in the New Testament;225 and it is founded in that eternal covenant transaction, that was between the Father and the Son, about the redemption of the elect;226 and it is alone by the grace of this covenant, that all of the posterity of fallen Adam, that ever were saved, did obtain life and a blessed immortality; man being now utterly uncapable of acceptance with God upon those terms, on which Adam stood in his state of innocence.227

4. The existence of a covenant among the Persons of the Trinity and a covenant of grace between God and His elect is entirely consistent with the literal fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham and his seed, David and his seed, and the physical nation of Israel in the Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenants, as well as all other Biblical covenants.228 The church and Israel are distinct entities, and the church does not replace Israel in God’s covenantal purposes.229

5. Dispensations are stewardships by which God administers His purpose on the earth through men under varying responsibilities. Changes in the dispensational dealings of God with mankind depend on changed conditions or situations in which they are successively found with relation to God; these changes are the result of human failures and the judgments of God. Different administrative responsibilities of this character are manifest in the Biblical record. They span the entire history of mankind, and each ends in failure after a respective test and in an ensuing judgment from God. Though time is not a primary consideration, each divine administration, or dispensation, relates to a definite period of human history. Following relatively brief descriptions of several dispensations lasting from Adam to through the patriarchal dispensation, extensive Biblical revelation describes the dispensation of Israel under Moses, the present dispensation of grace, and the future dispensation of the millennial kingdom. These dispensations are distinct and are not to be intermingled or confused, as they are chronologically successive.230

6.) The different dispensations do not constitute different ways of salvation. While believers grew in their understanding as the time of Christ’s coming drew near, ever since the fall of Adam, and in every time period until the final consummation in the new heaven and earth, sinners have been justified, not by works, but by grace alone through faith alone, trusting in God and His coming Messiah.231 In the dispensation of grace and in all future ages until the final consummation, no sinners who have passed the age and mental development that brings accountability can be saved apart from faith in the consciously known and trusted Savior, Jesus Christ.232

Chapter 9

Of Christ the Mediator

1. It pleased God in his eternal purpose, to chose and ordain the Lord Jesus His only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them both, to be the Mediator between God and Man;233 the Prophet,234 Priest,235 and King;236 Head and Savior of his people237 and of the church,238 the heir of all things,239 and judge of the world:240 unto whom he did from all eternity give a people to be Christ’s spiritual seed, and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.241

2. The Son of God, the second Person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness of the Father’s glory, of one substance and equal with Him: who made the world, who upholds and governs all things He has made: did when the fullness of time was come take upon Him man’s nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin:242 being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her, and the power of the most High overshadowing her, and so was made of a woman, of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham, and David according to the Scriptures:243 so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, were inseparably joined together in one Person: without conversion, composition, or confusion: which Person is very God, and very Man; yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and Man.244

3. The Lord Jesus in his human nature thus united to the Divine, in the Person of the Son, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above measure;245 having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge;246 in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell:247 to the end that being holy, harmless, undefiled,248 and full of grace and truth,249 he might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator, and surety;250 which office He took not upon Himself, but was thereunto called by his Father;251 who also put all power and judgement in His hand, and gave Him a commandment to execute the same.252

4. This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake,253 which that he might discharge he was made under the Law,254 and did perfectly fulfill it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have born and suffered,255 being made sin and a curse for us:256 enduring most grievous sorrows in His soul; and most painful sufferings in His body;257 was crucified, and died, and remained in the state of the dead; yet saw no corruption:258 on the third day he arose from the dead,259 with the same body in which He suffered;260 with which He also ascended into heaven:261 and there sits at the right hand of his Father, making intercession;262 and shall return to judge Men and Angels, at the end of the world.263

5. The Lord Jesus by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the Justice of God,264 procured reconciliation, and purchased an Everlasting inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto him.265

6. Although the price of Redemption was not actually paid by Christ, till after his incarnation, yet the power, efficacy, and benefit thereof were communicated to the elect in all ages successively, from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein He was revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman, which should bruise the serpent’s head;266 and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world:267 being the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.268

7. Christ in the work of mediation acts according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet by reason of the unity of the Person, that which is proper to one nature, is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the Person denominated by the other nature.269

8. To all those who trust in Christ for eternal redemption, He certainly, and effectually applies, and communicates the same; making intercession for them,270 uniting them to himself by his Spirit, revealing unto them, in and by the Word, the mystery of salvation; persuading them to believe, and obey;271 governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit,272 and overcoming all their enemies by his Almighty power, and wisdom;273 in such manner, and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful, and unsearchable dispensation; and all of free, and absolute grace, without any merit in them to procure it.274

9. This office of Mediator between God and man, is proper only to Christ, who is the Prophet, Priest, and King of people of God; and may not be either in whole, or any part thereof transferred from Him to any other.275

10. This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetical office;276 and in respect of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office, to reconcile us, and present us acceptable unto God:277 and in respect of our averseness, and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue, and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office,2278 to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom, and lead us into his coming earthly kingdom during his future 1,000 year reign.279

11. While Christ’s penal, substitutionary, and vicarious death has special reference to every individual believer,280 to the church,281 to Israel,282 and to the elect,283 nevertheless His death is of infinite value, the sins of every man being imputed to Him,284 so that His death is sufficient to remove, not the sins of the elect alone, but also the sins of the whole world,285 enabling the gospel to be sincerely offered to all men by God, by Christ, and by the Lord’s people,286 and aggravating the condemnation of those who reject Christ’s death for them.287

Chapter 10

Of Free Will

1. God has indued the will of Man, with that natural liberty, and power of acting upon choice; that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.288

2. Man in his state of innocence, had freedom, and power, to will, and to do that which was good, and well-pleasing to God;289 but yet was mutable, so that he might fall from it.290

3. Man by his fall into a state of sin hath wholly lost all ability of will, to any spiritual good accompanying salvation;291 so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin,292 is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself; or to prepare himself thereunto.293

4. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he frees him from his natural bondage under sin,294 and by his grace alone, enables him freely to will, and to do that which is spiritually good;295 yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions he doth not perfectly nor only will that which is good; but doth also will that which is evil.296

5. The will of man is made perfectly, and immutably free to good alone, in the state of glory only.297

Chapter 11

Of God’s Calling

1. Those whom God has predestinated unto life in accordance with His foreknowledge298 he is pleased, in His appointed, and accepted time, to call299 by his word, and Spirit, out of that state of sin, and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ;300 enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God;301 taking away their302 heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh;303 renewing their wills, and by his Almighty power determining them to that which is good, and drawing them to Jesus Christ;304 yet so as they come most freely,305 being made willing by his grace.

2. This call is of God’s free grace alone,306 the creature being dead in trespasses and sins, until being enlightened, drawn, and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it;307 and that by no less power, then that which raised up Christ from the dead.308

3. Infants dying in infancy are saved by Christ through the Spirit;309 who works when, and where, and how he pleases:310 so also are all other elect persons, who are uncapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.

4. Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit,311 they neither will nor can truly come to Christ; and therefore cannot be saved:312 much less can men that receive not the Christian religion be saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the Law of that religion they do profess.313

Chapter 12

Of Justification

1. God freely justifies all believers,314 not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting, and accepting their persons as righteous;315 not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone,316 not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ’s active obedience unto the whole law, and obedience in suffering death, for their whole and sole Righteousness,317 they receiving, and resting on him, and His righteousness, by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.318

2. Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ, and his righteousness, is alone the instrument of justification:319 yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but works by love.320

3. Christ by his obedience, and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and did by the sacrifice of Himself, in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their stead, the penalty due unto them: make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice in their behalf:321 yet inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them, and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything in them;322 their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God, might be glorified in the justification of sinners.323

4. God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect,324 and Christ did in the fulness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification;325 nevertheless they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit in due time actually applies Christ unto them.326

5. God continues to forgive the sins of those that are justified,327 and although they can never fall from the state of justification;328 yet they may by their sins fall under God’s1329 Fatherly displeasure;330 and in that condition, they have not usually the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith, and repentance.331

6. The Justification of believers under the Old Testament was in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.332

=

Chapter 13

Of Adoption

All those that are justified, God vouchsafed, in, and for the sake of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption;333 by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of children of God;334 have His name put upon them,335 receive the Spirit of adoption,336 have access to the throne of grace with boldness,337 are enabled to cry “Abba, Father,”338 are pitied,339 protected,340 provided for, 341 and chastened by him, as by a Father;342 yet never cast off;343 but sealed to the day of Redemption,344 and inherit the promises, as heirs of everlasting salvation.345

Chapter 14

Of Sanctification

1. They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart, and a new Spirit created in them, through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection; are also farther sanctified, really, and personally,346 through the same power, by his word and Spirit dwelling in them; 347 the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,348 and the several lusts thereof, are more and more weakened and mortified;349 and they more and more enlivened and strengthened in all saving graces,350 to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.351

2. This Sanctification is throughout, in the whole man,352 yet imperfect in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part,353 whence ariseth a continual, and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.354

3. In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail;355 yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part overcomes;356 and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in his Word has prescribed to them.357

Chapter 15

Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation

1. When men are converted, having sometimes lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their calling gives them repentance unto life.358

2. Whereas there is none that doeth good, and sinneth not;359 and all men may, through the power, and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins, and provocations; God has mercifully provided that those so sinning, and falling, be renewed through repentance unto salvation.360

3. This saving repentance is an evangelical grace,361 whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency;362 praying or seeking for pardon, and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well pleasing in all things.363

4. Unfeigned repentance includes a settled purpose of heart364 to leave all our sins, resulting in a careful endeavor to live a more holy and sanctified life,365 according to all God’s commands,366 and a turning, or change of the whole man from sin to God,367 resulting in the endeavour, through his grace, to mortify indwelling lust, or corruptions,368 and obtain a great reformation both in the outward and inward man, according to the will of God; this repentance unto life is not wrought without faith in the soul. 369

5. The lost must repent at the moment of their new birth, while for believers repentance is also to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof; so it is every man’s duty, to repent of his particular known sins, particularly.370

6. Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace, for the preservation of believers unto salvation, that although there is no sin so small, but it deserves damnation;371 yet there is no sin so great, that it shall bring damnation on them that repent;372 which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.

Chapter 16

Of Saving Faith

1. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts;373 and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the374 Word;375 by which also, and by the administration of baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased, and strengthened.376

2. By this faith a Christian believes to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, because of the authority of God Himself;377 and also apprehends an excellency therein,378 above all other writings; and all things in the world:379 as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his natures and offices; and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his workings, and operations; and so is enabled to380 cast his soul upon the truth thus believed;381 and also acts differently, upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands,382 trembling at the threatenings,383 and embracing the promises of God, for this life, and that which is to come:384 but the principal acts of saving faith, have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone, for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, in accordance with the covenant of grace.385

3. This faith although it be different in degrees, and may be weak, or strong;386 yet it is in the least degree of it, different in the kind, or nature of it (as is all other saving grace) from the (so-called) faith, and common grace of temporary believers;387 and therefore though it may be many times assailed, and weakened; yet it gets the victory;388 growing up in many, to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ,389 who is both the Author and Finisher of our faith.390

Chapter 17

Of Good Works

1. Good works are only such as God has commanded in His holy Word;391 and not such as without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal,392 or upon any pretense of good intentions.393

2. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits, and evidences394 of a true, and lively faith;395 and by them believers manifest their thankfulness,396 strengthen their assurance,397 edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel,398 stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify399 God,400 whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto,401 that having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end eternal life.402

3. Their ability to do good works, is not at all sourced in themselves; but wholly from the Spirit of Christ;403 and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will, and to do, of his good pleasure;404 yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.405

4. They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to superrogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.406

5. We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins;407 but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because as they are good they proceed from his Spirit,408 and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that they cannot endure the severity of God’s judgment.409

6. Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ their good works also are accepted in Him;410 not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in God’s sight; but that he looking upon them in His Son is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere although accomplished with many weaknesses and imperfections.411

7. Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use, both to themselves and others;412 yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith,413 nor are done in a right manner according to the Word,414 nor to a right end, the glory of God;415 they are therefore sinful and cannot please God; nor make a man fit to receive grace from God;416 and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing to God.417

Chapter 18

Of the Preservation and Perseverance of the Saints

1. Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, (whence he still begets and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality) and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon:418 notwithstanding through unbelief and the temptations of Satan the sensible sight of the light and love of God, may for a time be clouded, and obscured from them,419 yet He is still the same,420 and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palms of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.

