statementoffaith

I.- That the only true God is He who was revealed to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, by angelic

visitation and vision, and to Moses at the flaming bush (unconsumed) and at Sinai, and who

manifested Himself in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the supreme self-existent Deity, the

ONE FATHER, dwelling in unapproachable light, yet everywhere present by His Spirit, which

is a unity with His person in heaven. He hath, out of His own underived energy, created heaven

and earth, and all that in them is. (Deut. 6:1; I Kings 8:30-39,43-49; I Chron. 29:11-14;

II Chron. 16:9; Neh. 9:6; Job 9:4; 26:13; 28:24; 34:21; 36:5; Job 38,39 and 40;

Psa. 33:13-14; 44:21; 62:11; 92:5; 94:9; 104:24; 123:1; 124:8; 139:7-11; 145:3; 146:6

147:4-5; 148:5; Prov. 15:3; Isa. 26:4; 28:29; 40:13-27; 3:10-12; 44:6-8; 45:5; 46:9-10;

Jer.10:12-13; 23:24 27:5; 32:19,25; 51:15; Amos 9:2-3; Matt. 6:9; Mark 12:29-32;

Acts 14:15; 17:24; 27-28; Rom. 1:27; I Cor. 8:4-6; Eph. 4:6; I Tim. 1:17; 2:5; 6:15-16).

II.- That Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God [not "God the Son"], begotten of the virgin

Mary by the Holy Spirit, without the intervention of man, and afterwards anointed with the same

Spirit, without measure, at his baptism. (Isa. 7:14; 11:2; 41:1; 21:1; Matt. 1:18-25; 3:16-17;

Luke 1:26-35; John 3:34; 7:16; 8:26-28; 14:10-24; Acts 2:22-24; Gal.4:4).

III.- That the appearance of Jesus of Nazareth on the earth was necessitated by the position

and state into which the human race had been brought by the circumstances connected with the

first man. (Gen. 3:19; Rom. 5:12-19; I Cor. 15:21-22; II Cor. 5:19-21).

IV.- That the first man was Adam, whom God created out of the dust of the ground as a living

soul, or natural body of life, "very good" in kind and condition, and he was placed under a

law through which the continuance of life was contingent on obedience. (Gen. 2:7:17;

Job 4:19; 33:6; I Cor. 15:46-49).

V.- That Adam broke this law, and was sentenced to return to the ground from whence he was

taken- a sentence which in effect defiled and became a physical law of his being, and was

transmitted to all his posterity. (Gen. 3:15-19,22-23; Job 14:4; Psa. 51:5; John 3:6;

Rom. 5:12; 6:12; 7:18-24; I Cor. 15:22; II Cor. 1:9; 5:-2-4; Gal.5:16-17).

VI.- That God, in His kindness, conceived a plan of restoration which, without setting aside

His just and necessary law of sin and death, should ultimately rescue the obedient of the race

from destruction, and people the earth with sinless immortals. (John 1:29; 3:16; Rom. 3:26;

II Tim. 1:1,10; Titus 1:2; I John 2:25; Rev. 21:4).

VII.- That He inaugurated this plan by making promises to Adam, Abraham, and David, which

were afterwards elaborated in greater detail through the prophets. (Gen. 3:15; 22:18; Psa. 33:5;

89:34-37; Hosea 13:14; Isa. 25:7-9; 51:1-8; Jer. 23:5).

VIII.- That these promises had reference to Jesus Christ, who was to be raised up of the

condemned race of Adam, in the line of Abraham and David, and who, though wearing the

condemned nature, was to obtain a title to resurrection by perfect obedience, and by dying

abrogate the law of condemnation for himself and all who should believe and obey him.

(Psa. 2:6-9; Dan. 7:13-14; Jer. 23:5; Zech. 14:9; Matt. 25:21; Mark16:16;

John 5:21-22, 26-27; 14:3; Acts 13:34-39; Rom. 1:3; 3:22; 5:19-21; 8:3-4; 6:9-10;

I Cor. 15:45; Gal. 1:4; 4:4-5; Eph. 1:9-10; Heb. 1:9; 2:14-16; 5:3-9; 7:27; 9:26;

Rev. 1:18; 2:7: 3:21; 11:15).

