Faithpart2

Confession of Faith - Part 2

i.) We believe that all those who were chosen by the Father and redeemed by the Son, and no others, shall, at the appointed time, certainly be convinced in their hearts of sin by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8; 1 Cor 2:14; Eph. 2:1), be brought guilty before God, and made the recipients of eternal life, coming to Christ for salvation, and believing on Him as the anointed of the Father and the only Mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24); but that none can spiritually come to Christ unless drawn by the Father (John 6:44, 65); and that all the elect shall be thus drawn to Christ, and shall finally persevere; so that not one of the elect shall perish, but all arrive safely in glory (Job 17:9; Matt. 25:34; John 4:14; 5:24; 6:37, 44-47; 10:28; 17:6; 12, 24; Acts 2:47; Rom, 8:29-39; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:3-5).

j.) We believe in the effectual calling of all the elect vessels of mercy out of the ruin of the Fall, in God's appointed time, and that the work of regeneration, or new birth, is the sovereign work of God, and His work only, the sinner being dead in trespasses and sins (John 3:3-8; 6:37-65; Rom 8:30; 1 Cor. 1:26-29; Eph. 2:4,5). We believe in the application of law to the elect sinner's conscience by the Spirit of God (Rom. 7:7, 9,12), showing the sinner how greatly he has broken the law, and feelingly condemning him for the same; and in the manifestation of mercy and pardon through Christ alone made known to the soul by God the Holy Spirit (Psa. 30:3; 130:7; Isa. 40:2; Jer. 33:8; Micah 7:18; Rom. 7:5-10).

k.) We believe that faith is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8; Acts 18:27) as well as true spiritual repentance and hope (Atcs 5:31); 11:18; Rom. 15:13; 2 Thess. 2:16; 1 Pet. 1:3) and a manifestation of pardon to the soul; that through faith Christ is made precious to the soul (1 Pet. 2:7), and the soul drawn out in love to God (1 John 4:19); that all are the fruits and effects of the blessed Holy Spirit, and that they will most certainly be productive of good works, and a walk and conversation becoming the Gospel (Gal, 2: 16-21; 5:22-26).

l.) We believe in the sanctification of God's people, the term sanctification signifying a separation and setting apart by and for God. This, in the child of God, is threefold: (1.) By election by God the Father as the Originator (Jude 1); (2.) By redemption by God the Son as the Procurer (John 17:9); and (3.) By the almighty renegerating operation of God the Holy Spirit as the Securer (2 Thess. 2:13; Rom. 15:16). We believe that sanctification is an integral part of our salvation, Christ being made our sanctification (1 Cor 1:30) as well as our righteousness. We believe that we were called to be holy (Eph. 1:4; 1 Thess 4:3,7) and that sanctification is that work of Divine grace in the believer which brings him back into allegiance to God, regulating his affections and actions in harmony with God's will, writing God's law on the heart (Heb. 10:16); moving the elect redeemed sinner to make God's glory his chief aim end. This divine work is started in regeneration and completed only at glorification. We believe that the Holy Spirit implants the Divine Nature in the redeemed sinner (2 Pet. 1:4) and he delights in the law of God after the inner man (Rom 7:22); but he groans being burdened, for he carries around with him, and will carry till he dies, the old man (Rom.7) which is opposed and contrary to the things of God (Gal. 5:17). We reject the doctrine of the eradication of the carnal nature by a continual process of the weakening of the old man until the believer no more depends upon the Spirit and grace of Christ for all goodness. For we shall be till we die, nothing but poor, vile, wretched, helpless sinners completely dependent upon the Spirit and Grace of Christ. (Rom 7:24, 25: John 15:5; 2 Cor. 3:5; Rev. 3:17).

m.) We believe that Baptism and the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:2, 26; 14:40; Col. 2:5-8) are ordinances of Christ, to be continued till His coming, and that the former is requisite to the latter, that is to say, that those only can scriptually sit down to the Lord's Supper who, upon their profession of faith, have been baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, unless circumstances hinder temporarily. (Matt 3:13-16; 28:19-20; John 3:22, 23; Acts 2:37-42; 8:12; 9:18; 10:47,48; 16:14,15,30,31,33; 18:8; 19:16; Rom 6:3; Col 2:12).

n.) We believe the Scriptures teach that Satan is a spiritual person. Cast out of heaven, the adversary of God and man, reserved for the last judgment when he shall be cast into the lake of fire prepared for him and his angels. (Ez 28:11-19; Isa. 14:12-15; Luke 10:18; 1 Pet 5:8; 2 Cor 11:14, 15; Eph 6:10-13; Rev 12:7-11; 20:10).

o.) We believe the Scriptures teach the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that at His ascension, so shall His Second Coming be---- personal and visible (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Titus 2:13; 1 Thess 4:13-18; 1 Cor 15:51-57; Phil 3:20,21; 1 John 3:1,2).

p.) We believe in the resurrection of the body, both of the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15); that the just (elect) shall be raised up in glory and honor (Matt 24:31; 25:31-40) and be openly acknowledged and fully acquitted in the Judgment Day, before angels, devils, and sinners, and made fully and eternally blest both in body and soul, and that the wicked shall be raised up to be comdemned, body and soul, to the unspeakable torments of hell forever and ever. (Isa 26:19; Dan 12:2; Matt 25:31-46; John 5:28,29; Acts 23:6; Rom 6:23; 8:11,23; 12:10-12; 1 Cor 15:52; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:12-15.)