2. This perseverance of the saints depends upon the immutability of the decree of election,421 flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him,422 the oath of God,423 the abiding of His Spirit and the seed of God within them,424 and the nature of the new covenant,425 from all which arises also the certainty and infallibility thereof.

3. And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein;426 whereby they incur Gods displeasure, and grieve his Holy Spirit,427 come to have their graces and comforts impaired,428 have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded,429 hurt, and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgements upon themselves:430 yet they shall renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.431

Chapter 19

Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation

1. Although temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes, and carnal presumptions, of being in the favour of God, and in a state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish;432 yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace; and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God,433 which hope shall never make them ashamed.434

2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded upon435 a fallible hope; but an infallible assurance of faith,436 founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the gospel;437 and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made,438 and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God;439 and as a fruit thereof keeping the heart both humble and holy.440

3. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer, may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it;441 yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may without extraordinary revelation in the right use of means attain thereunto:442 and therefore it is the duty of every one, to give all diligence to make their calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper1443 fruits of this assurance;444 so far is it1445 from inclining men to looseness.446

4. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which wounds the conscience, and grieves the Spirit,447 by some sudden or vehement temptation,448 by God’s withdrawing the light of his countenance and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light;449 yet are they never destitute of the seed of God,450 and life of faith,451 that love of Christ, and the brethren, that sincerity of heart, and conscience of duty, out of which by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived:452 and by the which in the mean time they are preserved from utter despair.453

Chapter 20

Of the Law of God

1. God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience, written in his heart, and a particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil;454 by which He bound him, and all his posterity, to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience;455 promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and indued him with power and ability to keep it.456

2. The same law that was first written in the heart of man, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall;457 and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, along with the ceremonial Sabbath commandment,458 in the Ten Commandments, written in two Tables; the four first containing Israel’s duty towards God, and the other six Israel’s duty to man.459

3. Besides the law commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people Israel ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits;460 and partly holding forth various instructions of moral duties,461 all which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time of reformation, are by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only lawgiver, who was furnished with power from the Father, for that end, abrogated and taken away.462

4. To them also he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the state of that people, not obligatory now; their general equity only, being of moral use,463 as well as their value in pointing to Jesus Christ, who fulfilled them.464

5. The moral law doth forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof,465 and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it:466 neither doth Christ in the gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.467

6. Although true believers be not under the Law, as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned;468 yet it is of great use to them as well as to others: in that, as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God, and their duty, it directs and binds them, to walk accordingly discovering also the sinful pollutions of their natures, hearts and lives; so as examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin;469 together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of his obedience: it is likewise of use to the regenerate to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threatenings of it serve to shew what even their sins deserve; and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse and unallayed rigor thereof. The promises of it likewise shew them God’s approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof, though not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works; so as man’s doing good and refraining from evil, because the law encourages to the one and deters from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law and not under grace.470

7. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the gospel; but do sweetly comply with it;471 the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man, to do that freely and cheerfully, which the will of God revealed in the law, requires to be done.472

Chapter 21

Of the gospel, and of the extent of the grace thereof.

1. The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life; God was pleased to give forth the promise of Christ, the Seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect, and begetting in them repentance and faith;473 in this promise, the gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and therein effectual, for the conversion and salvation of sinners.474

2. This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only by the Word of God;475 neither do the works of creation, or providence, with the light of nature, make discovery of Christ, or of grace by him; so much as in a general, or obscure way;476 much less that men destitute of the revelation of him by the promise, or gospel; should be enabled thereby, to attain saving faith, or repentance.477

3. The revelation of the gospel to sinners, made in divers times, and by sundry parts; with the addition of promises, and precepts for the obedience required therein, as to the nations, and persons, to whom it is granted, is of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God,478 who is not willing that any should perish, but that all men should come to repentance,479 and therefore commands his churches to preach the gospel to every person and make disciples among all nations,480 Christ having died for the sins of the whole world.481

4. Although the gospel be the only outward means, of revealing Christ, and saving grace; and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses, may be born again, made alive, or regenerated; there is moreover necessary, an effectual work of the Holy Spirit, upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life;482 without which no other means will effect their conversion to God.483

Chapter 22

Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience

1. The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the rigor and curse of the law;484 and in their being delivered from this present evil world,485 bondage to Satan,486 and dominion of sin;487 from the evil of afflictions;488 the fear, and sting of death, the victory of the grave,489 and everlasting damnation;490 as also in their free access to God; and their yielding obedience unto him not out of a slavish fear,491 but a child-like love, and willing mind.492 All which were common also to believers under the law for the substance of them;493 but under the new testament, the liberty of Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, to which Israel was subjected; and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace; and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God,494 then believers under the law did ordinarily partake of, the Spirit not permanently indwelling Old Testament saints as He does permanently dwell in those of this dispensation.495

2. God alone is Lord of the conscience,496 and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in anything contrary to his Word, or not contained in it.497 So that to believe such doctrines, or obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience;498 and the requiring of an implicit faith, and absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason also.499

3. They who upon pretense of Christian liberty do practice any sin, or cherish any sinful lust; as they do thereby pervert the main design of the grace of the gospel to their own destruction;500 so they wholly destroy the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.501

Chapter 23

Of Religious Worship and the Lord’s Day

1. The light of nature shows that there is a God, who has Lordship, and sovereignty over all; is just, good, and does good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and all the soul, and with all the might.502 But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself;503 and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations, and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way, not prescribed in the holy Scriptures.504

2. Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to Him alone;505 not to angels, saints, or any other creatures;506 and at least since the fall, not without a mediator,507 nor in the mediation of any other but Christ alone.508

3. Prayer with thanksgiving, being one special part of natural worship, is by God required of all men.509 But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son,510 by the help of the Spirit,511 according to His will;512 with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and in a known tongue.513

4. Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter;514 but not for the dead,515 nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.516

5. The reading of the Scriptures,517 preaching, and hearing the Word of God,518 teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord;519 as also the administration of baptism,520 and the Lord’s Supper,521 are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to Him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover solemn humilitation, with fastings;522 and thanksgiving upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.523

6. Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is now under the gospel tied unto, or made more acceptable by, any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit, and in truth;524 as in private families525 daily,526 and in secret each one by himself,527 so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly, nor willfully, to be neglected, or forsaken, when God by his Word and providence calls thereunto.528

7. As it is of the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time by God’s appointment, be set apart for the worship of God; so by his Word, he appointed the Sabbath for Israel’s worship,529 while from the resurrection of Christ, He appointed the first day of the week, which is called the Lord’s Day;530 and is to be continued to the end of this age; the observation of Israel’s Sabbath being fulfilled in Christ.531

8. While the Lord’s Day is not the Sabbath, it is appropriate for Christians to consider Sabbath principles on the first day of the week. On the Lord’s Day it is fitting that, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, they not only observe an holy rest all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts, about their worldly employment, and recreations,532 but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.533

Chapter 24

Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

1. A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgment, solemnly calls God to witness what he swears;534 and to judge him according to the truth or falseness thereof.535

2. The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used, with all holy fear and reverence, therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious, and dreadful name; or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful and to be abhorred;536 yet as in matter of weight and moment for confirmation of truth, and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God;537 so a lawful oath being imposed, by lawful authority, in such matters, ought to be taken.538

3. Whosoever takes an oath warranted by the Word of God, ought properly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act; and therein to profess nothing, but what he knows to be the truth; for that by rash, false, and vain oaths the Lord is provoked, and for them the land mourns.539

4. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words; without equivocation, or mental reservation.540

5. A wow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is to be made and performed with all religious care, and faithfulness;541 but popish monastical vows of perpetual single life,542 professed poverty,543 and regular obedience,544 are so far from being decrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.545

Chapter 25

Of the Civil Magistrate and Religious Liberty

1. God the supreme Lord, and King of all the World, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him, over the people, for his own glory, and the public good; and to this end hath armed them with the power of the sword, for defense and encouragement of them that do good, and for the punishment of evil doers.546

2. It is lawful for Christians to accept, and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto; in the management whereof, as they ought especially to maintain justice, and peace,547 according to the wholesome laws of their country: so for that end they may lawfully now under the New Testament wage war upon just and necessary occasions.548

3. Civil magistrates being set up by God, for the ends aforesaid; subjection in all lawful things commanded by them, ought to be yielded by us, in the Lord; not only for wrath but for conscience sake;549 and we ought to make supplications and prayers for kings, and all that are in authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.550

4. The church and the state have separate spheres of authority, and the state has no valid jurisdiction over the ministry of the church.551 Therefore, the state should not favor one ecclesiastical group over another, nor should the state impose taxes for the support of any form of religion, nor impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. Nor should the church resort to the civil power to carry on its work, for the gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, which involves the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power.

Chapter 26

Of Marriage

1. Marriage is to be between one man and one woman; neither is it lawful for any man to have more then one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time.552

2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife,553 for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue,554 and for the preventing of uncleanness.555

3. It is lawful for all sorts of adults556 to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent;557 yet it is the duty of Christians to marry in the Lord,558 and therefore such as profess the true religion, should not marry with infidels or idolators; neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresy.559

4. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanquinity, or affinity forbidden in the word;560 nor can such incestuous marriage ever be made lawful, by any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.561

5. Homosexuality, transgenderism, bestiality, the molestation of children and teenagers, and all other forms of sexual perversion are abominations to God, and those who practice such sin will not inherit the kingdom of God unless, by God’s grace, they repent and are born again; nor does God recognize as marriages any alternatives wickedly proposed by such persons to monogamous and heterosexual marriage.562

6. God hates divorce.563 Furthermore, whoever divorces his lawful husband or wife, and marries another while his former spouse remains alive, commits adultery.564 One who divorces and remarries may not then divorce his or her second spouse and go back to the first one, for that is an abomination before the Lord.565 A man who has been divorced, or remarried while his former spouse remained alive, cannot serve in the office of an overseer or pastor, nor of deacon.566

Chapter 27

Of the Family of God and the Church

1. The family of God, which (with respect to internal work of the Spirit, and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ.567

2. All persons throughout the world, professing the faith of the gospel, and obedience unto God by Christ, according unto it; not destroying their own profession by any errors overthrowing the foundation, or unholiness of conduct, are and may be called visible saints;568 and of such ought all particular congregations or churches to be constituted.569 Scripture never speaks of a universal visible or a universal and invisible church. On the contrary, in every usage in the New Testament Christ’s church is solely local and visible, the congregation of saints, in contrast to His kingdom and His family,570 which have universal or catholic aspects. The church, which is distinct from Israel,571 is an organized congregation of immersed believers, associated together by a common faith and fellowship in the gospel.572

3. The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture, and error;573 and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan;574 nevertheless Christ always has had, and ever shall have true churches in this world, to the end thereof, of such as believe in him, make profession of his name, are immersed upon profession of their faith, commemorate Christ’s death as a memorial in the Lord’s Supper, and live as visible saints.575

4. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order, or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner,576 neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is an Antichrist, a man of sin, a false prophet, and a son of perdition, a representative of the future one-world religious and political leaders, the False Prophet and Antichrist, who exalt themselves against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.577

5. In the execution of this power wherewith he is so entrusted, the Lord Jesus calls out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his Word, by his Spirit, those that are given to him by his Father;578 that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribes to them in his Word.579 Those thus called he commands to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification; and the due performance of that public worship, which he requires of them in the world.580

6. The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ;581 and do willingly consent to walk together according to the appointment of Christ, giving up themselves, to the Lord and one to another by the will of God, in professed subjection to the ordinances of the gospel.582

7. To each of these churches thus gathered, according to his mind, declared in his Word, he has given all that power and authority, which is any way needful, for their carrying on that order in worship, and discipline, which he hath instituted for them to observe; with commands, and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power.583

8. A particular church gathered, and completely organized, according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers, and members. The officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered) for the peculiar duties which he entrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are elders or pastors, also called overseers or bishops, and deacons.584

9. The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted, and gifted by the Holy Spirit, to the office of bishop, elder, or pastor, in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself;585 and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the elders of the church, if there be any before constituted therein;586 and of an evangelist or a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.587

10. While the leadership offices of apostle and prophet have ceased with the completion of the New Testament canon and the end of the apostolic age,588 the leadership office of evangelist—one who preaches the gospel for the purpose of being God’s instrument to see new congregations established—as well as that of elder, bishop, or pastor,589 will continue until the end of the church age at the rapture of the saints, as will the serving office of deacon.590

11. While men and women are of equal value in Jesus Christ,591 the Lord calls only men,592 and those with the necessary spiritual, moral, and doctrinal qualifications,593 to the office of bishop, elder, or pastor, the office of evangelist, and the office of deacon.