IX.- That it was this mission that necessitated the miraculous begettal of Christ of a virgin

descendant of Adam, enabling him to bear our condemnation, and, at the same time, to be

a sinless bearer thereof, and, therefore, one who could rise after suffering the death required

by the righteousness of God; and thus he destroyed in his own mortal nature that having the

power of death, which is the devil; and will finally destroy the devil, or sin in the flesh, in all

its forms of manifestation. (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35; Rom. 1:3-4; 8:3;

II Cor. 5:21; Gal. 4:3-4; Heb. 2:17; 4:15).

X.- That being so begotten of God, and inhabited and used by God through the indwelling of

the Holy Spirit, Jesus was Immanuel, God with us, God manifested in the flesh-yet was, during

his natural life, of like nature with mortal man, being made of a woman, of the house and lineage

of David, and therefore a sufferer, in the days of his flesh, from all the effects that came by

Adam's transgression, including the death that passed upon all men, which he shared by

partaking of their physical nature. (Matt. 1:23; Gal. 4:4; I Tim. 3:16; Heb. 2:14,17).

XI.- That the message he delivered from God to his kinsmen, the Jews, was a call to

repentance from every evil work, that assertion of his divine sonship and Jewish kingship;

and the proclamation of the glad tidings that God would restore their kingdom through him,

and accomplish all things written in the prophets. (Matt. 4:17; 5:17,20-48; 19:28;

21:42-43; 23:38-39; 25:14-51; 27:11-42; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:43; 13:27-30;

19:11-27; 22:28-30; John 1:49; 9:35; 10:24-25,36; 11:27; 19:21).

XII. - That for delivering this message, he was put to death by the Jews and Romans, who

were however, but instruments in the hands of God, for the doing of that which He had

determined before to be done, viz., the condemnation of sin in the flesh, through the offering

of the body of Jesus once for all, as a propitiation to declare the righteousness of God, as a

basis for the remission of sins. All who approach God through this crucified, but risen,

representative of Adam's disobedient race, are forgiven. Therefore, by a figure, his blood

cleanseth from sin. (Matt. 26:28; Luke 19:47; 20:1,26; 22:20; 24:26, 46-47;

John 11:45-53; 14:6; Acts 4:12,27-28; 10:38-39; 13:26-29,38; Rom. 3:25; 8:3; 15:8;

Gal. 1:4; 2:21; 3:21-22; 4:4-5; Heb. 7:27; 9:14-15; 26-29; 10:10; I Pet. 3:18; 2:24;

I John 1:7).

XIII.- That on the third day, God raised him from the dead, and exalted him to the heavens as

priestly mediator between God and man, in the process of gathering from among them a people

who should be saved by the belief and obedience of the truth. (Acts 2:24-27; 4:27; 10:40;

13:30-37; I Cor. 15:4)

XIV.- That he is a priest over his own house only, and does not intercede for the world, or for

professors who are abandoned to disobedience. That he makes intercession for his erring

brethren, if they confess and forsake their sins. (Prov. 27:13; Luke 24:51; John 17:9;

Acts 5:31; 13:39; 15:14; Eph.1:20; I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-15; 8:1; 10:26; I John 2:2).

XV.- That he sent forth apostles to proclaim salvation through him, as the only name given

under heaven whereby men may be saved. (Matt. 28:19-20; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8;

4:12; 26:16-18).

XVI.- That the way to obtain this salvation is to believe the gospel they preached, and to take

on the name and service of Christ, by being immersed in water into his name and continuing

patiently in the observance of all things he has commanded, none being recognized as his friends

except those who do what he has commanded. (Matt.28:20; Mark 16:16; John 15:14;

Acts 2:38,41; 8:12; 10:47; 16:31; 23:48; Rom. 1:16; 2:7; 6:3-5; Gal. 3:27-29).

