Typical Primitive Baptist Articles of Faith

THE SCRIPTURES:

1. We believe that the scriptures comprising the Old and New Testaments, as given in what is known as the King James Translation, are of divine authority, and are to be taken as the only rule of faith and practice.

THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST:

2. We believe in one God, and that the Father, Son or Word, and the Holy Ghost are one God, eternal, immutable, infinite in wisdom, power, justice, holiness, mercy and truth.

THE FALL OF MAN:

3. We believe that in the transgression of Adam he fell under the condemnation of God's holy law, and that all his posterity were corrupted in him, and so are condemned in sin, and have neither will nor power to deliver themselves from this state and condemnation.

ELECTION:

4. We believe that God chose a definite number of particular persons of the fallen posterity of Adam in Christ before the foundation of the world to salvation. The reason for this choice is wholly of grace, and is unconditional on the part of the creature.

PREDESTINATION:

5. We believe that God has predestinated the elect unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of his will.

JESUS THE MEDIATOR:

6. We believe that the Lord Jesus who was set up from everlasting to be the Mediator between God and men, did in the fullness of time really and truly take upon himself a human body and nature, sin excepted, and in that body he suffered, bled and died as the surety of the elect, and in their room and stead, and for no others.

REDEMPTION:

7. We believe that Christ hath obtained eternal redemption for the elect, his life, suffering, blood and death constituting a complete and full atonement for their sins, and that this is the only ground of justification before God.

REGENERATION:

8. We believe that being born again is not the act of man, nor does it result from what he may believe or do; but it is the work of God, who gives eternal life, thus quickening the sinner, which causes him to confess his sin, and to feel the need of a Saviour.

PERSEVERANCE:

9. We believe that none who are born again will fall away so as to be lost, but that they will persevere through grace to glory.

RESURRECTION:

10. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, both of the just (elect) and the unjust, and that the unjust shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.

THE GOSPEL:

11. We believe that the gospel is to be preached in all the world as a statement of the truth, and as a witness of Jesus for the comfort and instruction of regenerated men and women; but deny that it is to offer grace to the unregenerate or that it asserts there is an obligation resting upon the unregenerate to believe that Jesus is their Saviour.

GOOD WORKS:

12. We believe that good works, obedience to the commands of God, are well pleasing in His sight, and should be maintained in the church; but they are to be considered only as evidence of a gracious state, and are not a condition of salvation.

CHURCH ORDINANCES:

13. We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances appointed by Christ for the church, and they are to be administered only by those who are clothed with authority of the church, having been regularly ordained.

BAPTISM:

14. We believe that baptism is by immersion in water, and is to be administered to believers only, and who give evidence of having been regenerated.

THE LORD'S SUPPER:

15. We believe that the Lord's Supper should be observed in the church until the coming of Jesus at the end of the world, and that unleavened bread and wine should be used, of which none are to be invited to partake but members of the church and of other churches of like faith and order.

MINISTERS TO BE ORDAINED:

16. We believe that those who give proof that they are called of God to the ministry, by edifying the church in that exercise, should be ordained by a presbytery and set apart to that work.

THE OFFICE OF DEACON:

17. We believe that the church should choose members of its body who have the proper qualifications for the office of deacon who are to receive and disburse the funds of the church. They should be set apart to that work by ordination.

FEET WASHING:

(The following article on Feet Washing is not accepted by all Primitive Baptist Churches, and the adoption or rejection of it is not made a basis of fellowship.)

18. We believe that washing the saints' feet is an example of Jesus Christ to be observed by the church.