12. The work of pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ, in His churches, in the ministry of the Word, and prayer, with watching for their souls, as they that must give an account to him;594 it is incumbent on the churches to whom they minister, not only to give them all due respect, but also to share with them of all their good things according to their ability,595 so as they may have a comfortable supply, without being themselves entangled in secular affairs;596 and may also be capable of exercising hospitality towards others;597 and this is required by the law of nature, and by the express order of our Lord Jesus, who has ordained that they that preach the gospel, should live of the gospel.598

13. Although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches to be instant in preaching the Word, by way of office; yet the work of preaching the Word, is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others also gifted, and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it, and approved by the church, may and ought to perform it.599

14. As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches, when and where they have opportunity so to do; so all that are admitted to the privileges of a church, are also600 under the censures and government thereof, according to the rule of Christ.601

15. No church members upon any offence taken by them, having performed their duty required of them towards the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church order, or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow-members; but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church.602

16. As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually, for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ,603 in all places; and upon all occasions to further it (every one within the bounds of their places, and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces) so the churches (when planted by the providence of God so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it) ought to hold communion amongst themselves for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.604

17. Each church of Christ is an independent body underneath its sole Head, Jesus Christ.605 Scripture contains no record of and provides no warrant for churches delegating their authority to any organized convention or association of churches; rather, each church is autonomous, not subject to the control of any outside persons or organizations, and has the power and right to confess its own faith and conduct its own affairs in accordance with the teachings of the New Testament. On all matters of membership, polity, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of each particular assembly church is final.606 Nor can any para-church organization, meeting, school, mission board, or any other institution possesses any church-power properly so called, or possess any jurisdiction over the churches themselves, or have the authority to impose its determination on the churches, or their officers.607 Notwithstanding churches of like faith and practice may and ought to hold communion together for their mutual peace, edification, and support, and for their mutual fellowship in the gospel by sending forth evangelists to preach the gospel and baptize disciples unto the ends of the earth.608

A local church is autonomous, is not to be subject to the control of any outside persons or organizations, and has the power and right to confess its own faith and conduct its own affairs in accordance with the teachings of the New Testament. On all matters of membership, polity, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church is final (7).

18. God’s plan for history demands a consistent distinction between national Israel and the church,609 and includes an ongoing Divine plan and purpose for national, ethnic Israel that culminates in Christ’s literal and earthly millennial kingdom.610

19. True churches, believing in the true God611 and true gospel,612 practicing the immersion of disciples and a memorial view of the Lord’s Supper, have existed in an unbroken succession from the time of Christ their founder until today, in accordance with the unbreakable promises of God that the gates of hell would not prevail against them.613

20. The church’s members must highly prioritize preaching the gospel to every person, both in one’s local area and as far as the uttermost parts of the earth, and making disciples,614 as well as edifying believers to themselves continue to do the work of the ministry.615 To assist in making disciples in all nations, local churches send out evangelists to preach the gospel, baptize, and assist in the organization of new churches outside of their local area.616

Chapter 28

On the Communion of Saints

1. All saints that are united to Jesus Christ their Head, by his Spirit, and faith; although they are not made thereby one person with him, have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory;617 and being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts, and graces;618 and obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, in an orderly way, as do contribute to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.619

2. Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services, as tend to their mutual edification;620 as also in relieving each other in outward things according to their several abilities, and necessities;621 which communion, according to the rule of the gospel, though especially to be exercised by them, in the relations wherein they stand, whether in families,622 or churches;623 yet as God offers opportunity is to be extended to all the household of faith, even all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus; nevertheless their communion one with another as saints, does not take away or infringe the title or propriety, which each man has in his goods and possessions.624

Chapter 29

Of Personal and Ecclesiastical Separation

**
**1. Scripture requires both personal and ecclesiastical separation. The doctrine of separation is grounded in the character of God Himself. Holiness carries the basic idea of separation or apartness. God is holy in that He is separate or apart from all that is created and finite625 and from all that is sinful or morally unclean,626 and He demands that His people be holy or separated.627 God constituted the nation of Israel a holy or separated people who were to be separated from the customs and practices of the surrounding heathen.628 God commands His people today to be personally separated from the world,629 the transient system of evil led by Satan,630 organized against God and His will,631 that has its own ungodly philosophies, goals, life styles, amusements, habits, and practices. Ecclesiastical separation is the refusal to collaborate with any church, ecclesiastical organization, or religious leader which unashamedly supports false teaching or disobeys Scripture,632 as well as separation from even Christian brethren who disobey Scripture’s teaching, including its teaching on separation,633 and refuse to repent, while always maintaining a spirit of love and grace towards all.634 Churches and individual Christians are not to fellowship with such persons and organizations, but rather are to identify them, rebuke them, and withdraw themselves from any spiritual communion with them;635 separation, as opposed to infiltration or collaboration, is clearly taught. Biblical unity centers in the church, where only Biblical doctrine must be taught and practiced and the saints, while exercising longsuffering and forbearance, recognize that they are to all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among them, but that are to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment,636 so that each may be a pure and holy temple and bride for Jesus Christ.637

Chapter 30

Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

1. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are symbolic and memorial ordinances of positive and sovereign institution; appointed by the Lord Jesus the only Law-giver, to be continued in his church to the end of the world.638

2. These holy appointments are to be administered with the authority of Christ’s church alone, according to the commission of Christ.639

Chapter 31

Of Baptism

1. Baptism in water is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death, burial, and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him;640 of remission of sins;641 and of his giving up unto God through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.642

2. Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience, to our Lord Jesus, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.643

3. The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.644

4. Immersion, or dipping of the person in water once, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance.645

5. Through baptism, a disciple is added to the membership of the church that authorizes that ordinance.646 Christ has given His church alone the authority to baptize disciples until the end of this age; therefore, no individual or religious organization besides Christ’s church has authority from Him to baptize.647 Baptism is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and participation in the Lord’s Supper.648

6.) Christ baptized the church with the Holy Spirit on the first Day of Pentecost after his resurrection and ascension to heaven, validating the church as His institution for this dispensation.649 Christ having authenticated the church and immersed the church with the Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit has ceased. The Holy Spirit indwells all believers in this age,650 but only baptism in water, not the baptism of the Spirit,651 continues until the second coming of Jesus Christ.652

Chapter 32

Of the Lord’s Supper

1. The Supper of the Lord Jesus, was instituted by him, the same night wherein he was betrayed, to be observed in his churches unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance, and shewing forth the sacrifice of Himself in his death,653 confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof, their spiritual nourishment, and growth in him, their further engagement in, and to, all duties which they owe to him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other.654

2. In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor any real sacrifice made at all, for remission of sin of the living or dead; but only a memorial of that655 one offering up of Himself, by Himself, upon the cross, once for all;656 and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise to God for the same;657 so that the Popish sacrifice of the Mass (as they call it) is most abominable, injurious to Christ’s own only sacrifice, the alone propitiation for all the sins of the world.

3. The Lord Jesus has in this ordinance, appointed His ministers to pray, and bless the elements of unleavened bread658 and the unfermented fruit of the vine,659 and thereby to set them apart from a common to an holy use, and to take and break the bread; to take the cup, and (they communicating also themselves) to give both to the communicants.660

4. The denial of the cup to the people, worshiping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and reserving them for any pretended religious use, are all contrary to the nature of this ordinance, and to the institution of Christ.661

5. The outward elements in this ordinance, properly set apart to the uses ordained by Christ, have such relation to Him crucified, as that truly, although in terms used figuratively, they may be called by the name of the things they represent, that is, the body and blood of Christ;662 albeit in substance, and nature, they still remain truly, and only bread, and the fruit of the vine, as they were before.663

6. That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and the fruit of the vine, into the substance of Christ’s body and blood (commonly called transubstantiation) by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant not to Scripture alone,664 but even to common sense and reason; overthrows the nature of the ordinance, and has been and is the cause of manifold superstitions, indeed, of gross idolatries.665

7. Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this ordinance, do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally, and corporally, but spiritually receive, and feed upon Christ crucified and all the benefits of his death: the body and blood of Christ, being then not corporally, or carnally, but spiritually present to the faith of believers, in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward senses.666 Believers similarly can and ought to feed on Christ by faith, not during the Supper only, but in the other portions of the holy worship of the gathered church, in their households, and in their own individual lives day by day.

8. All ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ; so are they unworthy of the Lord’s Table; and cannot without great sin against him, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries, or be admitted thereunto:667 yea whosoever shall receive unworthily are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and drinking judgment to themselves.668

9. Christ gave the Supper as an ordinance for each local and particular church.669 Scripture provides no warrant for unbaptized persons, or persons not well-known by a church as godly and righteous, partaking with the congregation in its celebration of the Supper.670

Chapter 33

Of Spiritual Gifts

A spiritual gift is an ability or a capacity to serve the Lord through an aspect of the life of the local assembly. While God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His spiritual gifts,671 every believer has one or more functions to serve in the church and has been gifted by God accordingly.672 Jesus Christ by His Spirit gives gifts for the common good,673 the edification,674 and the service, work, or ministry of the church,675 as well as, in the first century, the attestation or accreditation of God’s messengers and their new revelation for the church age.676 Certain gifts present in the first-century churches were miraculous in nature, such as speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, and the working of miracles. These gifts were foundational and transitional, having served the church in its infancy and immature stage, and have now ceased, being no longer needed because God has for this age set aside the nation of Israel from the center of His redemptive purpose, the canon of Scripture is complete, the church has been launched and Divinely certified, the transition from the dispensation of law to that of grace has been made, and the apostles have gone to their eternal reward.677

Chapter 34

Of Godly Song, Music, and the Worship of God

1. Singing the praises of God is a holy ordinance of Christ that it is brought under Divine institution, it being enjoined on the churches of Christ to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.678 The whole church in their public assemblies, as well as private Christians, ought to sing God’s praises.679 Moreover, singing was practiced in the great representative church, by our Lord Jesus Christ with his disciples, after he had instituted and celebrated the sacred ordinance of his holy Supper, as a commemorative token of redeeming love.680

2. Christ’s churches are bound by Christ’s institution to sing the inspired psalms of David, rather than singing only uninspired hymns. All uninspired hymns sung by God’s churches must be doctrinally and practically accurate, reflecting the infallible word of Christ.681

3. Music is a gift from God to be used for His glory.682 Music influences us in many ways: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.683 As a language for the Christian, music should express that which is pure and wholesome. With over five hundred references to music in Scripture, music is an important aspect of the Christian life about which believers must make wise, discerning choices, avoiding all music that dishonors the name of God or lessens the Christian’s influence in the world as salt and light.684

4. In music, as in all of life, Christians should strive for excellence.685 Christians must be different from the world, set apart unto the Lord, and living a Christ-like life, including in the sphere of music, which is not amoral, but expresses morality.686 The two accent systems of the Hebrew Old Testament—for the poetic books, including the psalter, and for the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures—provide important principles about the solemn and reverent sound that God requires in His worship.687 Consistent with the pattern provided in the Hebrew accent system, great music through the years has been based upon an appropriate, skillful organization of melody, harmony, and rhythm. This organization is not merely the product of a particular cultural preference but is rooted in the natural order of created things, reflecting the image of God in man.688 Good music is based primarily upon a God-honoring melody, is enhanced by harmony, and is supported by appropriate rhythm. While a wide variety of acceptable musical styles are available to the believer in both sacred and secular realms, they should sing and listen to God-honoring music about which there is no question.689

5. Special attention must be given in vocal music to ensure that the text is appropriate for a godly testimony, both in its content and its literary and musical style.690 Singing styles should reinforce the message of the song and should avoid sensuality or the glorification of the performer.691 Because rock, rap, country and western, new age, jazz, and Eastern music designed to worship pagan gods, as well as any “Christian” music that borrows these styles are sensual, worldly, or devilish, Christians should not sing or choose to listen to them.692

6. Songs or styles which are strongly identified with unbiblical movements or worldly practices should also be avoided,693 as should music which is questionable or which might violate other believers’ consciences, as Christians follow after the things which make for peace, and things where with one may edify another.694

Chapter 35

Of the State of Man after Death and the Resurrection of the Dead

1. The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption;695 but their souls (which neither die nor sleep) having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them;696 the souls or spirits of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are received into paradise where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God, in light and glory; waiting for the full redemption of their bodies;697 and the souls of the wicked, are cast into hell; where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved to the judgement of the great day;698 besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledges none.

