Articles of Faith
Articles of Faith of the John Thomas Association of Freewill Baptists of which Splashdam FWBC is a member:
1. We believe that there is but one living, true and eternal God the Father, of whom all things from everlasting to everlasting glorious and immutable in all His attributes. -I Cor. 8:6; Isa. 40:28.
2. We believe that there is one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom all things are; the only begotten Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, who God freely sent into this world because of the great love wherewith He loved the world; and Christ as freely gave Himself a ransom for all, tasting death for every man; who was buried and rose again the third day, and ascended into Heaven, from whence we look for him the second time in the clouds of heaven at the last Day to judge both the quick and the dead.-1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 2:9; John 3:16; Rev. 1: 7; Acts 24:15; 1 John 2:2.
3. We believe that there is one Holy Ghost, the precious gift of the Father through his dear Son, unto the World, who quickeneth and draweth sinners home to God.- John 16:7-8, Acts 2:2; Eph. 2:1, Eph. 4:4-6.
4. We believe in the beginning God made man upright, and placed him in a state of glory without the least mixture of misery, from which he voluntarily by transgression fell and by means brought on himself a miserable and moral state subject to death. - Gen-2:17; 3:19.
5. We believe that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of truth, that they might be saved; for which end Christ hath commended the Gospel to be preached among all nations and to every creature.-Mark 16:15; Luke 24:27; John 3:15- 17; Tim. 2:4.
6. We believe that no man shall suffer in hell for want of a Christ who died for him, but as the Scripture has said for denying the Lord that brought them; because they believed not in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Unbelief, therefore, being the cause why the just and the righteous God of Heaven will condemn the children of men, it follows against all argument that all men, at one time or another are found in such capacity as that through the grace of God they may be eternally saved. - Acts 17:30; Mark 6:6; Heb. 3:10; I John 5:1, 10.
7. We believe that all people reaching the years of accountability must be born again. Then by trusting His promise and keeping His commandments until the end of life we shall be saved. II Tim. 4:7; John 3:3.
8. We believe the whole Scriptures are infallibly true and that they are the only rules of faith and practice. II Tim. 3:16-17.
9. We believe in the doctrine of General provision made of God in Christ, for the benefit of all mankind, who repent and believe in the gospel. -Luke 14:16-20; Matt. 28:19-20; Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 3:19; Mark 1:15.
10. We believe that sinners are drawn to God the Father, of the Holy Ghost, through Christ His Son and that the Holy Ghost offers His divine aid to all the human family so as they might be happy; would they give place to His divine teachings; whereas, such who do not receive the divine impressive of His Spirit, shall at a future day, own their condemnation just and charge themselves with their own damnation, for willfully rejecting the offers of sovereign grace. – Matt. 11:17, John 6:45, 65; Ps. 1:1; Tit. 2:11, 12; Jer. 12:29
11. We believe that men, not considered simply as men, but ungodly men, were of old ordained to condemnation, considered such who turn the grace of God into them, and therefore, shall bring upon themselves swift destruction; but we observe that they, and such the Apostle saith because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, therefore the indignation and wrath of God is upon every soul of man that doeth evil, living and dying therein; for there is no respect of persons with God. - Jude 1:14; II Peter 2:1; II Thess. 2:11; Rom. 2:10-21.
12. We believe that all children dying in infancy, having not actually transgressed against the law of God, in their own persons are only subject to the first death, which was brought on them by the fall of the first Adam, and that none of them dying in that state shall suffer punishment in hell by the guilt of Adam's sin for "of such is the kingdom of God." - 1 Cor. 15:22; Matt. 18:2-5; Mark 9: 36-37; Matt. 19:14.
13. We believe that good works are the fruits of saving faith and that in the use of the means of grace and not out of the use of those means, eternal life is promised to men. Rev. 22:14-15; Isa. 1:19-20; Matt. 7:8; Jer. 6:16; Luke 13:34-35.
14. We believe that no man has any warrant in the Holy Scriptures for justification before God through his own works, power or ability, which he has in and of himself, only as he by grace is made able to come to God through Jesus Christ; believing the righteousness of Jesus Christ to be imputed to all believers for their eternal acceptance with God. - Rom. 4:24; Acts 8:20- 2 1; Eph. 2:8-9.
15. We believe that all things are foreseen in the wisdom of God, so that God knoweth whatsoever can or cannot come to pass upon all supposed conditions; yet not as having decreed any person to everlasting life, out of respect of mere choice, further that He hath appointed the godly unto life, and the ungodly, who die in sin, unto death. - Heb. 4:13; Prov. 8:22-3 1; Matt. 25:31-46.
16. We believe as teaching Gospel ordinances, in believer's baptism, laying on of hands, receiving of the sacrament in bread and the fruit of the vine, washing the saints' feet, anointing the sick with oil in the name of the Lord, fasting, prayer, singing praise of God and the public ministry of the Word, with every institution of the Lord we shall find in the New Testament.- Mark: 16:15-16; Acts 8:17; Acts 19:6; Luke 22:19-20; John 13:5-7; James 5:14; Eph. 2:8-9.