XVII.- That the gospel consists of "the things cocerning the kingdom of God and the

name of Jesus Christ." (Acts 8:12; 19:8,10,20; 28:30-31).

XVIII.- That "the things concerning the kingdom of God" are the facts and truths testified

concerning the kingdom of God in the writings of the prophets and apostles, and definable

as in the next twelve paragraphs.

XIX.- That God will set up a kingdom in the earth, which will overthrow all others, and change

them into "the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ." (Dan. 2:44; 7:13-14; Isa. 11:9-10;

32:1,6; Rev. 11:15).

XX.- That for this purpose God will send Jesus Christ personally to the earth at the close of

the times of the Gentiles. (Psa. 102:16,21; Dan. 7:13; Acts 1:9,11; 3:20-21; II Tim. 4:1).

XXI.- That the kingdom which he will establish will be the kingdom of Israel restored, in the

territory it formerly occupied, viz., the land bequeathed for an everlasting possession to

Abrhamam and his seed (the Christ) by covenant. (Gen. 12:14,17; Lev. 26:42; Jer. 22:3,8;

Ezek. 37:21-22; Amos 9:11,15; Micah 4:6-8; 7:20; Gal. 3:16; Heb. 11:8-9).

XXII.- That this restoration of the kingdom again to Israel will involve the ingathering of

God's chosen but scattered nation, the Jews; their reinstatement in the land of their fathers,

when it shall have been reclaimed from "the desolation of many generations;" the building again

of Jerusalem to become "the throne of the Lord" and the metropolis of the whole earth.

(Isa. 11:12; 24:23; 51:3; 60:15; 62:4; Jer. 3:7; 31:10; Ezek. 36:34,36; Joel 3:17;

Micah 4:7-8; Zech. 7:8).

XXIII.- That the governing body of the kingdom so established will be the brethren of

Christ, of all generations, developed by resurrection and change, and constituting, with

Christ as their head, the collective "seed of Abraham," in whom all nations will be blessed,

and comprising "Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets,"and all in their age of like

faithfulness. (Dan. 12:2; Matt. 25:34,36; Luke 13:28; 14:14; John 5:28-29; 6:39-40;

I Thess. 4:15-17; Rev. 11:18).

XXIV.- That a law will be established, which shall go forth to the nations for their "instruction"

in righteousness," resulting in the abolition of war to the ends of the earth; and the "filling of

the earth with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea."

(Isa. 2:4; 10:2-5; 42:4; Micah 4:2; Hab. 2:40).

XXV.- That at the appearing of Christ prior to the establishment of the kingdom, the responsible

(faithful and unfaithful), dead and living of both classes, will be summoned before his judgment

seat "to be judged according to their works;" and "receive in body according to what they

have done, whether it be good or bad." (Rom. 2:5-6,16; 14:10-12; I Cor. 4:5; II Cor. 5:10;

II Tim. 4:1; Rev. 11:18).

Clarification:[ The use of the term "responsible" means, as the 1877 Statement of Faith

expresses it, "his servants," and is the intent of this Statement of Faith. Further, the Scriptures

teach the resurrection of those "in Christ," which are comprised of the just and the

and unjust (servants), or the whole household of God as the 1869 Statement of Faith puts it.]

XXVI.- That the unfaithful will be consigned to shame and "the second death," and the

faithful invested with immortality, and exalted to reign with Jesus as joint rulers of the kingdom,

co-possessors of the earth, and joint administrators of God's authority among men in

everything. (Psa. 37:9,22,29-38; 49:7-9; Prov. 10:25-29; Dan. 7:27; 12:2; Mal. 4:1;

Matt. 5:5; 7:26; 8:12; 25:20; Luke 22:29-30; John 10:28; Rom. 2:7; I Cor. 15; 15:51-55;

II Cor. 5:1-4; Gal. 1:8; 5:21; I Thess. 2:12; II Thess. 1:8; II Tim. 2:12; Heb. 10:26-28;

James 1:12; II Peter 1:11; 2:12; Rev. 3:21; 5:9-10; 21:8).