2. Both the righteous and the unrighteous will be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and none other;699 although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.700

3. The bodies of the unjust shall by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just by his Spirit unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.701

4. The souls of the redeemed pass immediately into the presence of Christ,702 that there is a separation of soul and body,703 and that, for those in Christ, such separation will continue until the rapture,704 which initiates the first resurrection705 when their souls and bodies will be reunited to be glorified forever with our Lord.706 Until that time, the souls of the redeemed in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with Him in the intermediate heaven.707

5. The souls of the lost at death are kept under punishment in the intermediate hell until the second resurrection,708 when the soul and the resurrection body will be united.709 They shall then appear at the Great White Throne Judgment710 and shall be cast into the lake of fire,711 cut off from the life of God and enduring His wrath forever.712

Chapter 36

Of Coming Judgment

1. God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ;713 to whom all power and judgement is given of the Father. The Lord will not only judge the apostate angels,714 but also all persons that have lived upon the earth, who shall appear before Christ; to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.715

2. God has appointed a future judgment for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice in the eternal damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient;716 for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, prepared for them from the foundation of the world,717 and receive that fulness of joy, and glory, with everlasting reward, in the presence of the Lord:718 but the wicked who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, prepared for the devil and his fallen angels,719 and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, enduring conscious and eternal suffering in the lake of fire for ever and ever.720

3. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a judgement, both to deter all men from sin,721 and for the greater consolation of the godly, in their adversity;722 so will He have the day of His coming to inaugurate eschatological judgment unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour, the723 Lord will come;724 and may ever be prepared to say, “Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.”725

4. The bodily resurrection of the just constitutes the first resurrection, and that of the unjust the second resurrection.726 The souls of those who trust in Christ go immediately into His presence at death,727 where they remain in a state of conscious bliss until the resurrection of the just, at which time they will receive their glorified bodies,728 and thereafter spend eternity serving the Lord in unending fellowship and love.729 The souls of unbelievers go immediately into a state of conscious torment and punishment at death,730 where they remain until the resurrection of the unjust, when they will be cast into the lake of fire to endure eternal suffering as just retribution for their sin.731 The resurrection of the just begins at the Rapture of the saints732 and is completed at the conclusion of the seven-year tribulation period, the 70th week predicted by Daniel the prophet.733 The resurrection of the unjust takes place after the Millennium.734

Chapter 37

Of Eschatological Events

1. The literal and bodily appearing and return of Jesus Christ will take place in two stages. The first stage is the Rapture, Christ’s personal,735 and pretribulational736 coming for His saints, including not just some portion, but all of the saints of this dispensation.737 The Rapture is imminent;738 no man knows the day or hour at which the Lord will come.739 The second stage is the Revelation or the second coming in glory, which is Christ’s personal and public coming at the close of the seven-year Tribulation period, the latter half of which is called the Great Tribulation,740 to overthrow the Antichrist and False Prophet, bind Satan and remove him from this world,741 and establish the Messianic, millennial kingdom on the earth,742 during which Israel will be restored to covenant favor with God743 and to her land in faith744 and church-age saints will reign with Christ for a thousand years.745 The millennial kingdom will fulfill God’s promise to Israel746 to restore them to the land which they forfeited through their disobedience.747 The result of their disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside748 but will again be awakened through repentance to enter into the land of blessing.749

2. The earthly, millennial reign of Christ on the throne of David in Jerusalem will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, and long life,750 it will be brought to an end with the final release of Satan, who will deceive and gather the nations of the earth against the saints and God’s beloved city, Jerusalem. His armies will be devoured by fire from heaven, and Satan will then be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone.751 Christ, the Judge of all men,752 will then raise and judge all unbelievers at the Great White Throne Judgment. This resurrection of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical, bodily resurrection753 in which they will be committed to eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire.754

3. After the closing of the millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of the lost,755 the righteous will enter the eternal state of glory with God. The elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up,756 and God will establish a new heaven and earth wherein only righteousness dwells.757 The heavenly city will then come down out of heaven758 and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy fellowship with God and one another forever.759 Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive and mediatorial mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, that in all spheres the Triune God may reign forever and ever.760 Amen.

We teach that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual Body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:12–13), the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23–32; Revelation 19:7–8), of which Christ is the Head (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18).

We teach that the formation of the church, the Body of Christ, began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–21, 38–47) and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51–52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).

We teach that the church is thus a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all regenerate persons (i.e., believers) in this present age (Ephesians 2:11–3:6). The church is distinct from Israel (1 Corinthians 10:32), a mystery not revealed until this age (Ephesians 3:1–6; 5:32).

We teach that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1) and that the members of the one spiritual Body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (1 Corinthians 11:18–20; Hebrews 10:25).

We teach that the one supreme authority for the church is Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18) and that church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders (also called overseers and pastors, Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11) and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–5).

We teach that the eldership of a local congregation consists of spiritually qualified men who lead or rule as servants of Christ (1 Timothy 2:11–12; 5:17–22) and have His authority in directing the church. The congregation is to submit to their leadership (Hebrews 13:7, 17).

We teach the importance of discipleship (Matthew 28:19–20; 2 Timothy 2:2), the mutual accountability of all believers (Matthew 18:5–14), as well as the need for discipline of sinning members of the congregation in accord with the standards of Scripture (Matthew 18:15–22; Acts 5:1–11; 1 Corinthians 5:1–13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–15; 1 Timothy 1:19–20; Titus 1:10–16).

We teach the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations (Titus 1:5).

We teach that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith. Each local church, however, through its elders and their interpretation and application of Scripture, should be the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. The elders should determine all other matters of membership, policy, discipline, benevolence, and government (Acts 15:19–31; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:4–7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1–4).

We teach that the purpose of the church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21) by building itself up in the faith (Ephesians 4:13–16), by instruction of the Word (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16–17), by fellowship (Acts 2:47; 1 John 1:3), by keeping the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38–42) and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire world (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; 2:42).

We teach the calling of all saints to the work of service (1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 4:12; Revelation 22:12).

We teach the need of the church to fulfill her God-given mission as God accomplishes His purpose in the world. To that end, He gives the church spiritual gifts. He gives men chosen for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:7–12), and He also gives unique and special spiritual abilities to each member of the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–31; 1 Peter 4:10–11).

We teach that there were two kinds of gifts given to the early church: miraculous gifts of divine revelation and healing, given temporarily in the apostolic era for the purpose of confirming the authenticity of the apostles’ message (Hebrews 2:3–4; 2 Corinthians 12:12); and ministering gifts, given to equip believers for edifying one another. With the New Testament revelation now complete, Scripture becomes the sole test of the authenticity of a man’s message. Thus, confirming gifts of a miraculous nature are no longer necessary to validate a man or his message (1 Corinthians 13:8–12). Miraculous gifts can even be counterfeited by Satan so as to deceive even believers (1 Corinthians 13:13–14:12; Revelation 13:13–14). The only gifts in operation today are those non-revelatory equipping gifts given for edification (Romans 12:6–8).

We teach that no one possesses the gift of healing today but that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith and will answer in accordance with His own perfect will for the sick, suffering, and afflicted (Luke 18:1–6; John 5:7–9; 2 Corinthians 12:6–10; James 5:13–16; 1 John 5:14–15).

We teach that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:38–42). Christian baptism by immersion (Acts 8:36–39) is the solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer showing forth his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and his union with Him in death to sin and resurrection to a new life (Romans 6:1–11). It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible Body of Christ (Acts 2:41–42).

We teach that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes, and should be always preceded by solemn self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:28–32). We also teach that, whereas the elements of communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, participation in the Lord’s Supper is nevertheless an actual communion with the risen Christ, who indwells every believer, and so is present, fellowshipping with His people (1 Corinthians 10:16).

We believe that the dispensations are not ways of salvation, which has always been by grace through faith, but are stewardships by which God administers His purpose on earth through humanity under varying responsibilities; that changes in dispensational dealings depend upon changed situations in which humanity is found in relation to God due to human failures and God’s judgments; that, though several dispensations cover the entirety of human history, only three of these are the subject of extended revelation in Scripture; that these three (Mosaic Law, Grace, and millennial Kingdom) are distinct and are not to be intermingled or confused.

We believe the Church which is Christ’s body is composed of all true believers (those who have been born again through a personal acceptance of Christ as Savior) from Pentecost to the rapture; that this Church was brought into being on the day of Pentecost by Spirit baptism, placing into one body all who were believers at that time; that on the day of Pentecost and since that time others have been and are being added to this church; that at the rapture this Church will be complete and will be caught up to be united with Christ as His Bride never to be separated from Him.

We believe that local churches are gatherings of professing believers in given communities, organized for the purposes of united worship, fellowship, administration of the ordinances (baptism and Lord’s Supper), edification, discipline, and effective promotion of the work of Christ throughout the world; that such local churches should be limited in membership to those who are born again, desire to follow Christ in obedience and have been immersed; that Christ is the supreme Head and every member has direct access to Him and is responsible to seek His will; that the two New Testament offices recognized in such churches are to be those of pastor (also known as bishop or elder) and deacon, both referencing qualified, godly men; that government is congregational with every member responsible to vote in keeping with his or her understanding of the will of Christ; that each local church is responsible directly to Christ and not to some other local church or organization; that there is value in fellowship and cooperation with other local churches of like convictions.

We believe that the Scriptures foretell certain events among which are the following:

Rapture of the Church

We believe that Jesus Christ will return to the atmosphere of this earth; that the dead in Christ will rise first, then believers who are still living will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air and to ever be with the Lord; that the rapture is the next event on the revealed calendar and that no prophecy need be fulfilled before this occurs.

Tribulation

We believe that the rapture of the Church will be followed on earth by Israel’s seventieth week; that, though there will be salvation, this will be a time of great judgments, the latter part being known as the Great Tribulation.

Second Coming

We believe that following the tribulation, Christ will return to the earth with His glorified saints to establish the millennial Kingdom; that during the 1,000 years of peace and prosperity Satan will be bound and Christ will reign with a rod of iron; that at the end of the Millennium Satan will be released for a short time, deceive many and lead them in final rebellion, but be destroyed with his armies.

Eternal State

We believe that the unsaved of all ages will be resurrected and together with the evil angels will be finally judged and condemned to everlasting conscious punishment in hell; that all the saved of all ages in glorified bodies will enjoy everlasting blessing in the presence of God.

**Article 12: The Church
**We believe that the Church as set forth in the New Testament has both a universal and a local aspect. The church as the Body of Christ, of which Christ is the Head,1 is an organism composed of genuine believers in Jesus Christ, the total number of Spirit baptized believers of this age regardless of location or circumstances.2 We believe that a local church is the visible expression of the body of Christ in a particular time and place,3 being an organized body of immersed believers,4 sharing a common faith or body of truth,5 observing the ordinances of baptism6 and communion,7 meeting at regular and stated times8 for worship, preaching and teaching, fellowship, and prayer,9 carrying out the Great Commission,10 and whose biblical offices are pastor11 and deacon.12 We believe that the local church is an autonomous body solely responsible to preserve its internal unity,13 maintain pure doctrine and practice,14 elect its own officers, leaders, and messengers,15 settle its own internal affairs,16 and determine the extent of its cooperation with other churches.17 We believe that the institution of the local church is God’s ordained instrument for His work and witness in this age.18

See 1 Eph 1:22-23; 5:23; Col 1:18, 24, 2 1 Cor 12:13; Eph 2:11-22, 3 Acts 13:1; Rom 16:1, 5; 1 Cor 1:2; 1 Thess 1:1; Phlm 2, 4 Matt 28:19; Acts 2:41, 47, 5 Acts 2:42; 2 Thess 3:6; Jude 3, 6 Matt 28:19; Acts 2:41; 10:47-48; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:5; 1 Cor 1:16, 7 Matt 26:26-30; Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor 10:16-22; 11:23-32, 8 Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2; Heb 10:25, 9 Acts 2:42, 47, 10 Matt 28:19-20; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8, 11 Acts 20:17, 28; Eph 4:11; Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5; 1 Pet 5:1, 12 Acts 6:1-6; Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:8-13, 13 Rom 12:16; 1 Cor 1:10; 2 Cor 13:11; Phil 4:2, 14 1 Tim 3:15; Jude 3; Rev 2-3, 15 Acts 6:1-6; 11:22; 13:2; 15:3, 4, 22; 1 Cor 16:3; 2 Cor 8:19, 16 Matt 18:15-17; 1 Cor 5:4-5, 12; 6:1-5; 2 Cor 2:6; 2 Thess 3:6, 17 Acts 15:2-32; 2 Cor 8:19; Col 4:16, 18 1 Tim 3:15

Concerning the Lord’s Day

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, and is a Christian institution that is to be kept sacred for spiritual purposes insofar as is possible on the part of the individual believer. It commemorates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead (1). It is a time for public worship and for spiritual growth (2).