17. We believe the Gospel mode of baptism is by immersion in the name of the FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST, and that believers are the only subjects for Baptism. Matthew 28:19, Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:9-10, Acts 2:38-39; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12.
18. We believe in a general resurrection of the dead and a final judgment at the last day.-John 5:28-29; II Cor. 5:10. |
19. We believe the happiness of the righteous is eternal and the torments of the wicked are endless. - Matt. 25:46.
20. Freewill Baptists understand the Bible teaches the following fact: on the Day of Pentecost believers spoke in distinct foreign languages which were readily understood by the nationalities present. Acts 2:4, 8, 11. Tongues were given as a special gift to the early church as only one sign which confirms the witness of the Gospel to believers. I Cor. 14:14; Heb. 2:4. While tongues were bestowed by the sovereign will of God on some believers, all did not speak with tongues. I Cor. 12:10, 30. When this gift was abused, it became a source of disturbance in the congregational meetings. To eliminate confusion and correct the error, Paul set aside particular guidelines for the Christian church to follow. (I Cor. 14:18, 19, 23, 33). My gift of tongues was neither an evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, nor does it bring about sanctification. I Cor. 12:13. We believe that speaking in tongues as a visible sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an erroneous doctrine to be rejected. Any implication of a “second work of grace” has never been tolerated in our fellowship of churches, and will not be permitted. We teach and preach the fullness of the Holy Spirit and heed the scriptural admonition, "Be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Eph. 5:8-20.
21. "Both Scripture and nature as designed by GOD affirm the life-long, convenantal union of one man, being male created by GOD, and one woman, being female as created by GOD, in one flesh relation. This one-flesh relation is emblematic of the union of Christ and His church. It is the sole and beautiful context of the divine plan for the family as the basic, divinely ordained unit of human society. Violations o this one-flesh union, whether heterosexual or homosexual, premarital or extra marital, contravene the divine plan for the conception and rearing of children, bring spiritual despair, guilt, and death to individuals and cultures"
References: Genesis 1:26-28, 20-25; Exodus 20:14: Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1: 18-32 1st Corinthians 7: 1-5; Ephesians 5: 21-33; 1st Thessalonians 4: 3-5; Hebrews 13:4**
**Excerpted from "A Treatise of the Faith and Practices of the National Freewill Baptist, Inc.:.
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Gambling
We not wishing to conform to the practice of gambling pledge to abstain from the sale or use of all devices constructed for the purpose of gambling...a lottery, games of chance, or any numbered system for which there are odds given for gain or loss, whether it be associated with a person, place, or thing, spoken or unspoken. - 1 Tim. 6:10, 1 Thess. 5:22.
1. We believe that there is but one living, true and eternal God the Father, of whom all things from everlasting to everlasting glorious and immutable in all His attributes. -I Cor. 8:6; Isa. 40:28.
2. We believe that there is one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom all things are; the only begotten Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, who God freely sent into this world because of the great love wherewith He loved the world; and Christ as freely gave Himself a ransom for all, tasting death for every man; who was buried and rose again the third day, and ascended into Heaven, from whence we look for him the second time in the clouds of heaven at the last Day to judge both the quick and the dead.-1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 2:9; John 3:16; Rev. 1: 7; Acts 24:15; 1 John 2:2.
3. We believe that there is one Holy Ghost, the precious gift of the Father through his dear Son, unto the World, who quickeneth and draweth sinners home to God.- John 16:7-8, Acts 2:2; Eph. 2:1, Eph. 4:4-6.
4. We believe in the beginning God made man upright, and placed him in a state of glory without the least mixture of misery, from which he voluntarily by transgression fell and by means brought on himself a miserable and moral state subject to death. - Gen-2:17; 3:19.
5. We believe that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of truth, that they might be saved; for which end Christ hath commended the Gospel to be preached among all nations and to every creature.-Mark 16:15; Luke 24:27; John 3:15- 17; Tim. 2:4.
6. We believe that no man shall suffer in hell for want of a Christ who died for him, but as the Scripture has said for denying the Lord that brought them; because they believed not in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Unbelief, therefore, being the cause why the just and the righteous God of Heaven will condemn the children of men, it follows against all argument that all men, at one time or another are found in such capacity as that through the grace of God they may be eternally saved. - Acts 17:30; Mark 6:6; Heb. 3:10; I John 5:1, 10.
7. We believe that all people reaching the years of accountability must be born again. Then by trusting His promise and keeping His commandments until the end of life we shall be saved. II Tim. 4:7; John 3:3.
8. We believe the whole Scriptures are infallibly true and that they are the only rules of faith and practice. II Tim. 3:16-17.
9. We believe in the doctrine of General provision made of God in Christ, for the benefit of all mankind, who repent and believe in the gospel. -Luke 14:16-20; Matt. 28:19-20; Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 3:19; Mark 1:15.