XXVI.- That the kingdom of God, thus constituted, will continue a thousand years, during

which sin and death will continue among the earth's subject-inhabitants, though in a much milder

degree than now. (Isa. 65: 20; Ezek. 44:22, 25; I Cor. 15:24,29; Rev. 20:7-9).

XXVIII.- That the mission of the kingdom will be to subdue all enemies, and finally death

itself, by opening up the way of life to the nations, which they will enter by faith, during the

thousand years, and (in reality) at their close. (Isa. 25:6-8; I Cor. 15:24-26;

Rev. 20:12-15; 21:4).

XXIX.- That at the close of the thousand years, there will be a general resurrection and

judgment, resulting in the final extinction of the wicked, and the immortalization of those who

shall have established their title (under the grace of God) to eternal life during the thousand

years. (I Cor. 15:24; Rev. 20:11-15).

XXX.- That the government (in its mediatorial aspect) will then be delivered up by Jesus

to the Father, who will manifest Himself as the "All-in-all;" sin and death having been taken

out of the way, and the obedient of the race completely restored to the friendship of the Deity.

(I Cor. 15:28).

XXXI.- That the Scriptures, composing the book currently known as the Bible, are the only

source now extant of knowledge concerning God and His purposes, and that they were given

wholly by the unerring inspiration of God in the writers, and that such errors as have since crept

in are due to transcription or translation. (Neh. 9:30; John 10:35; I Cor. 2:13; 14:37;

II Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:1; II Peters 1:22).

Doctrines to be Rejected

That the Bible is only partly the work of inspiration- or if wholly so, contatins

errors which inspiration allowed.

That God is three persons. (This being the Doctrine of the Trinity)

That the Son of God was co-equal with the Father

That Christ was born with a "free life" (i.e., not being born under the same

condemnation to death as the entire human race)

That Christ's nature was immaculate.

That the Holy Spirit is a person distinct from the Father.

That man has an immortal soul.

That man consciously exists in death.

That the wicked will suffer eternal torture in hell.

That the righteous will ascend to kingdoms beyond the skies when they die.

That the devil is a supernatural personal being.

That the kingdom of God is "the church".

That the Gospel is confined to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

That Christ will not come till the close of the thousand years.

That the tribunal of Christ, when he comes, is not for the judgment of saints,

but merely to divide among them different degrees of reward.

That the resurrection is confined to the faithful.

That the dead rise in an immortal state.

That the subject-nations of the thousand years are immortal.

That the law of Moses is binding on believers of the Gospel.

That the observance of Sunday as a Sabbath is a matter of duty.

That baby sprinkling is a doctrine of Scripture.

That "heathens," idiots, pagans, and very young children will be saved.

That man can be saved by morality or sincerity, without the Gospel.

That the Gospel alone will save, without baptism and the continued obedience

of Christ's commandments.

That man cannot believe without possessing the Holy Spirit.

That men are predestined to salvation unconditionally.

That there is no sin in the flesh.

That Joseph was the actual father of Jesus.

That the earth will be burned up.

That baptism is not necessary to salvation.

That a knowledge of the truth is not necessary to make baptism valid.

That some meats are to be refused on the score of uncleanness.

That the English are the ten tribes of Israel, whose prosperity is a fulfillment of

the promises made concerning Ephraim.

That marriage with an unbeliever is lawful.

That we are at liberty to serve in the army, take part in politics, or recover debts

by legal coercion.

That the book of Revelation refers practically entirely to events which are to occur

after Christ returns (futurist theory).

That te book of Revelation refers primarily to events that occurred in 70 A.D.

(preterist theory).

That any theory that radically departs from the "continuous historical intepretation"

as generally elaborated by John Thomas in Eureka is to be received.

(This does not require unqualified acceptance of the interpretation of all events

and symbols-simply that the events "which must shortly come to pass" began

to transpire shortly after the Apocalypse was given to the Apostle John

in Patmos and that they have continued to unfold in the nearly 1900 years

since that divine revlation.)