Some places where taught: (1) John 20:1, 19. (2) Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:1-2.

Concerning Future Events

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked. Those who are righteous will enter into eternal bliss with Christ and those who are wicked will be lost forever (1). We believe that the Scriptures teach that at death the spirit and soul of the believer pass into the presence of Christ and remain in conscious joy until the resurrection of the body when Christ comes for His own (2). The blessed hope of the believer is the imminent, personal, pretribulational, premillennial appearance of Christ to rapture the Church, His bride, prior to the seventieth week of Daniel (3). God’s righteous judgments will then be poured out upon an unbelieving world during the seven years of tribulation (4). The climax of this fearful era will be the physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth in great glory to reestablish the Davidic kingdom (5). Israel will be saved and restored as a nation (6). Satan will be bound, and the curse essentially will be lifted from the physical creation (7). Following this thousand-year reign of Christ (the Millennium), the Great White Throne Judgment will occur, at which time the bodies and souls of the wicked shall be reunited and cast into the lake of fire, a divinely appointed place of eternal torment (8). The saved will enter the city which God has prepared for His own and will live with the Lord in resurrected and glorified bodies (9).

Some places where taught: (1) Mal. 3:18; John 3:16-18. (2) I Cor. 15:51-57; II Cor. 5:8. (3) I Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13. (4) Rev. 6:17. (5) Rev. 19:11-20:6. (6) Rom. 11:26-27. (7) Is. 35:1-7. (8) Rev. 20:7-15. (9) Phil. 3:20-21; Rev. 21:1-3.

**
**

  1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Matthew 5:18-19; 24:35. ↩︎

  2. Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 83:18; Matthew 28:19; 1 John 5:7-9. ↩︎

  3. 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18. ↩︎

  4. Hebrews 1:1-14; 1 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 1:23; 1 Timothy 2:5. ↩︎

  5. Daniel 3:25; 7:13; Matthew 9:6; 14:33; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 2:8. ↩︎

  6. Mark 10:45; John 3:16; 1 John 2:2. ↩︎

  7. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; John 2:18-22; Ephesians 4:8-10; Acts 1:9-11. ↩︎

  8. Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 3:7-12 & Psalm 95:6-11. ↩︎

  9. Matthew 3:11; Acts 2. ↩︎

  10. Romans 8:9; 1 John 4:13. ↩︎

  11. Ephesians 5:18-21; Galatians 5:16-25. ↩︎

  12. 2 Corinthians 12:12. ↩︎

  13. Ephesians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. ↩︎

  14. Matthew 12:39; 24:24. ↩︎

  15. Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3. ↩︎

  16. Genesis 1-2; 6-9. ↩︎

  17. Genesis 1:26-27. ↩︎

  18. 1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:12-19. ↩︎

  19. Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 51:5. ↩︎

  20. Romans 3:10-23; Matthew 5:48; 1 John 3:4. ↩︎

  21. John 6:44; 12:32; 16:7-13; Romans 10:17. ↩︎

  22. Mark 1:15. ↩︎

  23. Romans 3:28; 4:1-8. ↩︎

  24. Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5. ↩︎

  25. Hebrews 8:8-13. ↩︎

  26. John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23. ↩︎

  27. Ephesians 2:8-9. ↩︎

  28. Hebrews 10:10, 14. ↩︎

  29. Revelation 5:8-14. ↩︎

  30. 2 Timothy 2:25; Philippians 1:29. ↩︎

  31. Ezekiel 33:11; Revelation 2:22; 9:20-21; Acts 3:22; Hebrews 9:11-14; Revelation 19:16. ↩︎

  32. Psalm 2:12; John 3:18; Titus 3:4-8. ↩︎

  33. John 10:27-30; Romans 8:28-39; John 17:8, 17, 24. ↩︎

  34. 1 John 5:13; 2 Timothy 1:12. ↩︎

  35. 1 Peter 1:2. ↩︎

  36. Ephesians 1:3-14. ↩︎

  37. 1 John 2:29; 3:14; 5:1-2 ↩︎

  38. Acts 7:51; 2 Peter 2:1; John 4:13-14. ↩︎

  39. 2 Peter 1:5-11; 1 John 5:13. ↩︎

  40. Matthew 16:18; 18:20; 28:18-20; Ephesians 3:21. ↩︎

  41. Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1. ↩︎

  42. Acts 2:41, 47. ↩︎

  43. Every one of the 115 uses of the word translated “church” in the New Testament refers to something local and visible. ↩︎

  44. Romans 11:25-26; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 3:1-6. ↩︎

  45. Ephesians 1:22. ↩︎

  46. Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Peter 5:1-4. ↩︎

  47. 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9. ↩︎

  48. Acts 6:1-4; 1 Timothy 3:8-13 ↩︎

  49. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 8:36-38; Romans 6:3-6. ↩︎

  50. 1 Corinthians 11:23-27; Mark 14:22-25. ↩︎

  51. Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 11:6; 2 Timothy 1:9. ↩︎

  52. 1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6. ↩︎

  53. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16. ↩︎

  54. John 4:24; Hebrews 12:28; Psalm 92:3. ↩︎

  55. Leviticus 10:1-2; Matthew 15:9; Colossians 2:23. ↩︎

  56. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16. ↩︎

  57. 1 John 2:15-17. ↩︎

  58. Micah 5:2 & Matthew 2:5-6; Zechariah 9:9 & John 12:14-15. ↩︎

  59. Revelation 1:19 & 4:1; 20:1-6; 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9. ↩︎

  60. Matthew 25:34, 41, 46; Revelation 14:9-11; 20:11-22:15. ↩︎

  61. Romans 16:17; Ephesians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14; Jude 3. ↩︎

  62. The creed has received minor modification in the clause about the church and in clarifying that baptism does not remit sin. The procession of the Spirit from both the Father and the Son is also clarified. ↩︎

  63. The creed has received minor modification in its initial phrase. The reference to Mary as Theotokos has also been removed, not because it cannot be interpreted in an orthodox sense, but because it has been abused by Roman Catholicism to teach the idolatrous veneration and worship of Mary. The final clause referring to the “holy fathers” has also been removed because, while it is orthodox, it could be misused. ↩︎

  64. The creed has received minor modification. The Latin catholicus has been translated as “Christian.” The Filioque has also been added, and descendit ad inferos removed, but its original meaning, “and died,” supplied. The second to last sentence has also been omitted, not because it is unorthodox, but because it can be misunderstood. ↩︎

  65. This detailed statement of faith is based upon the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, with a number of adjustments and updates. ↩︎

  66. 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20. ↩︎

  67. Romans 1:19-21ff.; 2:14-15; Psalm 19:1-3. ↩︎

  68. Hebrews 1:1-4. ↩︎

  69. Proverbs 22:19-21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19, 20. ↩︎

  70. 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:20. ↩︎

  71. 2 Timothy 3:16. ↩︎

  72. Luke 24:27, 44; Romans 3:1-2. ↩︎

  73. 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 John 5:9. ↩︎

  74. John 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12; 1 John 2:20, 27. ↩︎

  75. 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Galatians 1:8-9. ↩︎

  76. John 6:45; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12. ↩︎

  77. 1 Corinthians 11:13-14; 14:26, 40. ↩︎

  78. 2 Peter 3:16. ↩︎

  79. Psalms 19:7; 119:30. ↩︎

  80. Romans 3:2. ↩︎

  81. Isaiah 8:20; Acts 15:15. ↩︎

  82. John 5:39. ↩︎

  83. 1 Corinthians 14:6, 9, 11-12, 24, 28. ↩︎

  84. Colossians 3:16. ↩︎

  85. 2 Timothy 3:16; Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:5-6; Matthew 4:4; 24:35; 28:19-20; Isaiah 59:21; 1 Timothy 3:15. ↩︎

  86. 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Acts 15:15-16. ↩︎

  87. Matthew 22:29, 31-32; Ephesians 2:20; Acts 28:23. ↩︎

  88. 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; Deuteronomy 6:4. ↩︎

  89. Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12. ↩︎

  90. Exodus 3:14. ↩︎

  91. John 4:24. ↩︎

  92. 1 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:15-16. ↩︎

  93. Malachi 3:6. ↩︎

  94. 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23. ↩︎

  95. Psalm 90:2. ↩︎

  96. Genesis 17:1. ↩︎

  97. Isaiah 6:3. ↩︎

  98. Psalm 16:3; Isaiah 46:10. ↩︎

  99. Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36. ↩︎

  100. Exodus 34:6-7. ↩︎

  101. Hebrews 11:6. ↩︎

  102. Nehemiah 9:32-33. ↩︎

  103. Psalm 5:5-6. ↩︎

  104. Exodus 34:7; Nahum 1:2-3. ↩︎

  105. John 5:26. ↩︎

  106. Psalm 148:13. ↩︎

  107. Psalm 119:68. ↩︎

  108. Job 22:2-3. ↩︎

  109. Romans 11:34-36. ↩︎

  110. Daniel 4:25 & 5:24-25. ↩︎

  111. Hebrews 4:13. ↩︎

  112. Ezekiel 11:5; Acts 15:18. ↩︎

  113. Psalm 145:17. ↩︎

  114. Revelation 5:12-14. ↩︎

  115. 1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14. ↩︎

  116. Exodus 3:14; John 14:11; 1 Corinthians 8:6. ↩︎

  117. John 1:14, 18. ↩︎

  118. John 15:26; Galatians 4:6. ↩︎

  119. Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17. ↩︎

  120. James 1:15, 17; 1 John 1:5. ↩︎

  121. Acts 4:27-28, John 19:11. ↩︎

  122. Numbers 23:19; Ephesians 1:3-5. ↩︎

  123. Acts 15:18. ↩︎

  124. 1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:41. ↩︎

  125. Ephesians 1:5, 6. ↩︎

  126. Romans 9:22-23; Jude 4. ↩︎

  127. Matthew 25:34, 41; Romans 9:22-23; Jeremiah 18:1-10. ↩︎

  128. 2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18. ↩︎

  129. Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 1 Peter 1:2. ↩︎

  130. 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13. ↩︎

  131. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10. ↩︎

  132. Romans 8:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13. ↩︎

  133. 1 Peter 1:5. ↩︎

  134. John 10:26; 17:9; 6:64. ↩︎

  135. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5; 2 Peter 1:10. ↩︎

  136. Ephesians 1:6; Romans 11:33. ↩︎

  137. Romans 11:5-6; Luke 10:20. ↩︎

  138. 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4. ↩︎

  139. Matthew 25:41, 46. ↩︎

  140. Titus 2:11; Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34. ↩︎

  141. John 1:2-3; Hebrews 1:2; Job 26:13. ↩︎

  142. Romans 1:20. ↩︎

  143. Colossians 1:16; Genesis 2:1-2. ↩︎

  144. Genesis 1:27. ↩︎

  145. Genesis 1:26; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Ephesians 4:24. ↩︎

  146. Romans 2:14-15. ↩︎

  147. Genesis 3:6. ↩︎

  148. Genesis 2:17; 3:11. ↩︎

  149. Genesis 1:26, 28. ↩︎

  150. Genesis 1:11-12, 21, 24-25. ↩︎

  151. Genesis 1:11–12, 1:21, 1:24–25, 30:37–42; 1 Corinthians 15:39. ↩︎

  152. Genesis 7:19–20; 2 Peter 3:5–7. ↩︎

  153. Genesis 1-2; 5; 10-11; Mark 10:6; Luke 3:23-38. ↩︎

  154. Genesis 1:1–2:3; Exodus 20:8–11, 31:17; Hebrews 4:3–4. ↩︎

  155. 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17; John 17:17; ↩︎

  156. Numbers 23:19; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30; Isaiah 46:9–10, 55:9; Romans 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:16. ↩︎

  157. Genesis 1:26–27, 5:2, 9:6; Matthew 19:4–6; Mark 10:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; James 3:9–10. ↩︎

  158. Genesis 2:7, 2:21–23, 3:19; 1 Corinthians 11:8–12, 15:47–49. ↩︎

  159. Genesis 9:6; Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17; Psalm 51:5; 1 Corinthians 15:49; James 2:11. ↩︎