10. We believe that sinners are drawn to God the Father, of the Holy Ghost, through Christ His Son and that the Holy Ghost offers His divine aid to all the human family so as they might be happy; would they give place to His divine teachings; whereas, such who do not receive the divine impressive of His Spirit, shall at a future day, own their condemnation just and charge themselves with their own damnation, for willfully rejecting the offers of sovereign grace. – Matt. 11:17, John 6:45, 65; Ps. 1:1; Tit. 2:11, 12; Jer. 12:29
11. We believe that men, not considered simply as men, but ungodly men, were of old ordained to condemnation, considered such who turn the grace of God into them, and therefore, shall bring upon themselves swift destruction; but we observe that they, and such the Apostle saith because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, therefore the indignation and wrath of God is upon every soul of man that doeth evil, living and dying therein; for there is no respect of persons with God. - Jude 1:14; II Peter 2:1; II Thess. 2:11; Rom. 2:10-21.
12. We believe that all children dying in infancy, having not actually transgressed against the law of God, in their own persons are only subject to the first death, which was brought on them by the fall of the first Adam, and that none of them dying in that state shall suffer punishment in hell by the guilt of Adam's sin for "of such is the kingdom of God." - 1 Cor. 15:22; Matt. 18:2-5; Mark 9: 36-37; Matt. 19:14.
13. We believe that good works are the fruits of saving faith and that in the use of the means of grace and not out of the use of those means, eternal life is promised to men. Rev. 22:14-15; Isa. 1:19-20; Matt. 7:8; Jer. 6:16; Luke 13:34-35.
14. We believe that no man has any warrant in the Holy Scriptures for justification before God through his own works, power or ability, which he has in and of himself, only as he by grace is made able to come to God through Jesus Christ; believing the righteousness of Jesus Christ to be imputed to all believers for their eternal acceptance with God. - Rom. 4:24; Acts 8:20- 2 1; Eph. 2:8-9.
15. We believe that all things are foreseen in the wisdom of God, so that God knoweth whatsoever can or cannot come to pass upon all supposed conditions; yet not as having decreed any person to everlasting life, out of respect of mere choice, further that He hath appointed the godly unto life, and the ungodly, who die in sin, unto death. - Heb. 4:13; Prov. 8:22-3 1; Matt. 25:31-46.
16. We believe as teaching Gospel ordinances, in believer's baptism, laying on of hands, receiving of the sacrament in bread and the fruit of the vine, washing the saints' feet, anointing the sick with oil in the name of the Lord, fasting, prayer, singing praise of God and the public ministry of the Word, with every institution of the Lord we shall find in the New Testament.- Mark: 16:15-16; Acts 8:17; Acts 19:6; Luke 22:19-20; John 13:5-7; James 5:14; Eph. 2:8-9.
17. We believe the Gospel mode of baptism is by immersion in the name of the FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST, and that believers are the only subjects for Baptism. Matthew 28:19, Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:9-10, Acts 2:38-39; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12.
18. We believe in a general resurrection of the dead and a final judgment at the last day.-John 5:28-29; II Cor. 5:10. |
19. We believe the happiness of the righteous is eternal and the torments of the wicked are endless. - Matt. 25:46.
20. Freewill Baptists understand the Bible teaches the following fact: on the Day of Pentecost believers spoke in distinct foreign languages which were readily understood by the nationalities present. Acts 2:4, 8, 11. Tongues were given as a special gift to the early church as only one sign which confirms the witness of the Gospel to believers. I Cor. 14:14; Heb. 2:4. While tongues were bestowed by the sovereign will of God on some believers, all did not speak with tongues. I Cor. 12:10, 30. When this gift was abused, it became a source of disturbance in the congregational meetings. To eliminate confusion and correct the error, Paul set aside particular guidelines for the Christian church to follow. (I Cor. 14:18, 19, 23, 33). My gift of tongues was neither an evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, nor does it bring about sanctification. I Cor. 12:13. We believe that speaking in tongues as a visible sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an erroneous doctrine to be rejected. Any implication of a “second work of grace” has never been tolerated in our fellowship of churches, and will not be permitted. We teach and preach the fullness of the Holy Spirit and heed the scriptural admonition, "Be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Eph. 5:8-20.
21. "Both Scripture and nature as designed by GOD affirm the life-long, convenantal union of one man, being male created by GOD, and one woman, being female as created by GOD, in one flesh relation. This one-flesh relation is emblematic of the union of Christ and His church. It is the sole and beautiful context of the divine plan for the family as the basic, divinely ordained unit of human society. Violations o this one-flesh union, whether heterosexual or homosexual, premarital or extra marital, contravene the divine plan for the conception and rearing of children, bring spiritual despair, guilt, and death to individuals and cultures"
References: Genesis 1:26-28, 20-25; Exodus 20:14: Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1: 18-32 1st Corinthians 7: 1-5; Ephesians 5: 21-33; 1st Thessalonians 4: 3-5; Hebrews 13:4**
**Excerpted from "A Treatise of the Faith and Practices of the National Freewill Baptist, Inc.:.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Gambling
We not wishing to conform to the practice of gambling pledge to abstain from the sale or use of all devices constructed for the purpose of gambling...a lottery, games of chance, or any numbered system for which there are odds given for gain or loss, whether it be associated with a person, place, or thing, spoken or unspoken. - 1 Tim. 6:10, 1 Thess. 5:22.