  160. Genesis 1:26–27, 3:20, 10:1, 10:32; 1 Corinthians 15:45–47; Luke 17:27; Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5. ↩︎

  161. Genesis 1:26–27, 3:20, 11:9; Acts 17:26–28. ↩︎

  162. Genesis 1:27–28, 2:24; Leviticus 18:1-30; Matthew 5:27–30, 19:4-5; Mark 10:2–9; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–7; Hebrews 13:4. ↩︎

  163. Genesis 1:26–28, 5:1–2; Psalm 51:5, 139:13–16; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 1:20–21, 19:4–6; Mark 10:6; Luke 1:31; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; Galatians 3:28. ↩︎

  164. Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18. ↩︎

  165. Genesis 2:18, 21-24; 1 Corinthians 11:7-9; 1 Timothy 2:12-14. ↩︎

  166. Genesis 2:16-18, 21-24; 3:1-13; 1 Corinthians 11:7-9. ↩︎

  167. Genesis 3:1-7, 12, 16. ↩︎

  168. Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18; Galatians 3:28. ↩︎

  169. Genesis 2:18; Ephesians 5:21-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; Isaiah 3:12 ↩︎

  170. Ephesians 5:21-33; Colossians 3:18-19; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7. ↩︎

  171. Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 1 Timothy 2:11-15. ↩︎

  172. Isaiah 3:12; Jeremiah 50:37; 51:30; Titus 2:5. ↩︎

  173. Daniel 3:10-18; Acts 4:19-20, 5:27-29; 1 Peter 3:1-2. ↩︎

  174. 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9. ↩︎

  175. 1 Corinthians 12:7-21. ↩︎

  176. 1 Corinthians 11:14-15; Deuteronomy 22:5. ↩︎

  177. Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11. Isaiah 46:10-11; Psalm 135:6. ↩︎

  178. Matthew 10:29-31. ↩︎

  179. Ephesians 1:11. ↩︎

  180. Acts 2:23. ↩︎

  181. Proverbs 16:33. ↩︎

  182. Genesis 8:22. ↩︎

  183. Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10-11. ↩︎

  184. Hosea 1:7. ↩︎

  185. Romans 4:19-21. ↩︎

  186. Daniel 3:27. ↩︎

  187. Romans 11:32-34; 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1. ↩︎

  188. 2 Kings 19:28; Psalm 76:10. ↩︎

  189. Genesis 50:20; Isaiah 10:6-7, 12. ↩︎

  190. Psalm 50:21; 1 John 2:16. ↩︎

  191. 2 Chronicles 32:25-26, 31; 2 Samuel 24:1; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. ↩︎

  192. Psalm 23:6; Romans 8:28. ↩︎

  193. Romans 1:24, 26, 28; 11:7-8. ↩︎

  194. Deuteronomy 29:4. ↩︎

  195. Matthew 13:12. ↩︎

  196. Deuteronomy 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12-13. ↩︎

  197. Psalm 81:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. ↩︎

  198. Exodus 8:15, 32; Isaiah 6:9-10; 1 Peter 2:7-8. ↩︎

  199. Psalm 119:160; Isaiah 59:21; Matthew 5:18-19; 24:35. ↩︎

  200. Deuteronomy 32:8; Amos 9:8-9; Isaiah 43:3-5; Romans 11:26. ↩︎

  201. Psalm 84:11; 121:7; Proverbs 12:21; 2 Corinthians 4:15-17; 1 Timothy 4:10. ↩︎

  202. Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 5:23-32. ↩︎

  203. Romans 8:28-39. ↩︎

  204. Genesis 2:16-17. ↩︎

  205. Genesis 3:12-13; 2 Corinthians 11:3. ↩︎

  206. Romans 3:23; 5:12-19. ↩︎

  207. Titus 1:15; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-19. ↩︎

  208. Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 45, 49. ↩︎

  209. Psalm 51:5; Job 14:4. ↩︎

  210. Ephesians 2:3. ↩︎

  211. Romans 6:20; 5:12. ↩︎

  212. Hebrews 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 1:10. ↩︎

  213. Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21. ↩︎

  214. James 1:14-15; Matthew 15:19. ↩︎

  215. Romans 7:18, 23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8. ↩︎

  216. Romans 7:23-25; Galatians 5:17. ↩︎

  217. Genesis 2:7, 2:17, 2:22–23, 3:6–20; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:45–49. ↩︎

  218. Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45-49. ↩︎

  219. Genesis 2:16–17; 3:8, 19; 4:4–8; Romans 5:12, 8:20–22; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22. ↩︎

  220. Luke 17:10; Job 35:7, 8. ↩︎

  221. Genesis 2:17; Galatians 3:10; Romans 3:20-21. ↩︎

  222. Romans 8:3; Mark 16:15-16; John 3:16. ↩︎

  223. Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 6:44-45. ↩︎

  224. Genesis 3:15. ↩︎

  225. Hebrews 1:1-4. ↩︎

  226. 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2. ↩︎

  227. Hebrews 11:6, 13; Romans 4:1-8; Act. 4:12; John 8:56. ↩︎

  228. Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5; 2 Samuel 7:8-17; Jeremiah 31:31-34. ↩︎

  229. 1 Corinthians 10:32. ↩︎

  230. Genesis 12:1–3; John 1:17; Acts 2; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Galatians 3:19; Ephesians 1:10; Revelation 20:1–7. ↩︎

  231. Genesis 3:15; 15:6; Habakkuk 2:4; Psalm 2:12; Romans 4:1-8; Revelation 14:6. ↩︎

  232. John 14:6; Acts 4:12. ↩︎

  233. Isaiah 42:1; 1 Peter 1:19-20. ↩︎

  234. Acts 3:22. ↩︎

  235. Hebrews 5:5-6. ↩︎

  236. Psalm 2:6; Luke 1:33. ↩︎

  237. Revelation 15:3; Luke 2:11. ↩︎

  238. Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23. ↩︎

  239. Hebrews 1:2. ↩︎

  240. Acts 17:31. ↩︎

  241. Isaiah 53:10; John 17:6; Romans 8:30. ↩︎

  242. John 1:1-18; Galatians 4:4; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 2:14-17; 4:15. ↩︎

  243. Luke 1:27, 31, 35. ↩︎

  244. Romans 9:5; 1 Timothy 2:5. ↩︎

  245. Psalm 45:7; Acts 10:38; John 3:34. ↩︎

  246. Colossians 2:3. ↩︎

  247. Colossians 1:19. ↩︎

  248. Hebrews 7:26. ↩︎

  249. John 1:14. ↩︎

  250. Hebrews 7:22. ↩︎

  251. Hebrews 5:5. ↩︎

  252. John 5:22, 27; Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:36. ↩︎

  253. Psalm 40:7,-8; Hebrews 10:5–11; John 10:18. ↩︎

  254. Galatians 4:4; Matthew 3:15. ↩︎

  255. Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 3:18. ↩︎

  256. 2 Corinthians 5:21. ↩︎

  257. Matthew 26:37-38; Luke 22:44; Matthew 27:46. ↩︎

  258. Acts 13:37. ↩︎

  259. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. ↩︎

  260. John 20:25, 27. ↩︎

  261. Mark 16:19; Act. 1:9-11. ↩︎

  262. Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24. ↩︎

  263. Acts 10:42; Romans 14:9-10; Acts 1:11. ↩︎

  264. Hebrews 9:14; 10:14; Romans 3:25-26. ↩︎

  265. John 17:2; Hebrews 9:15. ↩︎

  266. 1 Corinthians 10:4; Hebrews 4:2; 1 Peter 1:10-11 ↩︎

  267. Revelation 13:8. ↩︎

  268. Hebrews 13:8. ↩︎

  269. John 3:13; Acts 20:28. ↩︎

  270. John 6:37; 10:15-16; 17:9. ↩︎

  271. John 17:6; Ephesians 1:9; 1 John 5:20. ↩︎

  272. Romans 8:9, 14. ↩︎

  273. Psalm 110:1; 1 Corinthians 15:25-26. ↩︎

  274. John 3:8; Ephesians 1:8. ↩︎

  275. 1 Timothy 2:5. ↩︎

  276. John 1:18. ↩︎

  277. Colossians 1:21; Galatians 5:17. ↩︎

  278. 20 Joh. 16:8; Ps. 110:3; Luk. 1:74, 75. ↩︎

  279. John 16:8; Psalm 110:3; Luke 1:74-75; Revelation 19:11-20:6. ↩︎

  280. Galatians 2:20. ↩︎

  281. Ephesians 5:25. ↩︎

  282. Matthew 1:21. ↩︎

  283. Romans 8:33-34; John 10:15. ↩︎

  284. 2 Corinthians 5:19. ↩︎

  285. 1 John 2:2. ↩︎

  286. Matthew 23:37; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; Revelation 22:17. ↩︎

  287. 2 Peter 2:1. ↩︎

  288. Matthew 17:12; James 1:14; Deuteronomy 30:19. ↩︎

  289. Ecclesiastes 7:29. ↩︎

  290. Genesis 3:6. ↩︎

  291. Romans 5:6; 8:7. ↩︎

  292. Ephesians 2:1, 5. ↩︎

  293. Titus 3:3-5; John 6:44. ↩︎

  294. Colossians 1:13; John 8:36. ↩︎

  295. Philippians 2:13. ↩︎

  296. Romans 7:15, 18-19, 21, 23. ↩︎

  297. Ephesians 4:13. ↩︎

  298. Romans 8:29; 1 Peter 1:2 ↩︎

  299. Romans 8:30; 11:7; Ephesians 1:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14. ↩︎

  300. Ephesians 2:1-6. ↩︎

  301. Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17-18. ↩︎

  302. 4 Ezek. 36:26. ↩︎

  303. Ezekiel 36:26. ↩︎

  304. Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:27, Ephesians 1:19. ↩︎

  305. Revelation 22:17. ↩︎

  306. 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:8. ↩︎

  307. 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:5; John 5:25. ↩︎

  308. Ephesians 1:19-20. ↩︎

  309. 2 Samuel 12:3; John 3:3-6. ↩︎

  310. John 3:8. ↩︎

  311. Matthew 22:14; 13:20-21; Hebrews 6:4-5. ↩︎

  312. John 6:44-45, 65; 1 John 2:24-25. ↩︎

  313. Acts 4:12; John 4:22; 17:3. ↩︎

  314. Romans 3:24; 8:30. ↩︎

  315. Romans 4:5-8; Ephesians 1:7. ↩︎

  316. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Romans 5:17-19. ↩︎

  317. Philippians 3:8-9; Ephesians 2:8-10. ↩︎

  318. John 1:12; Romans 5:17; Philippians 1:29. ↩︎

  319. Romans 3:28 ↩︎

  320. Galatians 5:6; James 2:17, 22, 26. ↩︎

  321. Hebrews 10:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Isaiah 53:5-6. ↩︎

  322. Romans 8:32; 2 Corinthians 5:21. ↩︎

  323. Romans 3:26; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:7. ↩︎

  324. Galatians 3:8; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Timothy 2:6. ↩︎

  325. Romans 4:25. ↩︎

  326. Colossians 1:21-22; Titus 3:4-7. ↩︎

  327. Matthew 6:12; 1 John 1:7, 9. ↩︎

  328. John 10:28. ↩︎

  329. 17 Ps. 89:31, 32, 33. ↩︎

  330. Psalm 89:31-33. ↩︎

  331. Psalm 32:5; 51:1-19; Matthew 26:75. ↩︎

  332. Galatians 3:9; Romans 4:22-24. ↩︎

  333. Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:4-5. ↩︎

  334. John 1:12; Romans 8:17. ↩︎

  335. 2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 3:12. ↩︎

  336. Romans 8:15. ↩︎

  337. Hebrews 4:16. ↩︎

  338. Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 2:18. ↩︎

  339. Psalm 103:13. ↩︎

  340. Proverbs 14:26. ↩︎

  341. 1 Peter 5:7. ↩︎

  342. Hebrews 12:6. ↩︎

  343. Isaiah 54:8-9; Lamentations 3:31; John 10:27-30. ↩︎

  344. Ephesians 4:30. ↩︎

  345. Hebrews 1:14; 6:12. ↩︎

  346. Acts 20:32; Romans 6:5-6. ↩︎

  347. John 17:17; Ephesians 3:16-19; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23. ↩︎

  348. Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:24. ↩︎

  349. Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5. ↩︎

  350. Colossians 1:11. ↩︎

  351. 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14. ↩︎

  352. 1 Thessalonians 5:23. ↩︎

  353. Romans 7:18, 23. ↩︎

  354. Galatians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:11. ↩︎

  355. Romans 7:23. ↩︎

  356. Romans 6:14. ↩︎

  357. Ephesians 4:15-16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 7:1. ↩︎

  358. Titus 3:2-5. ↩︎

  359. Ecclesiastes 7:20. ↩︎

  360. Luke 22:31-32. ↩︎

  361. Zechariah 12:10; Acts 11:18. ↩︎

  362. Ezekiel 36:31; 2 Corinthians 7:11. ↩︎

  363. Psalm 119:6, 128. ↩︎

  364. Luke 15:7ff. ↩︎

  365. Ezekiel 18:30. ↩︎

  366. Ephesians 2:10. ↩︎

  367. Ezekiel 33:11. ↩︎

  368. Romans 8:13. ↩︎

  369. Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; 3:19, 26; 11:18. ↩︎

  370. Luke 19:8; 1 Timothy 1:13, 15. ↩︎

  371. Romans 6:23. ↩︎

  372. Isaiah 1:16, 18; 55:7. ↩︎

  373. 2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 2:8. ↩︎

  374. 2 Rom. 10:14, 17. ↩︎

  375. Romans 10:14, 17. ↩︎

  376. Luke 17:5; 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32. ↩︎

  377. Acts 24:14. ↩︎

  378. 4 Ps. 19:7, 8, 9, 10; Ps. 119:72. ↩︎

  379. Psalm 19:7-10; 119:72. ↩︎

  380. 5 2 Tim. 1:12. ↩︎

  381. 2 Timothy 1:12. ↩︎

  382. John 15:14. ↩︎

  383. Isaiah 66:2. ↩︎

  384. Hebrews 11:13. ↩︎

  385. John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:20; Acts 15:11. ↩︎

  386. Hebrews 5:13-14; Matthew 6:30; Romans 4:19-20. ↩︎

  387. 2 Peter 1:1. ↩︎

  388. Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 5:4-5. ↩︎

  389. Hebrews 6:11-12; Colossians 2:2. ↩︎

  390. Hebrews 12:2. ↩︎

  391. Micah 6:8; Hebrews 13:21. ↩︎

  392. 2 Mat. 15:9; Isa. 29:13. ↩︎

  393. Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13. ↩︎

  394. 3 Jam. 2:18, 22. ↩︎

  395. James 2:18, 22. ↩︎

  396. Psalm 116:12, 13. ↩︎

  397. 1 John 2:3, 5; 2 Peter 1:5-11. ↩︎

  398. Matthew 5:16. ↩︎

  399. 7 1 Tim. 6:1; 1 Pet. 2:15; Phil. 1:11. ↩︎

  400. 1 Timothy 6:1; 1 Peter 2:15; Philippians 1:11. ↩︎

  401. Ephesians 2:10. ↩︎

  402. Romans 6:22. ↩︎

  403. John 15:4, 6. ↩︎

  404. 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 2:13. ↩︎

  405. Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 6:11-12; Isaiah 64:7. ↩︎

  406. Job 9:2-3; Galatians 5:17; Luke 17:10. ↩︎

  407. Romans 3:20; 4:6; Ephesians 2:8-9. ↩︎

  408. Galatians 5:22-23. ↩︎

  409. Isaiah 64:6; Psalm 143:2. ↩︎

  410. Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5. ↩︎

  411. Matthew 25:21, 23; Hebrews 6:10. ↩︎

  412. 2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27, 29. ↩︎

  413. Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4, 6. ↩︎

  414. 1 Corinthians 13:1. ↩︎

  415. Matthew 6:2, 5. ↩︎

  416. Amos 5:21-22; Romans 9:16; Titus 3:5. ↩︎

  417. Job 21:14-15; Matthew 25:41-43. ↩︎

  418. John 10:28-29; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19. ↩︎

  419. Psalm 89:31-32; 1 Corinthians 11:32. ↩︎

  420. Malachi 3:6. ↩︎

  421. Romans 8:30; 9:11, 16. ↩︎

  422. Romans 5:9-10; John 14:19. ↩︎

  423. Hebrews 6:17-18. ↩︎

  424. 1 John 3:9. ↩︎

  425. Jeremiah 32:40. ↩︎

  426. Matthew 26:70, 72, 74. ↩︎

  427. Isaiah 64:5, 9; Ephesians 4:30. ↩︎

  428. Psalm 51:10, 12. ↩︎

  429. Psalm 32:3-4. ↩︎

  430. 2 Samuel 12:14. ↩︎

  431. Luke 22:32, 61-62. ↩︎

  432. Job 8:13-14; Matthew 7:22-23. ↩︎

  433. 1 John 2:3; 3:14, 18-19, 21, 24; 5:13. ↩︎

  434. Romans 5:2, 5. ↩︎

  435. 4 Heb. 6:11, 19. ↩︎

  436. Hebrews 6:11, 19. ↩︎

  437. Hebrews 6:17-18. ↩︎

  438. 2 Peter 1:4-5, 10-11. ↩︎

  439. Romans 8:15-16. ↩︎

  440. 1 John 3:1-3. ↩︎

  441. Isaiah 50:10; Psalm 88; 77:1-12. ↩︎

  442. 1 John 4:13; Hebrews 6:11-12. ↩︎

  443. 12 Rom. 5:1, 2, 5. ch. 14:17; Ps. 119:32. ↩︎

  444. Romans 5:1-2, 5; 14:17; Psalm 119:32. ↩︎

  445. 13 Rom. 6:1, 2. Tit. 2:11, 12, 14. ↩︎

  446. Romans 6:1-2; Titus 2:11-14. ↩︎

  447. Psalm 51:8, 12, 14. ↩︎

  448. Psalm 116:11; 77:7-8; 31:22. ↩︎

  449. Psalm 30:7. ↩︎

  450. 1 John 3:9. ↩︎

  451. Luke 22:32. ↩︎

  452. Psalm 42:5, 11. ↩︎

  453. Lamentations 3:26-31. ↩︎

  454. Genesis 2:17; Ecclesiastes 7:29. ↩︎

  455. Romans 10:5. ↩︎

  456. Galatians 3:10, 12. ↩︎

  457. Romans 2:14-15. ↩︎

  458. Exodus 31:17; Nehemiah 9:14; Colossians 2: ↩︎

  459. Deuteronomy 10:4. ↩︎

  460. Hebrews 10:1; Colossians 2:17. ↩︎

  461. 1 Corinthians 5:7. ↩︎

  462. Colossians 2:14-17; Ephesians 2:14-16. ↩︎

  463. 1 Corinthians 9:8-10. ↩︎

  464. Hebrews 6:18; Numbers 35:9-34. ↩︎

  465. Romans 13:8-10; James 2:8-12. ↩︎

  466. James 2:10-11. ↩︎

  467. Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 3:31. ↩︎

  468. Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:16; Romans 8:1; 10:4. ↩︎

  469. Romans 3:20; 7:7ff. ↩︎

  470. Romans 6:12-14; 1 Peter 3:8-13. ↩︎

  471. Galatians 3:21. ↩︎

  472. Ezekiel 36:27. ↩︎

  473. Genesis 3:15. ↩︎

  474. Revelation 13:8. ↩︎

  475. Romans 1:17. ↩︎

  476. Romans 10:14-15, 17. ↩︎

  477. Proverbs 29:18; Isaiah 25:7; 60:2-3. ↩︎

  478. Psalm 147:20; Acts 16:7 ↩︎

  479. 2 Peter 3:9. ↩︎

  480. Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19. ↩︎

  481. John 3:16; 1 John 2:2. ↩︎

  482. 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 1:19-20. ↩︎

  483. John 6:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6. ↩︎

  484. Galatians 3:13. ↩︎

  485. Galatians 1:4. ↩︎

  486. Acts 26:18. ↩︎

  487. Romans 8:3. ↩︎

  488. Romans 8:28. ↩︎

  489. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57. ↩︎

  490. 2 Thessalonians 1:10. ↩︎

  491. Romans 8:15. ↩︎

  492. Luke 1:74-75; 1 John 4:18. ↩︎

  493. Galatians 3:9, 14. ↩︎

  494. John 7:38-39; Hebrews 10:19-21. ↩︎

  495. John 14:17. ↩︎

  496. James 4:12; Romans 14:4. ↩︎

  497. Acts 4:19; 5:29; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Matthew 15:9. ↩︎

  498. Colossians 2:20-23. ↩︎

  499. 1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 1:24. ↩︎

  500. Romans 6:1-2. ↩︎

  501. Galatians 5:13; 2 Peter 2:18-21; Luke 1:68-75. ↩︎

  502. Jeremiah 10:7; Mark 12:33. ↩︎

  503. Deuteronomy 12:32. ↩︎

  504. Exodus 20:4-6. ↩︎

  505. Matthew 4:9-10; 28:19. ↩︎

  506. Romans 1:25; Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10. ↩︎

  507. John 14:6. ↩︎

  508. 1 Timothy 2:5. ↩︎

  509. Psalm 95:1-7; 65:2. ↩︎

  510. John 14:13-14. ↩︎

  511. Romans 8:26. ↩︎

  512. 1 John 5:14. ↩︎

  513. 1 Corinthians 14:16-17. ↩︎

  514. 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 2 Samuel 7:29. ↩︎

  515. 2 Samuel 12:21-23. ↩︎

  516. 1 John 5:16. ↩︎

  517. 1 Timothy 4:13. ↩︎

  518. 2 Timothy 4:2; Luke 8:18. ↩︎

  519. Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19. ↩︎

  520. Matthew 28:19-20. ↩︎

  521. 1 Corinthians 11:26. ↩︎

  522. Esther 4:16; Joel 2:12. ↩︎

  523. Exodus 15:1-21; Psalm 107. ↩︎

  524. John 4:21; 1 Timothy 2:8. ↩︎

  525. Acts 10:2. ↩︎

  526. Matthew 6:11; Psalm 55:17. ↩︎

  527. Matthew 6:6. ↩︎

  528. Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42. ↩︎

  529. Exodus 20:8, 11; 31:1. ↩︎

  530. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10. ↩︎

  531. Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 4:4-11. ↩︎

  532. Isaiah 58:13; Nehemiah 13:15-23. ↩︎

  533. Matthew 12:1-13. ↩︎

  534. Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 10:20; Jeremiah 4:2. ↩︎

  535. 2 Chronicles 6:22-23. ↩︎

  536. Matthew 5:34, 37; James 5:12. ↩︎

  537. Hebrews 6:16; 2 Corinthians 1:23. ↩︎

  538. Nehemiah 13:25. ↩︎

  539. Leviticus 19:12; Jeremiah 23:10. ↩︎

  540. Psalm 24:4. ↩︎

  541. Psalm 76:11; Genesis 28:20-22. ↩︎

  542. 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9. ↩︎

  543. Ephesians 4:28. ↩︎

  544. Matthew 19:11. “Regular obedience” refers to obedience to a monastic rule or regula, as well as to unconditional obedience to one’s superiors in such a monastic order. Such monastic obedience is not obedience to God, but superstition and a sinful snare. ↩︎

  545. Matthew 19:11. ↩︎

  546. Romans 13:1-4. ↩︎

  547. 2 Samuel 23:3; Psalm 82:3-4. ↩︎

  548. Luke 3:14. ↩︎

  549. Romans 13:5-7; 1 Peter 2:17. ↩︎

  550. 1 Timothy 2:1-2. ↩︎

  551. Matthew 22:29. ↩︎

  552. Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5-6. ↩︎

  553. Genesis 2:18. ↩︎

  554. Genesis 1:28. ↩︎

  555. 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9. ↩︎

  556. 1 Corinthians 7:36. ↩︎

  557. Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3. ↩︎

  558. 1 Corinthians 7:39. ↩︎

  559. Nehemiah 13:25-27. ↩︎

  560. Leviticus 18. ↩︎

  561. Matthew 6:18; 1 Corinthians 5:1. ↩︎

  562. Leviticus 18:22; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. ↩︎

  563. Malachi 2:16. ↩︎

  564. Mark 10:11-12; 1 Corinthians 7:10-11. ↩︎

  565. Deuteronomy 24:4. ↩︎

  566. Proverbs 6:32-33; 1 Timothy 3:5, 12. ↩︎

  567. Hebrews 12:23; Ephesians 1:10. ↩︎

  568. 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 11:26. ↩︎

  569. Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:20-22. ↩︎

  570. John 3:3. ↩︎

  571. Ephesians 3:3-6. ↩︎

  572. Matthew 18:20; Acts 2:41-42. ↩︎

  573. 1 Corinthians 5; Revelation 2-3. ↩︎

  574. Revelation 18:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. ↩︎

  575. Matthew 16:18; 28:18-20; Ephesians 3:21; Philippians 1:1. ↩︎

  576. Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Ephesians 4:11-12. ↩︎

  577. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9. ↩︎

  578. John 10:16; 12:32. ↩︎

  579. Matthew 28:20. ↩︎

  580. Matthew 18:15-20. ↩︎

  581. Romans 1:9; 1 Corinthians 1:2. ↩︎

  582. Acts 2:41-42; 5:13-14; 2 Corinthians 9:13. ↩︎

  583. Matthew 18:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, 13. ↩︎

  584. Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Peter 5:1-2; Philippians 1:1. ↩︎

  585. Acts 14:23. See the original ↩︎

  586. 1 Timothy 4:14. ↩︎

  587. Ephesians 4:11; Acts 6:3, 5-6. ↩︎

  588. Ephesians 2:20. ↩︎

  589. Acts 8:26-40; 21:8; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Timothy 4:5. ↩︎

  590. 1 Timothy 3:8-13. ↩︎

  591. Galatians 3:28. ↩︎

  592. Isaiah 3:12; 1 Corinthians 14:34-37; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 3:2, 4, 11; Titus 1:6. ↩︎

  593. 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1:5-9. ↩︎

  594. Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:17. ↩︎

  595. 1 Timothy 5:17-18; Galatians 6:6-7. ↩︎

  596. 2 Timothy 2:4. ↩︎

  597. 1 Timothy 3:2. ↩︎

  598. 1 Corinthians 9:6-14. ↩︎

  599. Acts 11:19-21; 1 Peter 4:10-11. ↩︎

  600. 2 1 Thes. 5:14; 2 Thes. 3:6, 14, 15. ↩︎

  601. 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15. ↩︎

  602. Matthew 18:15-17; Ephesians 4:2-3. ↩︎

  603. Ephesians 6:18. ↩︎

  604. Romans 16:1-2; 3 John 8-10. ↩︎

  605. Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18. ↩︎

  606. Matthew 18:15-18; Acts 6:3-5; I Corinthians 5:4-5, 13; 1 Timothy 3:15. ↩︎

  607. 2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 John 4:1. ↩︎

  608. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; Philippians 4:15-19; 3 John 5-7; ↩︎

  609. 1 Corinthians 10:32. ↩︎

  610. Isaiah 11:1-16; Ezekiel 40-48; Romans 11:25-27; Revelation 20:1-6. ↩︎

  611. John 17:3; 1 John 5:7; 1 John 5:20 ↩︎

  612. Mark 1:15; Romans 3:20-4:8. ↩︎

  613. Matthew 16:18; 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Ephesians 3:21. ↩︎

  614. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-17; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8; 8:4; 9:31; Ephesians 4:12. ↩︎

  615. Acts 9:31; Ephesians 2:20-22; 4:12, 16. ↩︎

  616. Acts 8:26-40; 13:1-4; 21:8; Ephesians 4:11. ↩︎

  617. 1 John 1:3; John 1:16; Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:5-6. ↩︎

  618. Ephesians 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 3:21-23. ↩︎

  619. 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14; Romans 1:12; 1 John 2:17-18; Galatians 6:10. ↩︎

  620. Hebrews 10:24-25; 3:12-13. ↩︎

  621. Acts 12:19-20. ↩︎

  622. Ephesians 6:4. ↩︎

  623. 1 Corinthians 12:14-27. ↩︎

  624. Acts 5:4; Ephesians 4:28. ↩︎

  625. Psalm 99:1-3; Isaiah 57:15. ↩︎

  626. Isaiah 6:3, 5; Matthew 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 John 1:5. ↩︎

  627. Matthew 5:48; Romans 12:1; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 John 2:1. ↩︎

  628. Exodus 19:5-6; Leviticus 20:24-26; Deuteronomy 7:1-6; Psalm 135:4. ↩︎

  629. Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:11; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15. ↩︎

  630. John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 2:17; 5:19. ↩︎

  631. John 7:7; 15:18; Jas 4:4. ↩︎

  632. Matthew 7:15; Romans 16:17-18; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Galatians 1:18-19; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 2:16-21; Titus 3:10-11; 2 John 10-11; Revelation 2:14. ↩︎

  633. 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14. ↩︎

  634. 1 Corinthians 13. ↩︎

  635. Romans 16:17; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Titus 1:13. ↩︎

  636. 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Timothy 1:3. ↩︎

  637. 2 Corinthians 11:2-4; Ephesians 2:20-22; 5:23-32; ↩︎

  638. Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:26. ↩︎

  639. Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 4:1. ↩︎

  640. Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:27. ↩︎

  641. Mark 1:4; Acts 26:16. ↩︎

  642. Romans 6:2, 4. ↩︎

  643. Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36-37. ↩︎

  644. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:38. ↩︎

  645. Matthew 3:16; John 3:23. ↩︎

  646. Acts 2:41, 47; 1 Corinthians 12:13. ↩︎

  647. Matthew 28:18-20. ↩︎

  648. Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 10:16-17. ↩︎

  649. Acts 2, 8, 10, 19; Exodus 40:34; 1 Kings 8:11; Ezekiel 43:3; Ephesians 4:5; Matthew 28:18-20. ↩︎

  650. Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14. ↩︎

  651. Ephesians 4:5. ↩︎

  652. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16. ↩︎

  653. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. ↩︎

  654. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 21. ↩︎

  655. 3 Heb 9:25, 26, 28. ↩︎

  656. Hebrews 9:25-28. ↩︎

  657. 1 Corinthians 11:24; Matthew 26:26-27. ↩︎

  658. Exodus 12:15, 19; 13:7; Luke 22:15; 1 Corinthians 5:7. ↩︎

  659. Matthew 26:29; Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35. ↩︎

  660. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26ff. ↩︎

  661. Matthew 26:26-28; 15:9; Exodus 20:4-5. ↩︎

  662. 1 Corinthians 11:27; 2 Chronicles 30:18; Matthew 26:17. ↩︎

  663. 1 Corinthians 11:26-28; Mark 14:25. ↩︎

  664. Acts 3:21; Luke 24:6, 39. ↩︎

  665. 1 Corinthians 11:24-25. ↩︎

  666. 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:23-26. ↩︎

  667. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15. ↩︎

  668. 1 Corinthians 11:29; Matthew 7:6. ↩︎

  669. Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. ↩︎

  670. Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:26-33. ↩︎

  671. Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:11, 18, 28-31; Ephesians 4:7-8; Hebrews 2:4. ↩︎

  672. 1 Corinthians 12:27; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12:7. ↩︎

  673. 1 Corinthians 12:7. ↩︎

  674. 1 Corinthians 14:12. ↩︎

  675. Ephesians 4:11-12. ↩︎

  676. 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:4. ↩︎

  677. 1 Corinthians 13:8-12; Ephesians 2:20; Hebrews 2:1-4. ↩︎

  678. Acts 16:25; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16. ↩︎

  679. Hebrews 2:12; James 5:13. ↩︎

  680. Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26. ↩︎

  681. Matthew 26:30; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; James 5:13. ↩︎

  682. Colossians 1:16. ↩︎

  683. 1 Samuel 16:23. ↩︎

  684. Matthew 5:13-14; 1 Corinthians 10:31. ↩︎

  685. Philippians 1:9-10. ↩︎

  686. Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 2:5; 1 John 2:15-17. ↩︎

  687. Psalm 92:3; Hosea 9:5; Leviticus 23:36; Numbers 10:10; Leviticus 19:30; Psalm 89:7; Hebrews 12:28. ↩︎

  688. Genesis 1:27; 1 Corinthians 14:33, 40. ↩︎

  689. Romans 14:23; 2 Corinthians 6:3; Philippians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:22. ↩︎

  690. Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 4:29, 5:4. ↩︎

  691. 1 Corinthians 10:31. ↩︎

  692. Deuteronomy 12:30-32; 1 John 2:15-17. ↩︎

  693. Romans 12:1-2. ↩︎

  694. Romans 14:15-19. ↩︎

  695. Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36. ↩︎

  696. Ecclesiastes 12:7. ↩︎

  697. Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6, 8; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23. ↩︎

  698. Jude 6-7; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 16:23-24. ↩︎

  699. Job 19:26-27. ↩︎

  700. 1 Corinthians 15:42-43.s ↩︎

  701. Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; Philippians 3:21. ↩︎

  702. Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8. ↩︎

  703. Philippians 1:21-24. ↩︎

  704. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. ↩︎

  705. Revelation 20:4-6. ↩︎

  706. Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54. ↩︎

  707. 2 Corinthians 5:8. ↩︎

  708. Luke 16:19-26; Revelation 20:13-15. ↩︎

  709. John 5:28-29. ↩︎

  710. Revelation 20:11-15. ↩︎

  711. Matthew 25:41-46; Revelation 20:15. ↩︎

  712. Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. ↩︎

  713. Acts 17:31; John 5:22, 27. ↩︎

  714. 1 Corinthians 6:3; Jude 6. ↩︎

  715. 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:10, 12; Matthew 25:31-46. ↩︎

  716. Romans 9:22-23. ↩︎

  717. Matthew 25:34; Ephesians 1:3-14. ↩︎

  718. Matthew 25:21, 34; 2 Timothy 4:8. ↩︎

  719. Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10, 14-15. ↩︎

  720. Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10. ↩︎

  721. 2 Corinthians 5:10-11. ↩︎

  722. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7. ↩︎

  723. 9 Mar. 13:35, 36, 37; Luk. 13:35, 34. ↩︎

  724. Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-36. ↩︎

  725. Revelation 22:20. ↩︎

  726. Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:21-24; Revelation 20:1-15. ↩︎

  727. Acts 7:59-60; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-23. ↩︎

  728. Romans 8:11, 23; 1 Corinthians 15:22-24, 35-38; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2. ↩︎

  729. 1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-7, 9-27; 22:1-5, 14. ↩︎

  730. Deuteronomy 32:22; Luke 16:23-25. ↩︎

  731. Matthew 8:12; 18:8; 25:41, 46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 14:10-11; 20:14-15; 21:8. ↩︎

  732. John 14:1–3; 1 Corinthians 15:51–53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15–5:11. ↩︎

  733. Daniel 9:24-27; 12:2; 1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 11:11-12; 20:4-5. ↩︎

  734. Revelation 20:5, 11-15. ↩︎

  735. 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; 1 John 3:2. ↩︎

  736. 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; Revelation 3:10. ↩︎

  737. John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. ↩︎

  738. Romans 13:12; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Titus 2:13; James 5:8-9; 1 Peter 4:5; 2 Peter 3:12; Jude 21; Revelation 22:10. ↩︎

  739. Matthew 24:36; Luke 12:40; Acts 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:2. ↩︎

  740. Matthew 24:15-21. ↩︎

  741. Daniel 7:17-27; Revelation 19:11-20:7. ↩︎

  742. Daniel 7:9-14; Zechariah 14:1-4; Malachi 3:1-2; Matthew 24:29-30; Acts 1:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 1:7. ↩︎

  743. Jeremiah 31:31-37; 31:28; Ezekiel 36:11; Joel 3:1; Amos 9:14; Micah 4:7-8; Zechariah 10:6; Romans 11:25-27. ↩︎

  744. Genesis 13:14-17; 15:18; Deuteronomy 30:1-11; Isaiah 11:12; 14:2; Jeremiah 32:37-41; Ezekiel 34:10-16; 37:14; Amos 9:15; Zechariah 10:9-10; Matthew 24:30-31. ↩︎

  745. 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 3:21; 20:1-6. ↩︎

  746. Isaiah 65:17-25; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Zechariah 8:1-17. ↩︎

  747. Deuteronomy 28:15-68. ↩︎

  748. Matthew 21:43; Romans 11:1-26. ↩︎

  749. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-38; Romans 11:25-29. ↩︎

  750. Isaiah 11; 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:33-38; Zechariah 8:4. ↩︎

  751. Revelation 20:7-10. ↩︎

  752. John 5:22. ↩︎

  753. John 5:28-29. ↩︎

  754. Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15. ↩︎

  755. 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:7-15 ↩︎

  756. 2 Peter 3:10. ↩︎

  757. Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 20:15; 21-22. ↩︎

  758. Revelation 21:2. ↩︎

  759. John 17:3; Revelation 21-22. ↩︎

  760. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28. ↩︎